Replies

1. 
   SgianDubh | Mar 16, 2003 12:22pm | #1

   There is a technique for doing it which is supposed to work reasonably well and involves the use of a piece of plastic laminate and the required rebating (rabbeting) ledge which not all jointers have, and adjusting the infeed and outfeed tables after flattening the first half of the board.

   However, it means that the cutting edges of the head are fully exposed before and after the cut, and it requires a careful balancing act on the part of the worker. I know how to set it up, but this old hand won't use the technique, nor would I reccomend it, particularly to an inexperienced operator. It's not a technique I would ever let anyone use in my workshop, but that's just me. Other workers are much less safety conscious.

   My approach if a piece is too wide for the surface planer (aka jointer) and the piece must be used at the width it came in, is one of two.

   1. Cut the width in half, flatten and thickness the two parts, prepare two edges for joining and glue it back together the way it came apart. A little hand planing should be able to flatten it after rejoining. Done carefully, the join will be almost invisible.

   2. Hand plane one wide face flat enough to go through the thicknesser. This can seem daunting to a beginner, and it does take some practice. Scrub planes and try planes are the ideal tools for this. I don't own a scrub plane. I keep meaning to buy one, but my electric hand plane does essentially the same job.

   If you don't have the skills or tools yet to do 2, I'd suggest you consider option 1 as the safest option available to you, a self admitted beginner. Slainte.

   Website    The poster formerly known as Sgian Dubh.

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Mar 16, 2003 08:01pm | #2

   Brian

      I read the post and was going to answer, but I noticed the 2nd post was from Richard Jones. In lieu of that, I will just go back to reading the April issue of WoodWork magazine. BTW, the person that answered your post, RJ is on the cover of that magazine. "Nuff said". ha..ha..

   sarge..jt