Planing Rails and Stiles.

On the diagonal!!!

Marc in Luxembourg


>Joe,

If the stile is proud of the rail because you wanted it like this, I would smooth before I assembled.

In case the joint is to be smoothed afterwards because it doesn't fit one hundred percent, I'd smooth the piece proud of the other on the diagonal beginning my cut each time at the joint (indeed about 1/4 from the joint) the blade skewed to the piece to be planed. Firm pression on the toe of the plane when starting helps much. This way you can "feel" when stile and rail meet in one plane. The last shaving should be one where you take off from both pieces. If you don't start behind the joint, you risk to have tearout in the second piece, because the plane's blade cuts in the idle immediately behind the joint and will dig in abruptly a moment later after the heel leaves the higher piece.

I use my best smoother with a high cutting angle up to 60 degrees, small mouth opening, because of the difficult grain. I wouldn't use a coarser cutting plane because of tearout. Using a block plane, it should be tuned to the same cutting geometry. For the last shavings using a scraper helps, but the blade should have rounded corners in order to prevent tracks.

Regards,

Marc,

doing the same thing here over the pond on american walnut and trying to avoid this same scenario ;-)

P.s.: I'd enjoy to see some pics of the finished piece :-)

Re: On the diagonal!!!

Joe in a Cleveland suburb


>Thanks for the reply Marc. Here's a work-in-progress shot. Still have a ways to go.

Thanks,

Joe

Nice assembly table. :>)

V Parisian

Re: Nice assembly table. :>)

david.marcus.brown


>I agree; I use my table saw the same way. It's a good height for assembly, glue-ups, etc. I throw a piece of old plywood on it when I'm doing glue-ups.

Newspaper

Joe in a Cleveland suburb


>The saw and outfeed table often end up as my workbench/assembly table/junk storing device/finishing table/beer holder/whatever... I just don't have too much room in my little basement shop.

Someday I will build a nice workbench like the one in WoodWorking magazine (Roubo bench?). The one I have now doesn't lend itself well to (hand tool) woodworking. Just think, a real woodworking vise. That must be an awesome device! :)

I usually put newspaper on my saw when gluing up or finishing.

Thanks,

Joe

technique

bill tindall


>I use a #4 and start with the toe on the high part of the joint and the body of the plane on the low part. I go up the low side and when the blade hits the joint just sweep the plane in an arc 90 degrees and then go down the other(high) side, maybe 1/3 of the way. By starting the toe on the high part nothing much cuts till you start sweeping onto the high part. With a sharp iron little effort is required to push the plane through this motion.

I have an assy table just like that!

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

Re: Newspaper

Victor P


>Sorry Joe just have to tell you that your assembly table is just like mine, except mine belongs to my son "Norm". He really hates it when he finds glue drippings on the extension and fusses at me for ever about the ring of rust left from a beer bottle on that great cast iron table top (read sharpening station).

By the way, thats a great looking project. We all want some pics when completed.

Victor - my shop is still to hot to turn the A/C on right now.

Re: Newspaper

arw01


>My favorite is the $1.00 table clothes. They are not glue friendly either.

My table saw has seen a large number of clue drips. I even use my hand scrapers on the extensions to get the drips off!

Alan