Squaring a board

mac293 · Post by **mac293** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:20 am

What is the best way to square a board that does not have a flat side?
Thanks,
mac

richwalker1946 · Post by **richwalker1946** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:25 am

If I recall correctly from the Shopsmith Academy:

1. Rip one edge of the board on a table saw
2. Run that edge across a jointer to square the edge
3. Rip the other edge on a table saw - this gives you parallel sides
4. Crosscut the ends and this should give you a square bord.

nekhoma · Post by **nekhoma** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:36 am

If the board is 4 sides rough, how do you cut the first edge stright? You must have 1 flat side to run against a fence to rip it...

philcollins · Post by **philcollins** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:49 am

Fasten the board to a piece of scrap plywood or MDF with clamps, screws or braces you made in the shop. Steady it with shims so that one long side of the ply can touch the fence. Cut off the other side as needed, then proceed as previously mentioned.

roycroft · Post by **roycroft** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:30 pm

If one of the edges isn't too bad, then just jointing an edge with a jointer or #5 or #7 plane should straighten things out. From that point, then you can parrallel the board and crosscut it.

If the crook in the board is too extreme, either cut the board down in length to make it more usable, OR, draw a line on the board with a straight edge or chaulk line, band saw/hand saw to the line, and follow up with the jointer

petersfaith · Post by **petersfaith** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:20 pm

If you do not have an edge straight enough to use, attach a straight edge to the board by screws or nails and use that edge to the rip fence and you can saw a perfectly straight edge on the other side.

mac293 · Post by **mac293** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:23 pm

These are all excellent tips! I especially like the idea of clamping it to another board and sawing. This should give me one straight edge to work from.
Actually it is a piece of steel I'm trying to square using a grinding/cutting disk on my shopsmith so I don't think I will run it through my jointer!

mac

bashfulbob · Post by **bashfulbob** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 5:59 pm

Here is a URL I came accross.

hope it helps.

http://www.mydiscounttools.com/estore/articles/how-to/milling-lumber.asp

bashfulbob · Post by **bashfulbob** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 4:04 pm

Hi
My Workbench Magazine came in yesterday and in it is an artiv=cle on how to square a board. The cover of the mag is a small shop and the vol is 62, No. 5 Issue 297, October 2006.

It deals with using only power equipment using only the jointer, planner and tablesaw. It seems to be a pretty good article. If you don't have a jointer, it gives you steps on how to use a planner instead.

mac293 wrote:What is the best way to square a board that does not have a flat side?
Thanks,
mac

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Squaring a board

Squaring a board

Squaring a Board

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Squaring Lumber

Squaring a board