Clueless In Kings Mountain

[dhall]

Hello everyone. My name is Darryl and I live in Kings Mountain, NC.

I have accumulated some cheapo word working tools over the years and I figure it's time to learn to use them. I have watched tons of Youtube videos, read some books and find that it's too much information for my poor brain to wrap around. I have made a few pens and that's about it.

I have decided to start off with bandsaw boxes. Problem is I don't have a planer or jointer for flatining wood to glue up. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[Hank Knight]

Darryl,

Without access to machines to dimension your stock, you have two choices: (1) purchase pre-dimensioned lumber; or (2) get yourself some hand planes and do it the old fashioned way. There are several suppliers fairly near you that sell lumber that has already been jointed and plained (surfaced on two sides or S2S). Google the WURTH GROUP and you'll come up with a hardwood dealer that has retail locations in Greenville and Charlotte (and elsewhere). They sell S2S hardwood. I'm sure there are other sources; just ask around.

Hand tool work had grown in popularity in recent years and hand planes are actually a viable alternative to machines. You can learn to take rough stock all the way to precisely dimensioned boards with hand planes and saws. It's labor intensive, but rewarding in it's own way. All you need is a couple of hand planes with sharp irons and a way to hold your stock steady on a flat planing surface while you go at it with the planes. There's tons of information available on the subject. I sugggest you check out your local library for starters.

Hank

[Mark Gottesman]

You can use a router with a flush trimming bit and a straight edge for establishing a straight right angle face. Or you could use a plane and winding sticks (high skill) to make a board 4 square.

I have seen How-to's on setting up a fence on a table saw to plane a board flat, but that has never been my first choice.

If it is small pieces of wood, you can stick some sandpaper on a glass sheet (thick so it won't flex) and just sand it flat. Works great, but it is slower than a planer.
However, please never work with small pieces of wood on a power tool without making sure that piece is secure and your hand won't get dragged into the cutters.

[FlyingRon]

I went for years in woodworking without a jointer or a planer. Most wood suppliers will sell S2S (either because they already have surfaced it or they can do so for a slight additional charge).
You can edge joint it on the table saw with a fairly simple jig, but most of the time the rough edges are straight enough that you can just rip it to size without it.

[ScottM]

Welcome to the NCWW family. You have already rec'd some great advise. Keep those questions coming.

[cskipper]

Welcome. Please keep up updated with your progress.

[dhall]

Thanks for the welcome and suggestions.

Will pre-milled boards that have been sitting in a store somewhere be flat enough for small glue-ups without further milling?

[ehpoole]

Thanks for the welcome and suggestions.

Will pre-milled boards that have been sitting in a store somewhere be flat enough for small glue-ups without further milling?

It will depend on how carefully you select them for straightness. You just need to learn to site down the length of the board on two axis and you should see pretty readily how much curvature or twist is in the board between the two ends.

If you choose them at random, then it will be pot luck as to what you wind up with.

[bobby g]

Darryl,

Welcome. Bandsaw boxes are great fun. I started making them out of 2 X4 lumber glued up. It's easy to cut and sand and you'll get a great sense of accomplishment! If you look carefully through the pile at one of the home centers, you should be able to find a stud flat enough and smooth enough to be able to do a glue-up. Take a straight edge with you.

Good luck,

bobby g

[dhall]

Thanks again! I think I'll try the 2x4 thing for practice.

[red]

Welcome to the forum.

Red

[FlyingRon]

Take a straight edge with you.

No need to take one with you, they've got tons in the home center.