Hi,
I am building a play system for my kids and it will have a wood roof
with "shiplap" roof boards made of 1x6s. Basically, the top of each
piece is beveled down and sits under a rabbet in the next piece. I am
trying to figure out the easiest way to cut the long shallow bevel on
each piece. I would assume some sort of table saw jig is the only way
to go. Any thoughts on what to create for this? Thanks in advance!

-Rob

In article .com, "rob" wrote:
Hi,
I am building a play system for my kids and it will have a wood roof
with "shiplap" roof boards made of 1x6s. Basically, the top of each
piece is beveled down and sits under a rabbet in the next piece. I am
trying to figure out the easiest way to cut the long shallow bevel on
each piece. I would assume some sort of table saw jig is the only way
to go. Any thoughts on what to create for this? Thanks in advance!

If I understand you correctly, you're talking about boards with a
cross-section similar to this: (dramatically out of scale due to the
constraints of ascii art)

__
| \
| \
| \
| \
|_ \
|___|

and you want to know how to cut the bevel.

Tough to do on a table saw, unless you're using narrow boards, because of the
limited depth of cut. If I were going to *make* boards like this, I'd cut the
bevel with a bandsaw, and the rabbet with a dado set on the table saw.

But if I were going to *use* boards like this... I would *buy* them. Not make
them. Not worth the hassle IMO.


--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

Nobody ever left footprints in the sands of time by sitting on his butt.
And who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time?

rob wrote:

Hi,
I am building a play system for my kids and it will have a wood roof
with "shiplap" roof boards made of 1x6s. Basically, the top of each
piece is beveled down and sits under a rabbet in the next piece. I am
trying to figure out the easiest way to cut the long shallow bevel on
each piece. I would assume some sort of table saw jig is the only way
to go. Any thoughts on what to create for this? Thanks in advance!

-Rob

I'm having hard time following your description. Ship-lap is simply a
rabbet on opposite sides. Either way you orient the joint isn't a good
choice for a roof--if the upper piece lays on top of the lower, the
joint is reasonably weather-tight but will hold water in the lower
rabbet. If you flip it over it will have a direct path through. Can
you sketch what you have in mind?

As for cutting it, what you're describing as I imagine it would seem to
be an edge chamfer bit on a router.

On 24 Jun 2005 07:07:22 -0700, "rob" wrote:

Hi,
I am building a play system for my kids and it will have a wood roof
with "shiplap" roof boards made of 1x6s. Basically, the top of each
piece is beveled down and sits under a rabbet in the next piece. I am
trying to figure out the easiest way to cut the long shallow bevel on
each piece. I would assume some sort of table saw jig is the only way
to go. Any thoughts on what to create for this? Thanks in advance!

No jig needed. There is a V-shaped router bit you can use for that
purpose. It is designed to route a V into wood surface. but can be
used for a simple bevel as well.

Assuming that each side of the board, top and bottom has the bevel, so
that they form a V when they meet, you can cut a channel [groove]
along one edge of the boards, then a tongue on the other edge. Then
set the bit to the right depth, and using a fence for a guide, route
away. You could play at trying to route 2 at one time between guides,
routing the V in the join, but I'd not do that myself,and would do
each separately. Besides. it's not a production process.

"Doug Miller" wrote in message
...

If I understand you correctly, you're talking about boards with a
cross-section similar to this: (dramatically out of scale due to the
constraints of ascii art)

__
| \
| \
| \
| \
|_ \
|___|

and you want to know how to cut the bevel.

yup. That taper is going to be difficult on a 1x6. It would take two passes
on a typical table saw. I'd buy the boards that way but since it is just a
play structure why not just lap them like shingles?

The ascii version you posted is exactly what I am trying to do. I
didn't even think about the bandsaw...I just got one this year and I
always forget I have it there to use! I think I might be able to rig a
jig on there to cut it with, and then rabbet the back with the dado
head.

Duane : Maybe they are not really 'shiplap' after all if I get your
description of shiplap. I called them by this name because thats what
the brochure for the play system calls them. They are exactly as the
ascii art shows.

I guess I might try looking for some premade pieces for this if its not
easy enough on the bandsaw. Thanks for the replies folks! Much
appreciated.

rob wrote:

The ascii version you posted is exactly what I am trying to do. I
didn't even think about the bandsaw...I just got one this year and I
always forget I have it there to use! I think I might be able to rig a
jig on there to cut it with, and then rabbet the back with the dado
head.

Duane : Maybe they are not really 'shiplap' after all if I get your
description of shiplap. I called them by this name because thats what
the brochure for the play system calls them. They are exactly as the
ascii art shows.

I guess I might try looking for some premade pieces for this if its not
easy enough on the bandsaw. Thanks for the replies folks! Much
appreciated.

Well, let's see if I can cobble something up...
_____________
__| __|
|_____________|

Something like that is what I was taught to call shiplap--but in W KS we
ain't got no ships so maybe that isn't exactly right. You can see if
it lays as shown left edge up, there's a collection point in the
corner. If you think of the right end up, there's a flow path through,
so you understand my previous concern.

If I steal Doug's example art (thanks, Doug, I'm not sure I'd have
gotten this one, took me long enough for the above w/ the broke arm
typing )
__
| \
| \
| \
| \
|_ \
|___|

I do see how it would work to shed water ok. (BTW, that's a variation
of what I was taught to call "half-lap", but that again may not be
"offical".)

What about not making the angled section not quite so long and using a
beveled panel-raiser setup to leave a 1/4" lip? Something like (even
more exagerated)

_
| |
| \
| \
| |
|_ |
|__|


I'd think it a little hard w/ nominal 1x of sizable length to do the
taper on the bandsaw regularly (not impossible, just more difficult
owing to the flexibility of the material).

Yup, bandsaw. Until I read that I was going to tell you this. Some years
ago I built a customized picture frame without a bandsaw. I calculated the
amount of lift needed on one side of the piece to accomplish the degree of
bevel needed. I glued that to a like board and ran it through the planer
taking small cuts until it reached the proper profile. Then, taking that
board I glued a shoe to the bottom and another to the end of the board and
used it as a sled to carry the succeeding pieces through the planer. Easier
than it sounds.


"rob" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,
I am building a play system for my kids and it will have a wood roof
with "shiplap" roof boards made of 1x6s. Basically, the top of each
piece is beveled down and sits under a rabbet in the next piece. I am
trying to figure out the easiest way to cut the long shallow bevel on
each piece. I would assume some sort of table saw jig is the only way
to go. Any thoughts on what to create for this? Thanks in advance!

-Rob

"rob" writes:


[...]

I guess I might try looking for some premade pieces for this if its not
easy enough on the bandsaw. Thanks for the replies folks! Much
appreciated.

If you do them on a badsaw you should consider making two with every
cut, reducing waste to a minimum:


--- -----------
| \ \ |__|
| \ \ |
| \ \ |
| \ \ |
|__ \ \ |
| | \ \ |
--------- ---

Should be easy: Tilt bandsaw table (or attach auxilary wooden table
with fixed fence stub), saw strock....

--
Dr. Juergen Hannappel http://lisa2.physik.uni-bonn.de/~hannappe
Phone: +49 228 73 2447 FAX ... 7869
Physikalisches Institut der Uni Bonn Nussallee 12, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
CERN: Phone: +412276 76461 Fax: ..77930 Bat. 892-R-A13 CH-1211 Geneve 23

In article . com, "rob" wrote:
The ascii version you posted is exactly what I am trying to do. I
didn't even think about the bandsaw...I just got one this year and I
always forget I have it there to use! I think I might be able to rig a
jig on there to cut it with, and then rabbet the back with the dado
head.

Look he http://www.wrcla.org/cedarspecs/ceda...g/overview.asp

If pattern #101 is close enough to what you're after... that's trivial on a
shaper, with the right cutters. Which I just happen to have. If you're in or
near Indianapolis, email me, and we can talk about it. (see my sig for real
email address)

I guess I might try looking for some premade pieces for this if its not
easy enough on the bandsaw. Thanks for the replies folks! Much
appreciated.

I wouldn't even *think* about doing this myself, unless I needed only a couple
of pieces. Too much hassle. You shouldn't have any trouble finding what you
want already made, at a real lumberyard. Note that Home Depot, Lowe's,
Menards, etc. are *not* real lumberyards.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

Nobody ever left footprints in the sands of time by sitting on his butt.
And who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time?

In article , Juergen Hannappel wrote:
"rob" writes:


[...]

I guess I might try looking for some premade pieces for this if its not
easy enough on the bandsaw. Thanks for the replies folks! Much
appreciated.

If you do them on a badsaw you should consider making two with every
cut, reducing waste to a minimum:


--- -----------
| \ \ |__|
| \ \ |
| \ \ |
| \ \ |
|__ \ \ |
| | \ \ |
--------- ---

Should be easy: Tilt bandsaw table (or attach auxilary wooden table
with fixed fence stub), saw strock....

Note that doing so leaves the roughsawn surface exposed to the weather, which
may not be what the OP wants. If he wants the smooth sides exposed, the
rabbets should be cut on the bandsawn faces.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

Nobody ever left footprints in the sands of time by sitting on his butt.
And who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time?

rob wrote:

Hi,
I am building a play system for my kids and it will have a wood roof
with "shiplap" roof boards made of 1x6s. Basically, the top of each
piece is beveled down and sits under a rabbet in the next piece. I am
trying to figure out the easiest way to cut the long shallow bevel on
each piece. I would assume some sort of table saw jig is the only way
to go. Any thoughts on what to create for this? Thanks in advance!

-Rob

Of course, one alternative that would provide a very similar visual
effect would be 6" T&G siding w/ the shaped edge--sorry, I seem to have
lost the link to a very good catalog of "standard" profiles but the link
below shows a similar profile as their "EWP 106 or 105 drop siding"

http://www.woodsiding.com/pattern.htm

Again, thanks for the replies fellas. Some good ideas here. I may try
the 2-from-1 board approach which sounds good on the bandsaw. I can see
it may be really difficult to set up though. I also will check my local
lumberyards (Minneapolis) and see the cost for what I want in precut
panels.
I wanted to do it myself mainy because I bought all the lumber I need
so I would be stuck with the remainder if I get something else. On this
front, does anyone know if Menards would let me return lumber?

Heres's another question to pose to y'all regarding lumberyards and big
timber beams
:
For this project I needed some big ol' cedar 4x6 beams for the swing
beam and fort supports. I had to special order them from the
lumberyard. I ordered 2 12'ers and 3 10'ers. When they came in and I
got em home, I see 2 of the 10'ers have fairly prominent cracks down
them that look to go most of the way through and go probably 1/2 to 3/4
of the way down the beam. If I used these as planned for structural
supports, I think they would be very prone to failure when I put a
couple big bolts through them. Thus these 2 I am returning to the yard
for a refund. (Which they will give me...nice fella) The guy said he
cannot guarantee that others I order would not have cracks here, due to
the nature of their size. Am I wrong to expect mostly clear and sound
beams if they are milling them special? (And they are pricey). I am
basing my system on Rainbow's construction methods, which use 4x6s in a
lot of places, so it's not an unusual size to expect to get in good
shape is it? Thanks!

rob wrote:

Again, thanks for the replies fellas. Some good ideas here. I may try
the 2-from-1 board approach which sounds good on the bandsaw. I can see
it may be really difficult to set up though. ...

W/ 1x stovk to start from? I'd say so! You have router?

....
Heres's another question to pose to y'all regarding lumberyards and big
timber beams
:
For this project I needed some big ol' cedar 4x6 beams for the swing
beam and fort supports. ... have fairly prominent cracks down
them that look to go most of the way through and go probably 1/2 to 3/4
of the way down the beam. If I used these as planned for structural
supports, I think they would be very prone to failure when I put a
couple big bolts through them. ...it's not an unusual size to expect to get in good
shape is it? Thanks!

It depends on your definition of "good shape" is...the ones you get will
soon look just like the ones you have if they don't when they arrive.
It's impossible to dry timber of that size w/o checking and you ain't
gonna' cause it to fail, trust me!!!

rob expostulated:

| I am trying to figure out the easiest way to cut the long
| shallow bevel on each piece

Seems to me that you could do this with a planer...

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

"J" writes:

yup. That taper is going to be difficult on a 1x6. It would take two passes
on a typical table saw. I'd buy the boards that way but since it is just a
play structure why not just lap them like shingles?

And if you want it smoother, belt sander time!

--
Sending unsolicited commercial e-mail to this account incurs a fee of
$500 per message, and acknowledges the legality of this contract.

On 24 Jun 2005 07:07:22 -0700, "rob" wrote:

Hi,
I am building a play system for my kids and it will have a wood roof
with "shiplap" roof boards made of 1x6s. Basically, the top of each
piece is beveled down and sits under a rabbet in the next piece. I am
trying to figure out the easiest way to cut the long shallow bevel on
each piece. I would assume some sort of table saw jig is the only way
to go. Any thoughts on what to create for this? Thanks in advance!

OK, I misunderstood what you needed. Any chance you can do it with
several passes on a jointer? Mine allows for rabbeting. If you can
see to do that, be absolutely sure to move the material though with
pushers, not hands.

I cut bevels, as in door panels, using a radial arm saw with a
home-made guide. They cut quickly and easily.

rob wrote:
Hi,
I am building a play system for my kids and it will have a wood roof
with "shiplap" roof boards made of 1x6s. -Rob

I have never seen siding used for a roof, which is what you are doing.
Unless the roof is very steep, water will linger in the joints. How
will you nail it without leaving exposed nails? Exposure to the sun,
wind and rain at a roof pitch will be brutal on siding with
expansion-contraction, not to mention cupping. If it is not going to be
exposed to the weather, it makes no difference of course, but just
because somebody puts it in a set of plans doesn't mean it's a good
idea. I would substitute wood shingles or something intended for roofs.
Sam

The local lumberyard had exactly the profile I was looking for, and the
price was decent, so I bought the siding premade. That will save some
serious time. Thanks a lot guys for the suggestions.

Rob

"rob" wrote in message
ups.com...
The local lumberyard had exactly the profile I was looking for, and the
price was decent, so I bought the siding premade. That will save some
serious time. Thanks a lot guys for the suggestions.


When all else fails, buy it down the street!! LOL

Reminds me of a corporate communications job I got hired on. I had some
expertise in corporate communications and had the ability to bind many types
of publications between my business and some sales reps. I was told to
prepare a number of different publication models and make a very
comprehensive report to the company brass. I was given a good budget and
encouraged to spend it.

Sooooo...................., I spent their money. I prepared all the
examples. I interviewed many people to determine exactly what they needed
for their report formats. I wrote a compehensive report. And I got up and
knocked their socks off. Until I got to the end of the presentation. It
turned out that the best format for them was simply a standard three ring
binder. Ya know, what we all used in high school.

It was embarrassing to end on that note. But it was the simple solution. I
gave them all the evidence they needed. Not a high buck or high tech
approach. But it perfectly fit their needs. The only thing they had to do
was to buy some three ring binders and some three holed paper for their
printers and copiers.

They thanked me for saving them some big bucks and were amazed that the did
not think of it themselves. Sometimes simple is best. Many times simple is
best.

On 27-Jun-2005, "Lee Michaels" wrote:

They thanked me for saving them some big bucks and were amazed that the
did not think of it themselves. Sometimes simple is best. Many times
simple
is best.

the engineer's mantra

KISS

keep it simple stupid

ml