Any CSM’ers out there that have flattened slabs with a router? I have many slices of apple that twisted and cupped when it dried and I’d like to get one side flat to run through my planer. Looking to do this on an unemployment budget too. Like to know what works and what doesn’t. Considering similar to this. I do have some wider than my planer so the sled method to run through that is out. I did run a few pieces through to see if I could work out most of the twist but failed miserably. The wood looked awesome smoothed over so I’m hopeful.
Would a hand held planer be of any help? Maybe can hit the high spots gooder enough for your regular planer to finish off? Spitball.
I have Delta lunchbox planer with a max width of 13", like the one pictured. Most of my slabs are too wide for it. Widest is walnut that is about 31". For what can fit through it, I'll make a sled which will be much easier that the router method. But a hand planer would significantly speed up knocking down the high spots.
I like the router table idea but have not used that method. I have used a portable power hand planer and gotten good results. Finish up with a belt sander. I also have the Delta portable planer. I have it on a stand so I can wheel it outside and just let the chips fly. A picture of a table I put together a few years ago.
Heat let up enough to do some work on the sled/jig. Test run success. Backing up a step, I decided to attach rails to the side of the table. Used the jointer to true up a pair of old deck boards, and slotted them. Just clamped this side. Not sure I’ll keep them. Might use a pair of longer 1 by’s. Seems to be working as planned. It’s flat as a.. board. Instead of readjusting the rails, I put a piece of mdf under to raise slab.
Boy those pieces ought to be worth some money! Are you planning a project for them, or sale? Digging the budget planer...
Now that I have some free time, it's either use them or sell them. I couldn't sell all twisted up so I'll get a bunch flat and during the process try to think of a way to use them. Nothing on my mind as of right now but in looking at youtube for the sled idea, it has shown me some suggestions that might help. Honestly the main reason for doing all this is for 3 huge slabs of maple I have. It's curly and thick. Hoping to make my own audio rack. Found the thread where I milled these. 2016! They're definitely dry.
So all the time it took to get the side rails just right, I didn’t want to move them to lower the sled. I ended up using a couple pieces of 3/16th underlayment underneath to raise up the slab. Producing quite a bit of chips. @ the end of the day, I decided to wax the sled, hoping to make it a bit more slick.
Awesome job on the sled, Jason. Those slabs are beautiful. Couldn't you adjust the router depth some too or that wouldn't be enough? Looks like your idea worked well. A bar of paraffin wax works great to keep it working smoothly also. My dad built a stroke sander that would finish those slabs nicely, it would do a whole tabletop. Didn't know you weren't working now. Hope things work out, my friend
Thank ya sir. I have 2 possible lines. 2nd one is the old employer, go figure. They need someone for product support and I would be doing it from home. 1st is a car stereo/wheel & tire boutique. I do use the routers adjustable depth, typically at 3 levels, till it runs out of range. Can't cut real deep w the bit as it chatters too much. It's just a cheaper Craftsman w 1/4" collet. To just use the routers adjustment I'd have to pull the bit too far out of that. And my first preference would have been a candle to make the router base slide better. I need to get one just for that. Sure would be a time saver to have a large format drum sander. I searched out slab flattening locally and there's a couple guys that will do it router style and they are not cheap. I've got many to do so had to come up w/ something. I think my next tweak will be melamine covered rails. I need to work out all the fine details before I do the curly maple. Hoping to make something like this with contrasting color vertical pieces. Probably use walnut for them. Like this but not so wide.
I started another thread about an auction of shop tools, IIRC there was a 36" Grizzly belt sander in there with no bids. Bids were starting at $1. In Ohio so might be doable for you, that would be a sweet tool to finish those slabs.
That would definitely save me boat loads of time. Unfortunately since I'm unemployed, my budget is very low. I'll jump over there and check it out, thanks. Grizzly makes good stuff IMO.
two suggestions on the sled, cover the sled part with a pice of laminate or remake the sled bottom using melamine board
