Hi from Essex

[Chewie66]

Hi there, I've just started on my woodworking journey. Made a few pieces (consort table the wife wanted, made a couple of benches for my workshop too, and now looking to make a few chopping boards (I know, everyone does them ). The chopping boards are what brought me here, was looking for a drum sander, unfortunately it had sold 8 months previous .

 

[Katomi woodsmith]

Hi welcome

 

[mykidsdad]

Welcome! Lots of great info here.

 

[Bingy man]

Good morning and good luck with your woodworking. More that enough help and advise as and when you need it..

 

[Essex Barn Workshop]

two new members from my home county in a day! Wonderful.

 

[Doris]

I'm only 2 or 3 miles south of you. Welcome

 

[Fred48]

Welcome to the forum
Fred

 

[Morag Jones]

And welcome from me too. Lots of ideas here.

 

[Eshmiel]

Hi there, I've just started on my woodworking journey. Made a few pieces (consort table the wife wanted, made a couple of benches for my workshop too, and now looking to make a few chopping boards (I know, everyone does them ). The chopping boards are what brought me here, was looking for a drum sander, unfortunately it had sold 8 months previous .

Hello and welcome from me an' all.

Chopping boards - I've made a good few. Are you wanting them to be end-grain-up items (butcher block style) or are you making long grain boards of the charcuterie style? In either case, the quickest way to flatten them is to use a hand plane rather than a drum sander. The latter are expensive and a bit finicky to keep in order. Also a generator of vast amounts of fine dust. I had one for around ten years but used it less and less as I understood and adopted various hand planes instead.

Different planes are used to flatten and finish things of different kinds, sizes and wood grain orientation. But the right plane works very quickly to flatten a thing. Longer soles will auto-flatten whatever you use them on. Blades with a low cutting angle will deal better than those with a high cutting angle to sever and flatten end grain surfaces. Swirly complex grain will cut more smoothly (no tear-out) with a high cutting angle. Etcetera.

One jack plane of the bevel up variety with three blades to fit it, sharpened with different cutting angles, can be almost the only plane you need. There are several makers; and a lot of info about using them on this forum. This retailer sometimes posts here:

https://woodworkersworkshop.co.uk/hand-tools/planes/jack-planes/

https://woodworkersworkshop.co.uk/content/Wood_10_2024_MTC Low Angle Block Plane.pdf

 

[naughtymoose]

Hi Chewie66


Hello neighbour! I'm in Basilgloom as well!

 

[Skydivermel]

Welcome