Birds eye maple = PIA
 

First time using this stuff. I think the scraper was invented for BEM.
Planed 'em down and the inside of the "eyes" just explode and leave little
dimples all over the place. Sand sand sand, scrape scrape scrape, sand
sand sand sand, scrape scrape scrape. Uggg.

I need a wide belt sander!!!

-Cheers

stoutman .@. wrote:
: First time using this stuff. I think the scraper was invented for BEM.
: Planed 'em down and the inside of the "eyes" just explode and leave little
: dimples all over the place. Sand sand sand, scrape scrape scrape, sand
: sand sand sand, scrape scrape scrape. Uggg.

: I need a wide belt sander!!!


You can get a lot less tearout if you wet the board before planing or
jointing it.

-- Andy Barss

stoutman wrote:

First time using this stuff. I think the scraper was invented for BEM.
Planed 'em down and the inside of the "eyes" just explode and leave little
dimples all over the place. Sand sand sand, scrape scrape scrape, sand
sand sand sand, scrape scrape scrape. Uggg.

I need a wide belt sander!!!

-Cheers


Would you settle for a drum sander? I've read both pro and cons about
the usefulness of the drum sanders like the Performax and Delta units.
Some say they bog down too easily, and the paper doesn't last long, so
there's the expense and hassle of frequent changes. I'd sure like to
try one of those babies out to see for myself how well they really do
work. Not sure what corner of my shop I could place one, but I think
I'd make room.

Dave

"stoutman" .@. wrote in
om:

First time using this stuff. I think the scraper was invented for
BEM. Planed 'em down and the inside of the "eyes" just explode and
leave little dimples all over the place. Sand sand sand, scrape
scrape scrape, sand sand sand sand, scrape scrape scrape. Uggg.

I need a wide belt sander!!!

Helps to dampen the wood before planing, and to have really sharp planer
blades. And for the last bit, a very sharp handplane with a narrow set
mouth works well.

It's a beautiful wood, worth the effort in my opinion.

"stoutman" .@. wrote in message
om...
First time using this stuff. I think the scraper was invented for BEM.
Planed 'em down and the inside of the "eyes" just explode and leave little
dimples all over the place. Sand sand sand, scrape scrape scrape, sand
sand sand sand, scrape scrape scrape. Uggg.

I need a wide belt sander!!!


Better be an oscillating variety. Birds burns and pops, too. You have the
small eye stuff? more complicated than the big eyes, but should still be
doable with a sharp planer and shear feed.

I've had the Performax 22 x 44 for about 10 years. The best upgrade
that I did to it was to rewire the drum motor to 220 volt. (If you do
this, remember that the power feed motor runs on 110, so you need two
power cords, one for the drum, and one for the power feed motor) It
never bogs down and trips the circuit breaker any more. I use it mostly
for smaller things. and take larger panels to a sanding service. They
can do a few table tops, in 1/4 the time that I can on my smaller
machine.
robo hippy

I built a humidor out of BE maple, and the suggestions above were
helpful, also if the stock will allow it try running the board
through the planer at a slight angle, and take shallow passes. I was
working with the small eye stuff and even though I did all of the
above I still had small dimples, only noticeable at a steep angle or
running your hand over it. After 4- 5 coats of finish, they were not
noticeable.
I love the look of BE maple especially with a contrasting wood like
ebony.
Mike