I have several log rounds that I need to have consistent dimensions . right now they are not consistently flat and range from 7/8 to one and a quarter or thicker. I need them flat and consistent thickness. I'm trying to decide what the correct tool for this is. I own a belt sander , but as it stands I've had a difficult time dimensioning the rounds. I've considered buying a power planer, some hand planers or a benchtop planer, however i have yet to see a good method for doing what i need to accomplish. See pics below:
How about a router and a jig? Make a jig to hold the slabs. Let the router ride on the top rails of the jig. You can set the router to thickness plane the slabs to your desired thickness.
The jig idea seems fantastic, i have a good router to use and some good bits. My question with that is how do you do level out surfaces that are not completely flat on one side? if you look at the pieces the cut is not smooth and flat.
Shim it up, flatten one side, turn it over, remove shims, finish.
Need to create a way to hold it in place after shimming.
Check out GaryK's blog (RIP) http://lumberjocks.com/topics/1992
If you are cutting them on the band saw, place the log on a flat board and use shims to square one end against the table. Get a 1X and attach it to the end of the log and screw a piece of wood (however thickness you are aiming for) to the top of the 1X that is extending above the log. Use that as a guide to make your cuts.
If you are cutting them on the band saw, place the log on a flat board and use shims to square one end against the table. Get a 1X and attach it to the end of the log and screw a piece of wood (however thickness you are aiming for) to the top of the 1X that is extending above the log. Use that as a guide to make your cuts.
XquietflyX, from the pictures, those disks look like sassafras, if so, be sure to wear a mask when cutting/sanding them as the dust from that tree can be harmful.
I just had to do that with some coasters. I flattened one side on the belt sander, then I glued on a spigot and faced them in the wood lathe flat and to the desired thickness. Then I cut off the spigot and sanded that original side again.
One of those bridge router jigs should work if you don't have a lathe. But you have to make a way to hold the piece secure if one side is not flat and/or just to keep it still under the router passes. I think I would make a big sideways V block or V- vise with 2 v's that clamp it from both sides. It would be nice to make one thicker than the piece so you can leave it in there all the time and flip the whole assembly while doing both sides. The v jaws would get cut a little but that would give you what you want- parallel and flat and to the size you want.
My 2 cents worth…...............Cheers, Jim
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