Hey everyone! I'm in the process of building a table using two red oak boards that are each 8 inches wide and 62 inches long. The problem is that these boards were originally one piece of rough cut lumber, so one end of each board is a different thickness. One board starts at 1.5 inches thick and tapers down to 1.375 inches, while the other starts at 1.375 inches and tapers down to 1.1875 inches. I'm looking for advice on how to make these boards the same thickness across their length. I'm still pretty new to this, so I'm open to suggestions!
3 Answers
You'll want to use some tools like calipers and winding sticks along with your planes. Check out some YouTube channels like Rob Cosman or Paul Sellers for solid tips on hand tool work. Winding sticks help you see if a board is twisted. Once you have both ends of the board set to the same thickness, you can start flattening the middle. Make sure to mark your plank with pencil lines to guide you as you plane.
If you're using a powered planer, set your dimensions and pass the boards through. It might be a good idea to joint or flatten one side with a different tool before using the planer. If you only have a bench top planer (like a lunchbox model), you could use a sled to support the board and shim it as needed to achieve the right thickness.
First off, what kind of planer are you using? If it’s a thickness planer, you can just set it to the same thickness for both boards and run them through. It’s pretty straightforward! If you’re considering hand planing, that’s a different approach altogether.