edge planing plywood

[MTbassbone]

I am attempting to make a desk top out of plywood that is on edge.  Basically all of the plies will show as the desk top.  I am using the Precision Dogs parallel guides, and I am getting small variances in the sizes of the strips I am cutting.  This is making it difficult to get the top and hopefully the bottom flat.  Can I use a bench plane on it when its all together?  or run it through a planer?  I thought about just sanding it flat, but I don't think that is going to be flat enough.  It would be nice if the bottom were flat too because I have to attach the hairpin legs.  Thoughts?

Thanks,
Derek

 

[tjbnwi]

One of my guys made a top you describe for himself. He ran it through the 25" planer with no issues.

Tom

 

[lwoirhaye]

You can run it through a planer but the hard glue will be hard on the knives.  If it's worth it to you, go for it. Carbide inserts may hold up better.  Some cabinetmakers used to joint plywood edges for face frame work.  I bought a used jointer once and the right 3/4" of the knives were burned up from doing this.  They would move the fence over and use the other 7"+ for surfacing and jointing solid wood.

 

[dlu]

Wonder if it would work to flatten it like a slab?

 

[MTbassbone]

Wonder if it would work to flatten it like a slab?

Can you expand on this?  Not sure what you are envisioning.

 

[tjbnwi]

Wonder if it would work to flatten it like a slab?

Can you expand on this?  Not sure what you are envisioning.

My guess is using a router sled.

Tom

 

[dlu]

[member=1583]Tom[/member] exactly right. Something like this (if you're into overkill) or search in the FOG for "router sled" or "flattening slab" – you should find quite a bit.

 

[Sparktrician]

So make your own.  Check this out. 

 

[Birdhunter]

If you have access to a high quality table saw, the pieces should be significantly more uniform. If not, there may be a woodworking shop in your area with a large drum sander.

I’ve taken a large box top made of an exotic wood to a local Woodcraft store to be flattened. I think they charged me less than $15. One of the guys had access to a very large belt sander.

As with my large exotic wood box top, I think planing edge grain plywood could be heartbreaking.