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Well, then, a success story for my use of handplanes vs. the router - this is a first for me, as I've not been using planes very much or for very long. I'm making a mail box as a self-training project, teaching myself how to build something using the stripbuilding (strip-n-staple) method prior to doing the *real* project, a kayak. I figured a mailbox had a semi-cylindrical shape and was small enough that if (when!) I screwed it up, I wouldn't be out much - as it turned out, this was a bright idea on my part. I built the mold form easily enough and cut the strips (1/4"thick x 1.5" wide strips cut from a cedar 2x4) on my table saw and then, at the suggestion of the instruction book I'm using, milled alternating beads and coves on the strips edges so that they'd fit together nicely over the curved parts. I assembled and glued the strips and thought "Man, those joints kinda suck - hopefully they'll look better after sanding". Except, well, they didn't - they looked worse. Drat. So, scrap the first build - it'll make nice kindling, and as I used only 10' of 2x4, I wasn't out much. Round #2. The author of the manual mentioned that some folks used a hand plane to trim the strip edges, but his tone was that it was real hard. What they heck, I thought, let's give it a shot. I got a 2nd 2x4 - redwood this time - and cut the strips. I started by jointing the edges with my LN62, but it was kinda big-n-heavy for a job this size, so I switched to the ever handy block plane, recently tuned (well, as best I know how) and sharpened. Shavings just flew - planing 1/4" strips is pretty easy... and even though my set up is not going to win accolades and awards (pinch clamps held the strips to my tablesaw fence), it worked just fine. That worked *exceptionally* well for the flat sides of the box - the joins are virtually invisible - and while the chamfered edges over the curves still require some technique refinement on my part, they came out plenty good enough it appears. The true test will come by how it looks next weekend after I pull the staples, fair the outside! with a plane and then sand it down., but it is already far superior to version 1.0 Added benefits - my dog hung out in my shop with me, I could hear the stereo (Grateful Dead, in case anyone cares) and SWMBO was able to walk in w/o fear of startling me into cutting a finger off. And, it didn't take any longer then setting up the router table. Score one for handplanes.... Brent Leatherman |
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