Thicky/Planer solution?

**FenceFurniture** · 25th January 2012, 06:14 PM

Hi all

I need to solve my lack of thicknesser/jointer problem, for not too much dough, and not too much space taken. I had a thought this morning about using a Carbatec X series 6" jointer (1400mm bed) in combination with (say) a Makita benchtop thicky. I would really like to go to a spiral head because of the chance of unseen nails, and also tearout issues (I use a fair bit of Spotted Gum). Quieter too, which is important here.

My thinking is this: Using recycled timber, I'll never know which side of the board will be the face until I've planed a wee way in. So, run both sides of the board across the jointer and make a choice. The two faces are obviously not parallel, but are flat at this stage.

Then run the board through a benchtop thicky, only for the purposes if parallelism. Planing the non-face. There could well be a little snipe introduced, because it seems to be inherent in these types of machines. I could nick that off with a block plane (or lop the end of the board), and then continue passes on the jointer until I have the desired thickness. I'd have to be reasonably careful to get each board the same thickness, but where it's critical I'd probably finish with a handplane anyway.

I'm not intending this to be for very long boards. I figure I could easily extend the in/outfeed of the small thicky and be able to do boards up to about 2 metres.

The X-series is $1300 and the Makita Planer is $800 (close enough). Any combo machine for the same money won't have the spiral head and will have all the problems of the cheaper combo machines (slow changeovers, compromises between the two activities), which is why I've arrived at this potential solution.

Your opinions on my chances of success please?

**elanjacobs** · 25th January 2012, 06:33 PM

I'd be wary of trying to thickness on a jointer; unless your tables and cutter are aligned perfectly and you can ensure even pressure the whole way, you'll end up with the 2 faces not quite parallel and each pass will make it progressively worse.

**BobL** · 25th January 2012, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

I'd be wary of trying to thickness on a jointer; unless your tables and cutter are aligned perfectly and you can ensure even pressure the whole way, you'll end up with the 2 faces not quite parallel and each pass will make it progressively worse.

I don't think he plans to do this - he mentions a desktop thicknesser to do that with.

**FenceFurniture** · 25th January 2012, 07:03 PM

To clarify, the thicknesser would be only for getting the faces parallel. After that go back to the jointer and reduce the non-face to achieve desired thickness.

**BobL** · 25th January 2012, 08:30 PM

It would be better if the spiral head was on the thicknesser than on the jointer (or of course both) that way you could tidy up any problems that encountered on the jointer but I don't think the Makita has a spiral head?

**FenceFurniture** · 25th January 2012, 08:39 PM

No Bob, and by the time you did that you'd have a Jet Combo with spiral (or just about).

**wolften** · 25th January 2012, 08:47 PM

...Mr FF...
...in my honest and no crapola opinion, spend as much as you can on a Byrd Head thicky.
The finish is outstanding, equivalent to a 320 grit finish.
One can also make a jig for the thicky to plane the edges, after sizing the wide faces, to make all 90º to each other.
I'll see if I can hunt up a piccy of said jig.

...ohhh...forgot to mention, use of a dusty on the thicky is a must, nasty messy buggars.

**rod1949** · 25th January 2012, 10:35 PM

For gods sake can't people write properly... a thicky... for the sake of 4 extra letters and spelling it correctly its thicknesser

**johnc** · 25th January 2012, 10:40 PM

Is a thicky a thicknesser for thicky's by any chance?

**rod1949** · 25th January 2012, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by johnc

Is a thicky a thicknesser for thicky's by any chance?

**Groggy** · 25th January 2012, 11:11 PM

A thicky is for making thinnies...

**wolften** · 25th January 2012, 11:45 PM

...and it's 5 extra letters

**FenceFurniture** · 25th January 2012, 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by rod1949

For gods sake can't people write properly... a thicky... for the sake of 4 extra letters and spelling it correctly its thicknesser

Perhaps, but it's 50% more syllables, and that IS worth saving

**adeben** · 12th February 2012, 03:56 PM

If we are REALLY into saving space, time, meanings or syllables, how about calling Bunnings by the name Bunnings instead of something cute and original such as 'Big Green Shed' or whatever?

**NCArcher** · 12th February 2012, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

I'd be wary of trying to thickness on a jointer; unless your tables and cutter are aligned perfectly and you can ensure even pressure the whole way, you'll end up with the 2 faces not quite parallel and each pass will make it progressively worse.

I agree, thicknessing on the jointer would not be very successful. Why not use the thicky (

) after jointing one face and edge like normal. Thats what it's designed for.

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