I was talking to a friend who suggested that I take my newly constructed
tabletop to the services of a local woodshop for final planing. The logic
being that they are equipped to handle objects far far wider than anything I
could have as a woodworker and passing my tabletop through the planer one
more time would absolutely ensure the tabletop was flat, planar, and
minimize any finishing that I would have to do.

Does that seem like decent advice, or are you all thinking "why isn't the
finished tabletop perfectly flat to begin with?"

Just for reference the tabletop is created from 4 10" wide pieces and sad to
say as this was my first attempt it didn't turn out as well as I expected.
It looks as though the finished wood bowed slightly after I had finished
it - I'm wondering if the weather changes may have something to do with
that? It is for all intents and purposes fall where I live now.

"Eigenvector" wrote in message
. ..
I was talking to a friend who suggested that I take my newly constructed
tabletop to the services of a local woodshop for final planing. The logic
being that they are equipped to handle objects far far wider than anything
I could have as a woodworker and passing my tabletop through the planer one
more time would absolutely ensure the tabletop was flat, planar, and
minimize any finishing that I would have to do.

Does that seem like decent advice, or are you all thinking "why isn't the
finished tabletop perfectly flat to begin with?"

That is what I'd do. Planer or belt sander. I'm going to build some end
tables in the next few months and that is what I plan to do with the tops.
Considering my time and money invested, a few more bucks for perfection is
well worth it. The top is the most visible part of a table.

On Mon, 1 Sep 2008 08:52:13 -0700, "Eigenvector"
wrote:

I was talking to a friend who suggested that I take my newly constructed
tabletop to the services of a local woodshop for final planing. The logic
being that they are equipped to handle objects far far wider than anything I
could have as a woodworker and passing my tabletop through the planer one
more time would absolutely ensure the tabletop was flat, planar, and
minimize any finishing that I would have to do.

Does that seem like decent advice, or are you all thinking "why isn't the
finished tabletop perfectly flat to begin with?"

Just for reference the tabletop is created from 4 10" wide pieces and sad to
say as this was my first attempt it didn't turn out as well as I expected.
It looks as though the finished wood bowed slightly after I had finished
it - I'm wondering if the weather changes may have something to do with
that? It is for all intents and purposes fall where I live now.


How much bow?

You may have a difficult time finding a planer that can handle 40",
most top out at 24.

You might find a wide belt sander that can handle the 40"

If it is consistently bowed, you might have trouble cleaning it up
without thinning it out too much.

Weather might have something to do with it depending on other factors.
Did you alternate the end grain direction on successive individual
boards, recommended to control bowing of the overall panel? Did you
make sure your jointer/table saw was perfectly 90 degrees when you did
your final edge joint? Did you make sure your clamps did not distort
the boards when gluing up, setting up a bowed condidtion. These
things can cause a bow, often difficult to remove after the fact.

Frank

"Frank Boettcher" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 1 Sep 2008 08:52:13 -0700, "Eigenvector"
wrote:

I was talking to a friend who suggested that I take my newly constructed
tabletop to the services of a local woodshop for final planing. The logic
being that they are equipped to handle objects far far wider than anything
I
could have as a woodworker and passing my tabletop through the planer one
more time would absolutely ensure the tabletop was flat, planar, and
minimize any finishing that I would have to do.

Does that seem like decent advice, or are you all thinking "why isn't the
finished tabletop perfectly flat to begin with?"

Just for reference the tabletop is created from 4 10" wide pieces and sad
to
say as this was my first attempt it didn't turn out as well as I expected.
It looks as though the finished wood bowed slightly after I had finished
it - I'm wondering if the weather changes may have something to do with
that? It is for all intents and purposes fall where I live now.


How much bow?

You may have a difficult time finding a planer that can handle 40",
most top out at 24.

You might find a wide belt sander that can handle the 40"

If it is consistently bowed, you might have trouble cleaning it up
without thinning it out too much.

The bowing isn't horrific, maybe a 1/16th between the 1st and 2nd boards.
If it got too hairy I could use putty, as this will be a painted table, not
a stained or clear finish - the wood is poplar (it's a mock up table to see
whether or not I have sufficient skill to work with more expensive wood).


Weather might have something to do with it depending on other factors.
Did you alternate the end grain direction on successive individual
boards, recommended to control bowing of the overall panel? Did you
make sure your jointer/table saw was perfectly 90 degrees when you did
your final edge joint? Did you make sure your clamps did not distort
the boards when gluing up, setting up a bowed condidtion. These
things can cause a bow, often difficult to remove after the fact.

Frank

What? Are you somehow implying that my work is not perfect? I'm insulted!

Eh I suspect the bow came from the clamping myself, but I'll be damned if I
know how. I dry fitted the pieces before clamping and I didn't detect any
noticable bowing.
As for this "Did you alternate the end grain direction on successive
individual
boards, recommended to control bowing of the overall panel" If you
wouldn't mind expanding on this I would appreciate it. I guess I don't
understand your meaning.

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
...

"Eigenvector" wrote in message
. ..
I was talking to a friend who suggested that I take my newly constructed
tabletop to the services of a local woodshop for final planing. The logic
being that they are equipped to handle objects far far wider than anything
I could have as a woodworker and passing my tabletop through the planer
one more time would absolutely ensure the tabletop was flat, planar, and
minimize any finishing that I would have to do.

Does that seem like decent advice, or are you all thinking "why isn't the
finished tabletop perfectly flat to begin with?"

That is what I'd do. Planer or belt sander. I'm going to build some end
tables in the next few months and that is what I plan to do with the tops.
Considering my time and money invested, a few more bucks for perfection is
well worth it. The top is the most visible part of a table.

First thing is to find a shop that will do it of course. I'm not in a rush
so this can be put on hold if one isn't immediately available. Based on
Frank's response it sounds like a belt sander will be it, either way works.

"Eigenvector" wrote:

I was talking to a friend who suggested that I take my newly
constructed tabletop to the services of a local woodshop for final
planing. The logic being that they are equipped to handle objects
far far wider than anything I could have as a woodworker and passing
my tabletop through the planer one more time would absolutely ensure
the tabletop was flat, planar, and minimize any finishing that I
would have to do.

Does that seem like decent advice, or are you all thinking "why
isn't the finished tabletop perfectly flat to begin with?"

Just for reference the tabletop is created from 4 10" wide pieces
and sad to say as this was my first attempt it didn't turn out as
well as I expected. It looks as though the finished wood bowed
slightly after I had finished it - I'm wondering if the weather
changes may have something to do with that? It is for all intents
and purposes fall where I live now.

If you want to destroy your top, pick up a belt sander.

Don't think planers come that big.

What you want is a commercial drum sander which will have 48" wide
capacity.

My guess it will cost less than $30.00.

BTW, make sure you seal ALL surfaces within 12 hoursif you expect your
top to stay flat.



BTDT

Have fun.

Lew

On Mon, 1 Sep 2008 10:57:36 -0700, "Eigenvector"
wrote:


snip

As for this "Did you alternate the end grain direction on successive
individual
boards, recommended to control bowing of the overall panel" If you
wouldn't mind expanding on this I would appreciate it. I guess I don't
understand your meaning.


When you do your glue up, look at the end of each board and the grain
will have a circular pattern that corresponds with the growth rings of
a tree. If you alternate, that is place first board curve up, second
board curve down, it will negate bowing caused by natural changes in
humidity by limiting any bowing to the width of a single board and
having the next board bow in the opposite direction. If they are all
in the same direction it will allow the bowing to be culmulative.

Sometimes this is difficult if the appearance is quite different, one
side of the board to the other and grain match is important on a
natural or stained finish, but on painted, no problem.

Frank

"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
news:rbXuk.253$1a2.170@trnddc04...

"Eigenvector" wrote:

I was talking to a friend who suggested that I take my newly constructed
tabletop to the services of a local woodshop for final planing. The logic
being that they are equipped to handle objects far far wider than anything
I could have as a woodworker and passing my tabletop through the planer
one more time would absolutely ensure the tabletop was flat, planar, and
minimize any finishing that I would have to do.

Does that seem like decent advice, or are you all thinking "why isn't the
finished tabletop perfectly flat to begin with?"

Just for reference the tabletop is created from 4 10" wide pieces and sad
to say as this was my first attempt it didn't turn out as well as I
expected. It looks as though the finished wood bowed slightly after I had
finished it - I'm wondering if the weather changes may have something to
do with that? It is for all intents and purposes fall where I live now.

If you want to destroy your top, pick up a belt sander.

Don't think planers come that big.

What you want is a commercial drum sander which will have 48" wide
capacity.

My guess it will cost less than $30.00.

BTW, make sure you seal ALL surfaces within 12 hoursif you expect your top
to stay flat.

Sounds like that was my problem. I didn't get around to the glue-up until a
week later I had no idea it was that critical.




BTDT

Have fun.

Lew

"Eigenvector" wrote in message
. ..

"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
news:rbXuk.253$1a2.170@trnddc04...

"Eigenvector" wrote:

I was talking to a friend who suggested that I take my newly constructed
tabletop to the services of a local woodshop for final planing. The
logic being that they are equipped to handle objects far far wider than
anything I could have as a woodworker and passing my tabletop through the
planer one more time would absolutely ensure the tabletop was flat,
planar, and minimize any finishing that I would have to do.

Does that seem like decent advice, or are you all thinking "why isn't
the finished tabletop perfectly flat to begin with?"

Just for reference the tabletop is created from 4 10" wide pieces and
sad to say as this was my first attempt it didn't turn out as well as I
expected. It looks as though the finished wood bowed slightly after I
had finished it - I'm wondering if the weather changes may have
something to do with that? It is for all intents and purposes fall
where I live now.

SNIP

I finished the top with a sander, it took a while to do but now the top is
nice and smooth and I have a finished product.

I'm glad I did a mock up before using better wood. Now that I've see what
it can take to do the job right I'll know what to expect in the future.
Actually I like the finished product, sure it's poplar and built like a
Sherman tank, but I kind of like the way poplar looks - nice green and tan
wood tones. Might stick it in the basement and use it as a poker table.