Replies

1. 
   Samson | Sep 13, 2007 02:19am | #1

   Your question is unclear to me.  As you used teh word "joint", I take you to mean that the lumber yard ripped some sheets of plywood into "planks" for you, and the long edges of the  plywood are not square to the faces.   Is that right?  If so, there are at least a couple of good options.  You can resaw those edges on your table saw.  You can use a router and straight bit. 

   Hand plane blades and jointer blades don't like plywood and dull quickly when asked to go through it as I understand it (having been warned, I've not tried myself).

1. 
   Libraryroom | Sep 13, 2007 03:54am | #3

   Sorry for being unclear. I do have six foot planks of hardwood plywood three quarter inch thick. If I resaw the planks, how do I get a square end if all sides are not truly square?

2. 
   saschafer | Sep 13, 2007 02:51am | #2

   What are the dimensions of the pieces, and what tools do you have?

   -Steve

    

1. 
   Libraryroom | Sep 13, 2007 03:58am | #4

   Steve,I have six foot hardwood plywood planks that are three quarter inch thick. I have a table saw, jigsaw and access to a router.John

1. 
   saschafer | Sep 13, 2007 04:34am | #6

   1) You can use a router and a straight edge, like forestgirl suggests. (If the pieces are big, I would go this route.)

   2) If the pieces aren't too heavy, you might be able to make a crosscut sled for your tablesaw and use that.

   3) If the pieces aren't too wide (no more than 12" or thereabouts), you can beg/borrow/steal/rent a sliding compound miter saw and square them off with that.

   -Steve

    

1. 
   Libraryroom | Sep 13, 2007 05:21am | #7

   Thank you for the reply. Is there any suggestion for ripping the pieces on the table saw. The problem is that my long sides are not paralell. How can I use the table saw to get a side 90 degrees to the end, so that I can rip planks that are perfectly square. I hope I am using the right terms.Thanks.John

1. 
   Samson | Sep 13, 2007 05:25am | #9

   IF the problem is the long sides are not parallel, by ripping the "plank" holding one side against a fence, you will achieve parallel long sides.  Then use a square to mark the ends and recut those ends by you favorite method - sliding compound miter saw - handsaw - jig saw - circular saw etc.

2. 
   GettinTher | Sep 13, 2007 06:22am | #10

   The answer is . . . use a crosscut sled.  A crosscut sled will ensure a crosscut that is square to one side.  Just make sure you securely clamp the long side to the fence of the crosscut sled.

   Danny

3. 
   BG | Sep 13, 2007 12:51pm | #11

   Libraryroom,
   Several different ways to skin...etc.
   I do it on the table saw using a 6' straight edge. The straight edge can be almost anything but I bought a piece of aluminum at the hardware store. The goes against the TS fence and your panel butts up against the aluminum. The panel and the aluminum gets pushed through the saw together...creating one straight side. Flip the panel and run it through the other side...not you have parallel sides. The ends are cut with a cross cut sled or miter gauge..

3. 
   forestgirl | Sep 13, 2007 04:04am | #5

   All you need is the router, a straight-edge, and a bearing-piloted bit.  Cut the panels just a bit over size (say 1/8"), draw a line across the end that's 90° to the side, clamp the straight-edge along that line and pilot the router bit off the straight-edge.

   Sounds like you had them cut the plywood at the panel saw?

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
1. 
   Libraryroom | Sep 13, 2007 05:23am | #8

   Thank you for the reply. I do have access to a router, but I have not used one before. I was hoping to get advice by using a table saw. I would like to know how to get my long sides perfectly parallel and then use that side against the rip fence so that my six foot planks are straight on the long sides. Thank you,John

4. 
   BruceS | Sep 13, 2007 05:43pm | #12

   Whats your location ?  Maybe one of us Knot heads could give you a hand and lesson on the saw.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S.