I'm in the process of building a workbench, but I need to edge joint some 8-foot 2x4 boards for support members. Since I don't have a workbench set up yet, I'm wondering how I can securely hold these boards while I hand plane the 2-inch edges. Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
Honestly, you might not need to plane the boards perfectly flat if they're just for support. Unless they’re really warped or twisted, they should still work fine. If you’re set on getting them just right, think about working with a rougher board first and then switching to your nicer one after you've built your bench. You could also use sawhorses—just clamp the board down, do the planing on one side, then reposition the clamps to finish the other side. That way, you won't have to investment too much in tools right now!
If you can get your hands on a pair of sawhorses, they’d work well for this. Even a piece of plywood on top of the sawhorses could serve as a temporary workbench until your real one is ready. Just make sure to clamp the board securely to the sawhorses and leave the edges free for planing. But be mindful, sawhorses can shift a bit under heavy pressure, so check how securely you can clamp them down!
One option is to make a planing stop. Just take a scrap piece of wood and cut a wedge shape into it. Position it against a wall, stand your board on end, and place one side in the wedge you created. The wall will help keep it stable while you plane. It's not perfect, but it should work for your needs!
You could also try adding a hand screw clamp on the other end to hold it down better.
Thanks for the tip! I don't have sawhorses currently, but I can get some. What’s the best way to clamp the boards so they won't budge while I’m working on them?