I'm planning to create some shelves for my laundry room using 2" thick rough cut walnut planks. My goal is to flatten these boards and then cut them lengthwise to about 3/4" thick so I can glue them together. The boards measure around 6 to 8" in width, and I have a SawStop, a band saw, and a few battery-operated tools like a circular saw. I'm considering using the band saw but I'm concerned about not having a fence to ensure a straight cut. Alternatively, I could use the SawStop, but that feels a bit unsafe as I would have to flip the board over to finish the cut. What would be the safest and most effective way to achieve my goal? I also forgot to mention that the finished shelves will be approximately 10 feet long, and I'm open to cutting the boards into shorter lengths if necessary, but I don't know what the best lengths would be for that.
3 Answers
A good option would be to create a fence out of plywood and clamp it to the band saw table. You can attach two pieces of wood at a 90-degree angle for extra stability, essentially making your own fence. I did something similar for resawing, and it made my cuts a lot straighter.
I'm curious about where your walnut is coming from—is it kiln dried? If not, you might face warping or cracking when you cut thinner boards. If it's properly dried, attaching a fence to your band saw is the best method. The SawStop can work too, but ensure you're considering the board thickness and your blade's capacity.
Using a table saw on boards that thick might not work out well, since it probably won't cut all the way through. I recommend marking a centerline on the wood and trying to follow it carefully. Make sure you have a blade with a lower tooth count, like three or four teeth per inch. Also, you'll want something to flatten it, so consider getting a planer or using a router on a flattening jig if you don't have one.
The place I get my wood from does kiln dry it to about 8 to 10% moisture, which should be fine. This is my first time using their products, though, so I'm a bit nervous!