Preparing boards for gluing

[Yian]

Hello
Lucky me. I have both the router and saw.  Ok, I wonder how you would do this ? I have two DAR Tasmania Oak boards (for a TV cabinet top),  each 240 by 30 thick and 2meters long , which I'm trying to prepare for gluing. . . Firstly , using the router.  I coupled two  guide rails to form a 2 meter length and clamped each end to the wood, times two . Result . . a longish one ml gap down the middle.  Conclusion : the guide rails need to be clamped in the middle of the job, as  they must have moved.
So, now try the saw, again on the rails., and  clamp  both planks together, and saw. Result : still imperfect. A neighbour suggested a  hand plane and lots of patience, but with such wonderful Festool  equipment, this seems nonsense. I'm surprised.
The last method suggested is obvious and clever. . .clamp both planks on the table side by side (say half a centemeter apart, and on waste wood ), and  using the router and rails, router  down the middle.
How do people with much more experience than me, do this simple task ?

Thanks,  Yian           

 

[Guy Ashley]

Hi Yian

Firstly  [welcome] to the FOG.

I assume you do not have access to a planer/jointer which with lengths of timber like you are gluing together would be the way I would do it.

Assuming you dont, I would suggest a possible way is if you have 2.4m (8 feet) sheets of ply or MDF which usually have a good straight edge, clamp your timber on top of the ply with a 1mm overlap. Then using a bearing guided trimming bit in your router run the edge with the bearing being guided by the ply sheet.

Do this on both and you should get a good glue line.

As for your previous attempts, no disrespect intended, it will be user error that has caused your frustration. Trying to run a router or saw over that length means you will be walking the machine along the guide rail and it is VERY easy for you to apply sideways pressure when you are moving which will cause the gap you refer to.

With a bearing guided bit against a lower template such as I have described you should not get the tilt of the cutter but take it slowly!

Good luck! [big grin]

 

[upscale]

The last method suggested is obvious and clever. . .clamp both planks on the table side by side (say half a centemeter apart, and on waste wood ), and  using the router and rails, router  down the middle.

Cutting down the middle is the solution, but why use the router? I'd use the saw with the finest blade you have for it and cut down the middle. A straight cut with a good saw blade should give you the suitably fine and matched edges needed to glue the boards together.

 

[billybokay]

Are you sure the saw is tight on the rail?  There are adjustments on the saw that might need attention.

 

[Nigel]

    Joining two rails can cause a problem,they need to be checked against a straight edge and preferably clamped down for the cut.The edge straight from the saw should be good enough with a good blade imo.Bonne chance!