Hey everyone, I'm pretty new to woodworking and I'm currently trying to build a planter box following a tutorial from Steve Ramsey. I recently took a woodcraft class where we were taught to use a planer and joiner to flatten boards before glue-ups. However, I can't afford a benchtop planer right now. Instead, I bought a hand planer but I'm not sure if it's doing the job right. After struggling a bit and gouging one of my boards, I switched to using an orbital sander for flattening. Since this planter is for outdoor use, I'm not aiming for perfection, but I want to avoid spending more money. Should I continue hand planing, or can I just go ahead and glue the boards together without planing? Any advice or tutorial links would be appreciated!
2 Answers
While it's not strictly necessary to plane your boards, it's essential to avoid using any twisted pieces. If that's the case, you'll end up with gaps in your glue joints, which is a total bummer. And make sure your pressure-treated lumber is suitable for your planter—some folks say it can leach chemicals into the soil.
If you're set on using a hand planer, I’d say it’s not the best choice for your needs. Try using a jack plane instead if you can get your hands on one. It's more practical for flattening. But honestly, if the edges are fairly close, just clamp it tight, and glue it!