Hey everyone! I'm new to woodworking and recently took the plunge to buy some hardwood from a dealer (big thanks to those who recommended Mayan Hardwood!). I ended up with S2S (surfaced two sides), and I'm primarily working with just a table saw. My question is: can I get this wood to S4S (surfaced four sides) with just the table saw, or will I need to borrow a planer or jointer? Just a bit more context: I bought 2 BF each of four different types of wood, and I plan on using them for cutting boards that I'll eventually cut down to 1"x2"x1" for an end grain board. Thanks for any guidance!
3 Answers
Check out MWA Woodworks on YouTube! He has some great videos on table saw jigs that can easily help you joint an edge, as long as you've got something straight to work with.
You should be able to take care of the edges with your table saw, provided the boards are flat and parallel on the faces. Just keep safety in mind—watch some YouTube videos about different techniques you can use, like making a jig or using a flat board against the fence. If the thickness isn’t right, though, you might have a tough time, which means a lot of sanding ahead. And for cutting thin strips, look into using a thin rip jig as you shouldn’t make those cuts directly against the fence.
Just a heads up, even if they’ve planed the wood to S2S initially, it might not stay perfect once you start cutting because the exposed wood can move as it adjusts moisture-wise. But since you have a large belt sander too, that should help you smooth things out if needed!