Replies

1. 
   PlaneWood | Nov 10, 2002 03:53am | #1

   How much wood has to be removed to get it flat?  Is the bottom flat?

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy
   PlaneWood

1. 
   garywood4 | Nov 10, 2002 03:12pm | #3

   I'm going to need to take about an 1/8th inch off of both the bottom and the top.

   Thanks Gary

1. 
   PlaneWood | Nov 10, 2002 09:37pm | #4

   Well -

   As the other person suggested, make a sled and use your router.

   Sled could be two pieces of angle iron, 2"x2"x8'x1/8" thick.  Or wood if stiff enough to not flex in the center.  Use a 1/2" shank and 3/4" diameter bit.  Get a new carbide bit.  Might need to resharpen it half way through.

   Hopefully you have a 4'x8' workbench to work on.  Shim up the bottom so that it is level and doesn't wobble.  Let the ends of the sled rest on blocks such that the bottom of the sled is close to the surface.   Would be helpful if you could rig up a vacuum to get rid of the chips.

   Will be slow, but should work.  A scraper plane could be used to clean up the ridges.

   If you ever do another one. consided making it in four 12" wide pieces.  That way you could use a shop planer on each piece before the last glup up's.  

   IF all the above is to daunting of a task, then you might rip it in half and find someone with a 24" planer.  I've never seen a 48" wide planer.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_KatyPlaneWood

2. 
   TomMGTC | Nov 10, 2002 04:07am | #2

   I think a router and sled along with a couple of nice straight 7 1/2' boards clamped to the side will be your best bet without taking it to a commercial shop.

3. 
   DaveHeinlein | Nov 11, 2002 01:18am | #5

   This is what I do when I have to flatten a large piece. It works great, although it's a bit slow going. Take very light passes.