Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Planing Bookmatched Panels
MarkSmith
>I've recently begun to increase my use of bookmatched panels. I've been having some difficulty planing them. If I'm not mistaken, the two side of the panel have to be planed in opposite directions (true?). How does one handle the seam in the middle? If the plane strays into the wrong side, it seems pretty likely to induce tearout.
Thanks,
Mark
Re: Planing Bookmatched Panels
Christopher Schwarz
>Mark,
I've struggled with this problem quite a bit. Here's what I do � and I'd love to hear a better solution because there has got to be one.
Wide belt sander.
Just kidding.
I prep each board as much as possible before edge-gluing with a jointer and smooth plane. Then I join them, being careful to keep the joints aligned at the seam. Then I get out my scraper plane and card scraper.
And the #220 and a sanding block. (Hey that's a hand tool, too!)
cms
Re: Planing Bookmatched Panels
Alan Bierbaum
>Same here except substitute ROS for belt sander. (I do hold it in my hand). I only sand when pressed for time (customer project) or really can't get the joint with scrapers.
Re: Planing Bookmatched Panels
Bob Lang
>As you say, you will be going backwards on one of the boards if you approach it head on. I would try:
A really sharp iron
A really light touch
Holding the plane at a 45 degree angle across the joint, as you move it along the joint. If it tears going one way, try the other.
Sometimes this works, but I would have the scraper, sander, and other assorted plan "B" weapons standing by.
Bob Lang
Re: Planing Bookmatched Panels
Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)
>Prepare as much as you can before hand.
Having planed each side separately, it is time to deal with the join. If I get any hint of tearout (while planing at a 45 degree angle), I pull out my secret weapon - a Mujingfang mini smoother (60 degree cutting angle, about 4 " long). This cuts with or against the grain without any tearout. You wouldn't want to use it on a large panel, but in small areas it reigns supreme. I think that it is a copy of the HNT Gordon mini smoother (I have seen them side-by-side and they are identical).
Regards from Perth
Derek
Re: Planing Bookmatched Panels
Mike Fitterling
>Check out Craig Thibadeaux's thread in Power Tools: Coffee and Side Tables in Walnut *PIC*. He explains how he does just what you are asking about.
Cheers,
Mike