What is a proper jointing technique?

[johnnyb]

I've described this before but with a slow bow over double(or more)the infeed length it could be hanging an inch or more below the table as it hits the cutters. Concave down works OK when both ends are in contact with the infeed and the board is sturdy enough not to be to flexible ie straighten when pushing through.
Remember though not everything needs to flat. If its thin and fixed just thickness. Pre selection of appropriate wood is absolutely fundamental to getting the best from what you've brought.

 

[Sgian Dubh]

Old thread, I know, but significantly bowed boards I treat as follows.

1. Set bridge guard and right angle fence appropriately.
2. Concave face of the board down. Feed in, take a cut until the cutter block stops cutting. Lift board and pull back avoiding catching the spinning cutter block. Repeat, i.e., put front end down on infeed table, feed through until cutters stop cutting, lift, pull back board, rinse and repeat as deemed necessary by operator which means sighting and reading the board.
3. Next, similar procedure but done at the rear end, i.e., feed through from beginning towards rear end until cutter block knives cut a bit at the rear end and the board has passed beyond the bridge guard to the outfeed table. Lift board's rear end and pass it back to the infeed table. Repeat as needed.
4. Once the majority of material at either end has been knocked off do full length passes until the board is flat.
5. It's likely none of the above would today be considered safe practice... but it works.

This works for boards that are shorter than the combined length of the infeed and outfeed tables as well as for boards much longer than the sum of those two tables. The job is eminently doable with the bridge guard in place. I only know this technique works because I was taught it decades ago and I've been using it when needed ever since.

It's also perfectly possible to straighten a badly bowed board if you choose to put the concave face upwards as Jacob seems to prefer, not mine as my preference is concave face down. So, choose your preference and practice until you've got the knack. Slainte.