April 2, 20215 yr Popular Post Hey folks....started a new project this week. I need a desk so I thought I would try to build one. I bought some rough cut 8/4 mahogany. While planing the boards to the same thickness my ridgid planer decided to crap out. After measuring the 5 I will use the thicknesses are 1.84, 1.78, 1.89, 1.90, and 1.85 inches in thick. I am trying to decide do I use my jointer to ‘plan’ down the thicker wood closer to the 1.78. Or do glue them up and use 50 or 60 grit to flatten out the top? Final dimensions are going to be 4.5 ft long x 27.5 deep. Any insights would be greatly appreciated! thank you...
April 2, 20215 yr Popular Post Good to hear from you Kevin, hope everything (short of your planer) is going well for you. If it were me with this problem I don't think I would try to sand out a 1/8" variance. OTOH, mahogany would sand out pretty quickly. I might look around for a replacement planer, use a jointer to take out most of that 1/8" and then sand, decide to learn how to use a hand plane, look for a cabinet shop or other woodworker that might do the job for a couple bucks. Don't be a stranger Kevin!
April 2, 20215 yr Popular Post I agree with Cal. Call around the area and see who has a wide planer (30”) or a wide belt sander and see what they would charge. Also you could glue up two panels 14” wide and it should not be hard to find someone local with a 15” planer and then just join the two panels. It will be very difficult to sand out a slab with 1/8” variances and get it flat. Paul
April 3, 20215 yr Author 21 hours ago, Cal said: Good to hear from you Kevin, hope everything (short of your planer) is going well for you. If it were me with this problem I don't think I would try to sand out a 1/8" variance. OTOH, mahogany would sand out pretty quickly. I might look around for a replacement planer, use a jointer to take out most of that 1/8" and then sand, decide to learn how to use a hand plane, look for a cabinet shop or other woodworker that might do the job for a couple bucks. Don't be a stranger Kevin! Thanks Cal! We have been remodeling since Oct and stored all kinds of supplies where I could not get to my tools. I may go the jointer route as I do have one. (Rikon). Thanks for the information. Hopefully my planer will be fixed soon.
April 3, 20215 yr Author 20 hours ago, Masonsailor said: I agree with Cal. Call around the area and see who has a wide planer (30”) or a wide belt sander and see what they would charge. Also you could glue up two panels 14” wide and it should not be hard to find someone local with a 15” planer and then just join the two panels. It will be very difficult to sand out a slab with 1/8” variances and get it flat. Paul Thanks Paul. Great idea. I am going to use my jointer and measure in between runs. I travel M-F for work and my daughter plays college softball so right now time is short at home. Lol. I’ll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck haha. Have a blessed Easter!
April 4, 20215 yr Author Popular Post Good news the local Woodcraft hooked me up with someone with a planer. All the wood to same thickness and sanded to 150 grit before all the batteries pooped out. Here is how I am thinking of the board layout. Happy Easter
April 4, 20215 yr Popular Post Looks like a nice layout, glad you found a reasonable way to address the earlier problem. Looking forward to more pip's...
April 4, 20215 yr Author Popular Post Thanks Cal and Paul. I appreciate y’all’s encouragement! Started the glue up. Due to work I hope to work a bit on it Friday. took a little time to fill in little caps with saw dust and glue.
April 4, 20215 yr Popular Post Looks like a substantial desktop. I am guessing the rest will be similarly built.
April 9, 20215 yr Author Popular Post My wife decide to order some heavy metal legs she liked. Lol 🤷♂️ Edited April 9, 20215 yr by KevTN
May 1, 20215 yr Author On 4/4/2021 at 4:49 PM, Gerald said: Looks like a substantial desktop. I am guessing the rest will be similarly built. Hey Gerald your question got me thinking about how to support this top long term. We’re you talking/suggesting the use of C-channels? Or something else? thanks
May 1, 20215 yr 5 hours ago, KevTN said: Hey Gerald your question got me thinking about how to support this top long term. We’re you talking/suggesting the use of C-channels? Or something else? thanks Not really thinking that ,but with a top that thick I presume you would want to use a support which would continue that look. This brings to mind X braces or some carved support similar. Take a look at these : Farm House Tables
May 14, 20215 yr Author Popular Post Finally got the final coat on today. I will problem smooth out with 0000 Sunday.
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