Hey everyone! I'm working on building a workbench for my second woodworking project, and I've hit a snag. I'm using 2x4s that I got from Home Depot, but they aren't perfectly flat, and I don't currently own a planer or jointer - plus I'd rather not buy one just yet since I want to get the workbench up and running first. How do you all deal with this kind of situation? I've glued the 2x4s together, but I need to level or plane them before framing everything up. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, especially since I'm still pretty new to this!
3 Answers
Look for a local sawmill or a hardwood store; they usually offer services to plane and joint wood for a small fee. It’s worth checking out! Just a heads up, if you’re bringing your own wood, many lumber yards prefer to work with their own stock to avoid any issues with nails or screws.
If you can find a nearby university or community shop, they often have tools like planers and jointers available for use. Just make sure to get some practice in before tackling your project!
You can try using a hand plane or just do a lot of sanding to get the surface flat. It’s a bit labor-intensive, but for a beginner, it can be a good exercise to learn!
Yeah, I had a similar experience! Many places will help with the wood you buy there, but always good to check their policies first.