What tool for squaring timber?

[r896neo]

I am looking to buy a tool for squaring and planing timber. I have always done it by hand but have a bit of cash and would like to make my life easier. It will get medium hobby use so i'm not looking for something too expensive.

I do however not exactly understand if buying a jointer without also buying a thicknesser will be any use? Could someone please clarify their respective uses?

Can you PAR on a jointer? The thicknessing capacity is not essential but if a jointer will only give 1 face and edge then i'll need the thicknesser too? Or can you square and plane timber on just a thicknesser?

Cheers.

 

[jasonB]

A jointer will plane all edges at 90 degrees to each other BUT they will not be parallel to each oposite face along the length.

A planer/thicknesser will first give you a face side and face edge by using the planer part with fence, you then feed the wood through the thicknesser which planes the oposite side parallel both across the board and along the length, this is then repeated for the second edge provided the board is not too tall and narrow to stand on edge as it goes through the thicknesser.

If you only used a thicknesser the wood would be planed to the same thickness but would still have any bow left as you need the planer to first flatten one face.

JAson

 

[gidon]

Welcome.
You really need both a thicknesser and planer. You plane one face, then you square one edge with the planed face against the fence. Then you thickness the planed timber with the planed surface facing down. To get the last square edge you can either use the thicknesser with the square edge down on the thicknesser bed. Or more often run the piece through the table saw. You'll then have your PAR timber.
Combination machines are common in the UK - I have and can recommend the Scheppach HMS260:
http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/s ... HHMS2600CI
The advantage is they take up less space and the planer can handle wider material than most stand alone ones.
The disadvantage is changeover between the two operations can be frustrating if you're not organized or even if you are!
If you let us know you budget we may be able to offer some more suggestions.
Cheers
Gidon
EDIT: Arghh I'm too slow at this!

 

[r896neo]

budget wise i had been considering one machine and so was thinking 300quid or so but I realise if i need two machines then i may need to throw another few quid at it.

cheers

What say you to a portable thicknesser and seperate bench jointer? I realise i will have to sacrifice quality a bit but clearly one machine on its own is little use.

 

[ByronBlack]

Go to this link, watch the podcast, you'll then be armed with all the knowledge and 'how-to' in regards to preparing timber and what tools you'll need, this is the most comprehensive video I have seen on the subject and makes it all very clear:

http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/0 ... up-lumber/

 

[Kane]

So can anyone suggest a planer/thicknesser that ISN'T a pain to convert between functions?

 

[ByronBlack]

So can anyone suggest a planer/thicknesser that ISN'T a pain to convert between functions?

I believe the Jet is regarded is relatively low-hassle, MarkW can tell us more I think. But my one, the axminster clone isn't that much of a hassle, it only takes about a minute to swap over, and if you do you work in order then it's no hassle at all - i.e You'll do your face side and edge on the jointer for all the timber in your current project, then swap over and do the thicknessing, it's quite a seamless process really. Where it gets annoying is if you are inbetween jobs and need to use one or the other modes whilest in the mode you don't need, but it doesn't happen often. I think the value and space saving, I've come to the conclusion that the combo's are the way to go for us hobbyists.

 

[tnimble]

You cou;d get away with only a thicknesser. First plane one face flat with your jointer plane. Than run it through the thinknesser. Square one edge with your jointerplane, square the other edge and parralell it on the tablesaw. Remove all machine ripple and possible snipe with your smouther plane.

Saves a lot of time compared to doing all the thicknessing by hand. Especially because at first the reference face does not have to be flattened perfectly by hand. Its sufficient to only take out bow and wind to be usefull as a refenece for the benchtop or standalone thinknesser. When nearing final thickness flip the board over to perfectly flatten your hand prepared face.

 

[r896neo]

thanks for the replies,

I have had a wee look and i reckon i could stretch to the Sip 01454 combi machine at around £400

Or do people think it would be better to split the £400 and get a basic jointer For £200 and a thicknesser for £200?

Is the extra width capacity of a portable thicknesser worth it?

 

[Kane]

So can anyone suggest a planer/thicknesser that ISN'T a pain to convert between functions?

I believe the Jet is regarded is relatively low-hassle, MarkW can tell us more I think. But my one, the axminster clone isn't that much of a hassle, it only takes about a minute to swap over, and if you do you work in order then it's no hassle at all

Which model do you have BB?

 

[ByronBlack]

Kane I have a 'lyndhurst' copy of the axminster combo machine.

I would say that the extra width from the thicknesser isn't a huge benefit, if my panels are too wide for the combo thicknesser, I rip them into two boards, thicnkess them, and then join with biscuits or some such. One thing the combo thicknesser has going for it over a portable one, is it's longer beds and decent dust extraction.

 

[r896neo]

yea the longer beds do seem and advantage,

Does anyone have any experience of the sip 01454 machine?

I would be happy with a portable thicknesser at £200 but the cheaper end jointers/ planers seem a bit ropey.