Dummies and planing

allen levine

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Location
new york city burbs
I havent been asked to leave yet, so Ill just keep this attempted build rolling, from start(the purchase of raw lumber)to finish.

What I know about planing wood could be written on a matchbook cover.

What I learned today:
1.Always make sure, no matter how heavy a machine is, its secure on a base or floor.
2.Long boards flex, and if you dont support them 100% along the way, Snipe, yes, until a few days ago, I thought Snipe was a guy I watched in action flicks, snipe is going to happen for sure.
3.If the machine is unsupported even for a split second, the blades of the planer will gouge out whereever they are at that point
4.Everything can be corrected with patience and I found it its a learning experience more about touch and getting to know, feel and understand a machine than it might be about outright skill.
5.My 20 something y/o Genie shop vac will not cut it as the dust collector for a planer
6.without a dust collector, planing is by far the most sawdust producing element of woodworking.(so far for me at least)
7.It doesnt pay to get frustrated, I bought 200 BF of wood for a job I might be able to do with 100BF or less, so its an investment in learning.
8.Ask questions, I just dont want to wear out my welcome here.


The operation, first time ever touching a planer:
I set the carriage down after reading the instuctions, yes, I have to read instructions.
The first piece the blade hardly touched, so I moved it down, and the fun began.
I ran the first board through 3 passes, both sides, and had not a single problem.
I ran the second board through, the machine stopped rolling it, I let go, the board tilted the machine up, it cut into the wood, the ends got all sniped up.
I unplugged the machine, checked it all out, reattached the dust duct just to make sure it was unclogged, and started it up again. The wood, with me supporting it as level as I could get, ran smooth unti I reached around 3/4 inch.
So I had to run the first board again, just out of curiosity, and one llittle foul up, but it ran smoothly.

The boards finally planedwood stuff 284 (Medium).jpg (a bad spot, but I will cutting that end off for now, since Im using these boards as attempted glue up for legs) the boards with the boo boo'swood stuff 285 (Medium).jpg a little more planing and correctingwood stuff 286 (Medium).jpg

the mess was unreal, the rain made nice mahogany paste out of alot of the dust, so cleaning it was not an easy taskwood stuff 287 (Medium).jpg (2 1x10x8 boards gave me around 2 cubic feet of sawdust, hmmm)

and the day began, with the client complaining last night the stand I built him, was too high, and since I need him for computer repair and machinery assembly, I decided to unscrew the top and recut the height of the legs.
So I unscrewed the top, but there was glue and a brad holding it, so I grabbed the hard rubber mallet and gave a whack, but I succeeded in only smashing my pinky, so at 9am, I saw stars, in a cloudy sky.
But it got cut, gotta keep the clients happy.wood stuff 290 (Medium).jpg
 
I should be receiving the side shelves for the machine so at least it will offer another 2 feet of support, which I found out is very important.
I will build a piece to put on my rolling table that allows the wood to slide onto a surface level with the shelf.(when I plane alot of boards)
I tried to match up grain, they looked alike unplaned, but are different now.
Going to slice them up a bit over 3 inchs, and glue up 3 or 4 to make some table legs, or at least Im going to attempt this. I wont cut anymore long cuts till I get my new blades, which should be today, so Ill do some cuts and glue ups tomorrow.
Anyone that can give me a pointer or two with the planing or the glueups, Id greatly appreciate it.
Once again, I know most of this stuff happenned 25 years ago for most of you, but this is new terrain for me.
When I sold my TS the other night, the guy that bought it looked around 45.
Told me hes been doing this for over 30 years.
I reallized then being in my mid fifties, I have alot of catching up to do, and not alot of time to do it.

btw, to the guys that manufacture the Dewalt735 planer. As a fairly new woodworker, I will offer my honest opinion on this and any other piece of equipment or accessory you offer me. I am totally unbiased, have no financial interest in any company manufacturing machines, have no ties to any site or retail establishment that sells any of these products and I consider myself a somewhat intelligent person who can read. You will never get a more honest review of a tool from someone like me if you want to hit the newcomers market.(the dummies remark inthe title is only because I try to add a bit of humor)
 
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most of woodbutcherie is a hands on/smash your thumb kinda thing in the first place allen.....so you`re right on schedule.:rolleyes:
what specifically are you having trouble with?
as far as a planer feeding properly.....apply furniture wax to the bed frequently......think of wax as grease for boards. wax your tablesaw top and any other surfaces that you want wood to slide freely on.
 
I believe 90% of my problems came from the lack of support on one end or the other. Feeding level and outfeed level seems to keep the machine running smoothly.
I will wax the surface.
 
hey allen,

in your situation where you have to move things around a good bit, some inexpensive roller stands should help alot with material support. one on infeed and one on outfeed. i believe i got mine at HD for around 19.99, maybe a little less. a good investment though.

as for dust collection, the 735 should sufficiently remove the dust from the planer with the blower fan. all you should need is a hose leading to a dust bin. i have actually found that when my Delta DC is hooked to my dad's 735, that it causes problems with suction. maybe because the DC is sucking and the 735 is blowing in additional air. someone with more knowledge of DC and how they work could probably answer that question though.

you should be very happy with that planer.

and trust me no one is gonna run you off for asking questions. chances are someone else wants to ask too but doesn't feel comfortable. and by you asking, you help them as well.

happy planing, and cleaning unfortunately

Chris
 
IM going to glue up a few pieces to make table legs.
Im going to oversize them both ways, so I can cut them down to almost the size I want on the tablesaw, then can I plane all four sides for a smooth finish?(can I plane end grains like that?)
 
Feed tables and rollers will help Allen. As said before a dimes thickness raised on the infeed and outfeed tables helps with snipe. I do not have feed tables or rollers so I so not do full board legnths. I rough cut legnths a few inches over finished legnth and plane. I also lift us slightly when feeding into and when comming out of the planer with (most of the time) no snipe. As for dust control I have a 1hp delta attatched to it and for me dakes care of the dust. does fill a bag quickly:rolleyes:

Have fun with it, it is one of my favorite tools to use

Tom
 
ok allen as for the planning after your glue ups go..glue isnt a planers freind.. scrape it of after it had time to to tack up some to help in the removal.. as for sizing your legs i would use a jointer after you saw to apporx size.. i know some folk run there rails and stiles on edge for cabinets but i have never done that.. you can end up with grian running oppsite directions on your legs and have amjor tear out.. as for the planer makin dust it sure does.. also its alot easier to do with a helping hand say a neighbor or your wife, anyone to help catch it coming out the other end..

also to second chris's motion,,, you dont have to worry about asking any question here,, we all are either in the same boat as you or have been previously.. so dont worry about tryun to catch up just ask and enjoy your hobby... no question is a bad one!!!!
 
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I hope this works.
One of those rain gutters extenders.
I cut off one end, and it fits snug and perfect, and it bends and holds shape.
 

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...and trust me no one is gonna run you off for asking questions. chances are someone else wants to ask too but doesn't feel comfortable. and by you asking, you help them as well...
I'll second Chris' comment. For every guy that asks questions, there are a lot of others who have the same question but are afraid to ask. ;) Keep 'em coming.
 
I hope this works.
One of those rain gutters extenders.
I cut off one end, and it fits snug and perfect, and it bends and holds shape.


Very clever use of "off the shelf" equipment.

I want to reiterate cutting to rough length before dimensioning lumber. Not only makes it easier to handle, but intelligent cuts can maximize material use.
 
Started to glue up a leg, but decided to hold off to see finished product.
This is the reason: While beginning a cleanup, I found a 2.75x3+ inch piece of mahogany I took from the guy just for 4 legs.
I keep reading so much about glueing up 4 pieces vs one solid piece-the warping, and so on, but I think one solid piece just looks so much better.
Do I go ahead with the glueups, or use this nice solid piece and plane it down a drop for a nice finish?
The glueup, 4x3/4 inch face to face, on top of the solid beamwood stuff 292 (Medium).jpg
a close up of the grains, all the same board and I tried to match it upwood stuff 293 (Medium).jpg

another shot of the glue up leg on top of the beamwood stuff 294 (Medium).jpg

legs are for table, around 3x6 top. Which way do I go?(I will be trimming around 1/8th off of each side where ends show)

btw-IM ripping these boards with Freuds Glue Line blade, and they all came out smooth and sharp.
 
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i havnt worked with mahogany allen, but in my little expiernce your two tone glue up will be two tone unless you dye the light ones to match the dark ones..at least in walnut or cherry that is how it works...
 
I keep reading so much about glueing up 4 pieces vs one solid piece-the warping, and so on, but I think one solid piece just looks so much better.
Do I go ahead with the glueups, or use this nice solid piece and plane it down a drop for a nice finish?

Allen,

Most glue up strategies for legs that I have seen are tying to duplicate a rift cut appearance (grain running from corner to corner so all faces have the same look). You need a thick piece of wood to get this rift cut and appearance. There are several options to glue up thinner wood to somewhat duplicate the appearance. I have not tried any of them as I have used a thicker wood to get the appearance that I want in my legs.

See the following woodweb discussion on this very subject. www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Square_Table_Legs__One_Piece_or_Glued_Up.html
 
Im a little more confused now.

I spent 2 hours cleaning up and putting everything away.

Im shooting down to the Jersey shore for a few days to look at the ocean and relax.

Ill start all over after next weekend.
 
Sunday night, I have to be in Atlantic City, the Giants vs the Phillys at night.(watching the NY and Philly fans shout it out is a night of entertainment in itself)
Huge game, should be a fun night at any sports bar down there, my wife loves the pennies slots, her only vice, (well, that and abusing her husband)
She gets free rooms, so were booked for free in two casinos, but Im leaning towards Trump, since they just built the Chairmans tower, or whatever its called. (with the card, shes good for rooms at something like 4 places, and 90% of our food is comped, they are really dieing there, they are giving away rooms and food)
Id like to catch a show if possible, then maybe head off to LBI, opposite over there. Everything is shut down for the winter season, maybe only a few restaurants open. We usually hit LBI every winter, spend 3 or 4 nights at the beach in mid January, its a beautiful thing.
Some books, some magazines, drive into a city where theres a movie, eat, and nothing else.
Getting a room midweek anywhere now is easy, and cheap, so it will be up to the wife, whatever she wants to do.*were both off till next friday*

We originally thought a warm beach down south or some tropical island, but I wont travel with my health, and this lousy persistant uncomfortable pain.
2 hours in a car I can handle.(I wasnt bringing my camera, but I can)gotta work tomorrow, so either we shoot down tomorrow night, or Id rather go sunday, just kick back tomorrow and watch Texas Tech take the number one spot.
 
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You've been busy lately...sounds like a break will be a good thing. Have a great trip, and may your wife win lots o' pennies.
 
The LOML and I loved going to the shore (we lived in Toms River) during the fall and winter. We had the beach to ourselves and the cool air was quite invigorating.

Enjoy yourself!
 
I see lots of talk about planing but no mention of jointing. Surfacing and squaring wood is really a two tool process. First use a jointer to get a flat face and square, straight edge THEN go to the planer to make the other face parallel to the jointed face. If you only use a planer you'll end up with parallel faces but not necessaraly a straight board.

Also I beleive someone else mentioned rough cutting. If you are making table legs, rough cut to a couple of inches longer that the finished length. It's MUCH easier to deal with 36in. leg blanks than 8ft. Doing this also lets you avoid knots and nasty reversing grain situations.
 
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