Planing Figured Woods

[guitar2005]

How do you guys do it? A thicknessing planer will likely tear the crap out of figured maple, especially flame maple. What is the proper method for thicknessing flame maple?

[westhemann]

thicknessing sander

[guitar2005]

thicknessing sander

Yes, but those are pretty expensive

I was hoping that someone would respond with a cheaper alternative

Edited December 19, 2010 by guitar2005

[westhemann]

You can sand it by hand or you can get good with a really sharp hand planer.Or you could make your own sanding thicknesser.All you would need is an electric motor,a couple of pulleys,and a well thought out way to adjust the sanding drum...

[avdekan]

Pin router for the rough thicknessing (without the pin!).

high angle (55 degrees or above) hand plane for the fine work.

about the home made drum sander- benedetto's archtop book has a nice description of one in which the drum is fixed and the bed is adjustable using a hinge on one side and a lifting screw on the other. in order to change the thickness you tip the bed's angle. Fairly simple after you can figure out how to construct a perfectly square and stable mounting for the sanding drum...

Edited December 19, 2010 by avdekan

[westhemann]

using a hinge on one side and a lifting screw on the other.

Actually that is a very good idea...

[guitar2005]

I ended up finding a great deal on a 13" drum sander. This is what I'll use after the boards come off the bandsaw (new Grizzly polar bear series 14" with riser block upgrade - sold my old one to get this - haven't even used it yet! I'm so excited!)

[Drak]

I had my eye on one of those to, almost pulled the trigger.

But I wanted to hold out for a Jet or some other slightly higher end model, I want it to be a one-time purchase,

but as they say, a bird in the hand beats two in the bush, so congrats on the score!

[guitar2005]

I had my eye on one of those to, almost pulled the trigger.

But I wanted to hold out for a Jet or some other slightly higher end model, I want it to be a one-time purchase,

but as they say, a bird in the hand beats two in the bush, so congrats on the score!

The Craftex Drum sander, I got for 665.00, taxes in. It was an open box store demo, discontinued model. All of the other brands/models in the "baby" size were 12" or were open ended. The design of this one seems to be very good... and its a heavy beast @ 200lbs.

For the amount of use I'll put this machine through, it should be just fine.

[Metalhead28]

I use a drum sander now, but before I had one I would dampen the wood before sending it through for very light passes.

Just wipe it with a damp rag and give it a minute to soak in. It usually helps a lot.

[Quarter]

...wipe it with a damp rag and give it a minute to soak in. It usually helps a lot.

Interesting, I'll have to give that a try.

Besides very shallow cuts and sharp knifes, one other thing I've found that helps is to run the piece through at a bit of an angle if its not too wide.

[guitar2005]

...wipe it with a damp rag and give it a minute to soak in. It usually helps a lot.

Interesting, I'll have to give that a try.

Besides very shallow cuts and sharp knifes, one other thing I've found that helps is to run the piece through at a bit of an angle if its not too wide.

Yeah, I've tried that but it feels like playing lotto every time and with birdseye, it will never work.

[kkooss16]

Congrats on the new machine!

The best way to keep figure is to get the best blades available, and have them properly sharpened, i co-oped in a pattern shop and the (rather average) thickness planer would have the boards looking their best while keep a perfectly flat and clean surface only using a blade upgrade.

I've always been told the machine doesn't have to be top of the line, only the cutter/blade (for what ever kind of machine it is)

Oh and Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays everyone!