Replies

1. 
   Bob_Van_Dyke | Nov 11, 2007 08:04pm | #1

   Joe-
   sorry I did not get back to you sooner- it has been a crazy week!
   anyway- When I am glueing up a panel or top as you describe and it is going to finish at 3/4" thick-
   I will face joint each board and plane the opposing face to about 7/8" (15/16" if I have thick enough 4/4 stock to start with)
   Then I will put a straight edge on each piece and rip a little wider than I will need (ie: if the panel is going to finish at 12" wide I would rip each piece to 6 1/4" wide.) next- I joint the ripped edge to remove the saw mark- Then I rejoint the edge that will be the glue edge and create a "spring joint" (Gary Rogowski had an excellent article years ago in FWW on doing this on the jointer) I can describe it to you in another answer later if you need.
   now it is glue up time- Try to keep your boards even when you glue up- (I sit them right on top of the clamps to do this (The aluminum clamps from Universal are great for this) but if they are a little out of register is not a problem as you are going to go thru the planer again after it is glued.- clean off the glue squeeze out now (I use a putty knife and a rag - it is not a done surface so I am not concerned about pushing any glue into the pores of the wood). I do not run dried glue thru the planer- I hate changing knives!
   Let it dry at least a day and then go thru the planer (both faces) to final thickness. Put a new straight edge on the panel and rip it to final width.
   as far as the sander question? I would not bother with it- starting out with boards that have been flattened first will yield a decently flat finished panel - the sander won't flatten anything- the surface I get off the planer is usually good enough that I can scrape (or handplane)and sand (320 or 400 grit) and get a glass like surface.
   Hope that helps
   let me know
   Bob Van Dyke

1. 
   dovetailjoe | Nov 11, 2007 10:34pm | #2

   Hello Bob -
   thank you so much - I thought running the panels through the planer was chancy - but if I wipe it mostly up, there will still be some surface glue. My desire to change blades is matched only by the possibility of having a root canal without painkillers! well, not that bab, but bad, nevertheless. I appreciate the thoughts - will try and let you know how it works.
   peace
   joe

1. 
   Bob_Van_Dyke | Nov 11, 2007 11:00pm | #3

   Joe- A little dried glue on the surface is not a problem- it is the big gobs of dried crystallized glue that mess up the knives. Go for it!
   Bob

1. 
   dovetailjoe | Nov 11, 2007 11:06pm | #4

   I'm on my way - thanks