Thread: Tapers using a Thicknesser

Why is it so scary? It is no different from planning a board. The only thing I would do differently is use a bandsaw to cut as much wood off as possible first then use the thicknesser to clean it up. It will save you many passes through the thicknesser.

Originally Posted by Wongo

Why is it so scary? It is no different from planning a board. The only thing I would do differently is use a bandsaw to cut as much wood off as possible first then use the thicknesser to clean it up. It will save you many passes through the thicknesser.

Only scary 'cos I've been wacked by a short bit coming out of the thicknesser, and I wondered if this was another "non-recommended" use of the machine
Regards,
Watson

Haven't seen it done with athicknesser. It's fairly common to use a jointer to do them though.

Personally I'd use a TS then clean the up with the jointer or a hand plane.

I don't see why it wouldn't be safe to use a jig with a thicknesser though.

I prefer to use the similar jig with a router and a dish cutter.

It's elementary, my dear Watson.

Seriously, it's a common technique,Neil.

Build a small tray that holds the leg neatly, and shim up one end with a fixed shim. Glue about three or four other shims of appropriate thickness in the appropriate place on the bottom of the tray to avoid/prevent leg flex as the leg travels through.

If you're tapering all four sides of the leg, you'll have to make up two trays, or a wide single tray, and have a two different sets of shims. One of them will be double thickness to make up for the material removed by the first tapering operation as you taper the opposite side of the leg.

As well, when we were trained, it was not to stand in the line of fire of a thicknesser, and, if you get a blockage, not to put your head down at inlet level to have a look-see what's going on, which was a common mistake.

Cheers,

eddie

Originally Posted by craigb

Haven't seen it done with athicknesser. It's fairly common to use a jointer to do them though.

Personally I'd use a TS then clean the up with the jointer or a hand plane.

I don't see why it wouldn't be safe to use a jig with a thicknesser though.

G'day Craig,
No jointer in this shed (this year).
The reason I asked if anyone had done it, is that the plans got really vague at the point they mentioned the tapering, with a really cruddy hand drawn "how to" drawing which raised a few warning signs in an otherwise very detailed plan.
Maybe I should just do it and stand to one side.
Regards,
Noel

Just do it mate. Nothing will come out and bite you.

Seriously mate I have seen it on a DVD and it looked pretty straight forward to me. I can’t see any problem with the method.

Originally Posted by eddie the eagle

It's elementary, my dear Watson.



As well, when we were trained, it was not to stand in the line of fire of a thicknesser, and, if you get a blockage, not to put your head down at inlet level to have a look-see what's going on, which was a common mistake.

Cheers,

eddie

That says it all....."when we were trained".....he hee hee!
You're talking to the untrained here.
I can understand your "how to" though, and I'll give it a bash.
Regards,
Noel

Originally Posted by Wongo

I prefer to use the similar jig with a router and a dish cutter.

That's a pretty good looking jig!
My only question is where's all the mess??
Thanks for the explanation though...I can picture that.
Thanks,
Noel

Thanks Wongo,
I'm still a bit tentative about somethings I try, and sometimes wonder why I'm out of breath after a couple of hours, until I worked out that when I'm doing something I'm not sure of ......I don't breath.
Silly!
Regards,
Noel

Yep, as others have said, it's a fairly common technique as described by Eddie (including his safety precautions).

Watson, it's wise to be cautious until you're confident. Before trying anything new, think through all the things that could possibly go wrong, work out how to avoid them, then work out how you'd stay safe if something unexpected went wrong.

Thanks AlexS,
I took on board Wongas last post, and standing to one side....(not breathing)...I used a temporary jig...and got a taper. No kickback, no damage, so I'll go on and set it up to do the job.
You're dead right about caution and confidence...and after thinking it through at first, I thought it was dodgy...hence the post.
Its sort of like the seven "p"s syndrome.....
Prior Preparation & Planning Prevent Pi## Poor Performance!
Thanks, and to all the repliers.
Regards,
Noel