Best Way To Cut

[chrisb0109]

Ok say I have a piece of purple heart that is

20X15X2 inches and I want to make it two pieces that are each 20X15X1 inch.

What would be the best way to got about doing this?

[westhemann]

that is called resawing(or bookmatching) and you would need a very large very well set up bandsaw for a piece that large

good luck...i have found nobody in my area that can resaw worth a damn

[chrisb0109]

theoretically could it be run along a table saw on all sides then saw through the middle by hand? Then to make to sawed side flat, run through a planner?

This would obviously be an enormous amount of work but I think it could be done.

And if worst comes to worst then I suppose half could be planed off to make just one pice 1 inch thck.

[guitar_ed]

Don't forget to account for the wood that the saw will remove.

Guitar Ed

Been there, didn't do that like I should have.

[PerryL]

Hey Chris, What are ya gonna do with it, If I may Ask?

[chrisb0109]

Yeah I am acounting for the wood removed by the saw. Each piece can be a little under and inch or one piece can be an inch and one piece less.

As for what I'm doing with it, It will be the front of a guitar. The back will be mahogany.

Purpleheart/mahogany body

Maple neck

Purpleheart fretboard

Multi scale length

[johnsilver]

You might try hardwood suppliers or cabinet shops in your area. My local hardwood supplier has a machine especially for resawing that can handle a piece that big. They charged me a $10 setup fee and then ran the wood through. After resawing, the pieces did need to be run through a planer for final dimension which was another small charge. Of course, I bought the wood from them so they were willing to do the milling.

[chrisb0109]

a cabinetry shop is a good idea. I'll look into that.

I have access to a planer so that is not big deal. Its the getting it into two pieces that will be harder.