Jointer Planer Question

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178
Okay, I know this is not the correct way of doing this, but I don't have a jointer so here goes. I have African Mahogany that is rough ( not too rough, but not finished either) on all 4 sides. Can I just run these pieces through my planer and then use a router with a straight bit to clean one edge?

Thanks for any help in advance.

DKT
 
Okay, I know this is not the correct way of doing this, but I don't have a jointer so here goes. I have African Mahogany that is rough ( not too rough, but not finished either) on all 4 sides. Can I just run these pieces through my planer and then use a router with a straight bit to clean one edge?

Thanks for any help in advance.

DKT

Kind of.... ideally you want to Joint one side and one edge. This will give you an accurate 90 deg. corner to reference from. Then you would plane the side opposite that you jointed flat. Then you would only have one rough edge remaining. This would be fixed by ripping the edge using the jointed edge as a reference against your table saw's fence.

But getting back to your question.... if you just run the board through the planer, the planer will duplicate the unevenness of the side that is facing down (not being planed). If you had to, you could do this. but pick the flattest side to be down. then you will probably need to sand or hand plane the high spots.

I would see if you can find someone who can joint your board for you (1 side & 1 edge). It will save you a potential head ache.

As far as jointing the edge with a router.... the best way would be to used the router in a router table. If you would like more info on how to use a router table as a jointer, just let me know.

hope this helps!
 
That will work if there is no twist to it.

Jay

Thanks, I just love this forum, the replies come fast and are useful. I have a friend (50 miles away) that has a jointer, so maybe I will do this the right way. The wood is for my grand daughter's rocking chair so it has to be nothing but the best. Thanks again for all replies.

DKT
 
That kind of wood is expensive where I live. I would make the drive or (probably faster) build a planer sled. It will get you through this build and any others down the road. This one got me by without a jointer for a long time.

Top view:

Planer-Sled-Top.jpg

It is low profile but the torsion box construction has kept this flat for years:

Planer-Sled-bottom.jpg

These cleats and wedges are the adjustment mechanism:

Planer-Sled-cleats.jpg

The bungee keeps the cleats on board (no pun intended):

Planer-Sled-bungee.jpg

It will adjust for some severely whacked boards:

Planer-Sled-adjustments.jpg
 
I cant offer more than my amateur experience, but this link
http://familywoodworking.org/forums/...ead.php?t=6136


shows a ripping jig made by Tod Evans that you can probably make in 10 minutes, and it will get you a perfect ripped edge.

If you dont build anything else, try to even out the high and low spots by hand as close as possible, then pass it through planer with the flat side face down away from the blades.
 
..... This one got me by without a jointer for a long time.

I'm intrigued by your sled design and have some questions. As I understand it the piece to be jointed rides on the sled through the planer adjusted for any bumps and twists? I was thinking about just using carpet tape to tack on two narrow wood pieces the length of the board and then run the mahogany through the planer. I think that might work. Yes, the mahogany is expensive, but what don't you do for a grand daughter.

DKT
 
What is your location? If you ask, there my be a family member that would let you use the jointer. To answer your question, yes a jointer will work. You will need to take really ligth passes, say 1/32 at a time. This will remove the wood without following the bend /twist of the board. However this may not leave the board perfect.
 
You can also joint one side fairly flat by putting the board on a router jig with 2 parallel straight rails and mounting your router on a flat board (ply/mdf/etc) to ride the rails. Then go to the planer after that to get the opposite side, then flip it over to clean up the routed side. Somethiing like a large diameter mortising bit and lots of passes and chips all over the place but it will work.
 
Before I built the one in the pics, I used a piece of particle board with short screws driven into the surface to hold up the teeter-totter parts. It had a cleat on the front edge to prevent the planer rollers from pulling the board off the "sled" and launching it back at me. Wedges taped on would be fine in place of screws as long as you had something to keep the board from being pulled forward off the supporting 'plank'. Good luck and yes, we will do almost anything for our loved ones ;-)
 
You can also joint one side fairly flat by putting the board on a router jig with 2 parallel straight rails and mounting your router on a flat board (ply/mdf/etc) to ride the rails.

Yes, this is actually in Bill Hylton's router book. I have the book and already started to build this jig. Hope it works.

DKT
 
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