Hey everyone, I'm fairly new to woodworking and I'm attempting to glue together a small shelf using three boards. The problem I'm running into is that I'm left with tiny gaps between them, which is driving me nuts! I don't have a jointer, so I'm relying on a table saw, a No. 4 plane, and a straightedge. I've noticed that planing tends to leave a slight hollow, while the table saw results in a slight taper on the edges. I'm looking for the most effective method to get these edges right. Should I try spring joints with a plane, create a jointing sled, or are there clamping tricks you recommend to tighten everything up? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!
5 Answers
A router with a flush trim bit can be really effective here, too! You can use a straightedge as a template to guide your cuts and achieve that clean edge you're looking for.
When using your hand plane, keep testing with a straightedge and only focus on planing down the high spots. Once you've got it generally straight, do a couple of passes along the full length to tidy up the surface.
Spring joints are a solid choice for this! Just remember to joint your edges as straight as you can first. I think there’s a good video by Stumpy Nubs on using a table saw for edge jointing. It's worth checking out for some visual guidance!
You can definitely achieve good results with a #4 plane. Here’s a method: take the first two boards, place them face up next to each other, and then fold them like a book so the glue joint sides are up. Clamp it in a vice and plane the joint. This technique helps cancel out any angle errors. Just be sure to check your progress, and when you’re happy, do the same with the last board. Also, sharp tools make all the difference!
You’re right that a No. 4 isn’t the best for longer boards. I’d suggest making a jig for your table saw to hold the board down while you cut it. That way, you can keep it tight and use one side as a reference. Just make sure your table saw is well calibrated. I struggled with that myself, but once it’s right, it can work wonders!