Thread: Thicknessing edges and glued joints

1. Why I do it (others may differ):
a) Often there will be a usable off-cut
b) It's done in one pass with less noise
c) Wide and thin boards are very likely to tip in the thicknesser giving you an edge that is not perpendicular

Otherwise absolutely no reason why you shouldn't and I often do.

2. If you have glue on both sides, then sending it through the thicknesser will give poor results because the board will not sit flat on the thicknesser table. I usually scrape the glue off with a card scraper and make sure it is flat. If it will fit in my thicknesser, I'm not adverse to running it through - however you are more likely to get tear out problems if grain direction is different in adjacent boards. It's also overkill to remove material thickness just to remove glue squeeze out. I try to get my panels as close to finished as I can at glue up and then just clean up with a plane or scraper. Having said that if the panels are not perfectly aligned and they will fit, running it through the thicknesser can be a quick way to solve the problem.

So not really any rules against either of the techniques you mention. Whatever works.

Thanks SilentC ...

I am with you ... if it works, its safe - all good.

If it happens to dull a few blades on the journey - well - they were going to go dull anyway.

So - here's another one.

Can anyone explain why the fence of a jointer only extends half way along the outfeed table ? My jointer is a 6" (very) old woodfast. If I am jointing edges after doing the first surface, I tend to apply pressure on the outfeed side against a fence that isn't there. There just isn't the room to have both hands pushing against the short fence ...

So I tend to put on an extension piece that only goes to reduce the available width.

There must be a reason ... coz everyone of them you see has a fence that stops around 1/2 way down the outfeed table.

Thoughts ?