So you have a rough board and no planer

[formariz 11,987]

In today’s world many of us are limited in the possibilities or ability to do many tasks because we don’t have the right power tools. It does not have to be so. Using one of the recently made specialty planes along with two other planes i am going to describe how to dress a rough wood board fairly easily and quickly without any power tools. It actually took a lot longer to post this than to dress the board.
This board is only 12”x 32” but it works for any size board. You are not limited to a planers width. I have dressed boards this way in excess of 30”x 16 feet.

 

 A properly dressed board has to have no twist , bow, straight edges and be of consistent thickness. A purchased board already dressed most likely does not exhibit any of those qualities, the only thing it has going for it is that it has two clean faces and edges.

 

 First thing to do is to take any cupping from board ends. That is accomplished by planing two shallow rabbets on beard’s end using the special rabbet plane which by the way it is called a “ juntoura”.

 

Next using two winding sticks placed on rabbets one sights the edges for parallel. Any deviation one marks the high spots and using the same plane, planes them down just enough on the two high edges which will be diagonal to each other.

 

 

 We now have a board with two uncuped straight edges also untwisted in relation to each other. Now we straighten the board along its length by connecting the two rabbets with the same plane. Long plane will ride over low spots taking out first high spots.

 

 

 

 We now have the entire area around perimeter of board perfect in all aspects. Now it’s time to remove center connecting all perfected areas in boards’ perimeter using a scrub plane across boards width.

 

 

 

We now have a physically perfect face that just needs to be made smooth with a smooth plane 

 

 

this side is finished, now on to the other side, first jointing the edges with the long plane 

 

Using a making gage set for the desired board’s thickness one now marks the edge using the finished side as reference.

 

 

One now planes the other side using the scrub plane across the board as before until reaching the scribed line and then again with the smooth plane.  Board is now finished without using a single power tool. 
One thing that must also be done is to make sure both sides are done on same day or board will warp again due to the different exposure to moisture on each side.

 

 

 

 

Edited September 5, 2020 by formariz

[tunahead72 2,400]

I can't wait to read this post when I have time to focus and absorb! 

 

[953 nut 54,878]

I have watched Roy Underhill do this on his show and know how much satisfaction comes from doing things the way yesterday's skilled craftsmen did it.           I have even attempted this technique with some more modern steel planes. However, after watching this process I went to the shop and hugged my Makita 6" Jointer, 12" Planer.    

[formariz 11,987]

55 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

I have watched Roy Underhill do this on his show and know how much satisfaction comes from doing things the way yesterday's skilled craftsmen did it.           I have even attempted this technique with some more modern steel planes. However, after watching this process I went to the shop and hugged my Makita 6" Jointer, 12" Planer.    

 True. The satisfaction one gets is invaluable. I been doing this since my early teens and watched my grandfather and father do it before that. Its really second nature if one is used to it. Anything I do for myself with solid wood is done this way. I have work in the house that I cut the tree, milled it , dried it and and made the final product all by hand. To make a living, unfortunately it is not possible to do it this way unless you have a Residency at a place like Williamsburg. I have here a massive ash tree cut for a specific project that has been drying for the last 15 years which soon will be started and certainly is going to be a major challenge.

 

That is a great combination machine you have there. That is not seen very often. One of the nicest combination machines ever made.

[formariz 11,987]

Bumped so @Pullstart can learn how to fly his plane

[Pullstart 62,648]

I will cherish this new tool forever Cas!  Thank you, way more valuable in my heart than a load of wood