I'm working with an 8 ft Douglas fir 2x4. One side (Side A) is flat, but Side B has a 1/8" gap at one end and a smaller gap at the other. I've been running it through the planer with Side A facing down and removing about 1/8" from Side B over two passes, but it still has the same 1/8" gap at that end. After trying again, the gap remains. What could be causing this issue?
2 Answers
You're right that a planer doesn’t flatten a board—instead, it just makes opposite sides parallel. If Side A is indeed flat, you should be able to get Side B flat as well. Just remember, any flexing can throw things off, so make sure to check it against a good reference to identify any issues. Good luck!
It sounds like the board might be flexing. Even if Side A is flat, that could lead to some inconsistencies when you run it through the planer. The planer makes the two sides parallel, but it won't flatten out dips or high spots, which means you might need a jointer for that initial flattening.
Exactly! If Side A is truly flat, your planing should work. Just double-check that it’s really flat by using a straightedge or something. How are you measuring those gaps?
That's a solid point! If you're confident in Side A's flatness, then planing should work. It might just take a bit more fine-tuning to get Side B sorted out.