Getting Parts to Come Out The Way You Want Cutting Wood to Size

Understanding the Process In order to have wood come out accurately sized, each student should have a solid , initial understanding of the working of each machine and how each machine is used in proper sequence. Therefore, the sequence and the processes work together with each power tool to create accurately sized wood.

The “Processes” within “The Process” A process is defined as anything that is done to wood using hand or power tools. “The Process” of dimensioning wood in this lesson is concerning power tools. As each step is taken during the machining, that step helps to augment the next one. So the entire “Process” is a series of smaller ones that leads to the end result of flat, sized, and surfaced piece of wood.

The Nature of Wood Wood is a porous material. Because of this, most wood is hygroscopic; meaning it absorbs and gives off water all the time. This causes many different types of defects during the “drying” process. Some of those defects include; cupping, twisting, and bowing. So some of the processes are done to correct these defects.

A Point to Remember This is not a comprehensive safety and procedural lesson on each of these power tools. This lesson is really about understanding the sequence of “cutting wood to size” using these tools. It is assumed that you will have already been taught about this power equipment during the introductory portion of the class If not, it is the student’s responsibility to make sure that he has been given proper safety instruction and,until then, he should never operate this equipment

Something to Think About Before You Begin BE Careful BE Thoughtful BE logical And most of all BE SAFE!!! Learning to follow a progression in an orderly, thoughtful, and safe manner is the key to minimizing mistakes and to be successful with the outcome.

Beginning “The Process” The first step is to take one face and machine it flat and smooth. When taking a look at our unsurfaced and undimensioned board, this is when you check for cupping along the width. We will flatten the board using the jointer. The “cupped” part of the board will lay facing the bed of the jointer Joint the board till it is flat.

Step Number Two The other face of the board is “smoothed” through the planer This creates two parallel flat surfaces Grain direction is reversed and with the planer knives “on top”, the board is reversed from going through the jointer.

Step Number Three This process is very important as it creates a “trued” edge. In other words, “truing” a board is creating a 90 degree corner Using the jointer and placing a jointed face firmly against the fence, straighten one edge If the board is bowed, place the bowed edge facing down

Step Number Four This step cuts the width of the board to a finished width plus 1/16th of an inch This “ripping” process is done on the table saw. The jointed and finished edge goes firmly against the fence, and is kept there throughout the cut.

Step Number Five Back to the jointer. Now take that “ripped” edge and take off the added 1/16th of an inch to your desired “finished” measurement One more step!

Final Step Cut to finished length This is called “finished crosscutting” This process can be done on the table saw using a miter gauge or (and this is the most common shop method) using the “miter saw” Now, following a logical sequence, you will end up with a board cut the size your want!!