Spring is for slabbing

[ear3]

Finally getting around to making the conference table I got a bookmatched pair of spalted maple slabs for, which have been sitting in the corner of my dining room for almost a year.

Just thought I'd post in the chat forum to celebrate the turn of the season -- looking forward to warm days ahead and working outside without a heated sweatshirt.

[attachimg=1]

 

[MrToolJunkie]

That is going to be nice...

How do you like the Woodpeckers jig?

 

[deepcreek]

Was this work done with or without dust collection?

Just curious.

That's a lot of dust!

 

[Bob D.]

What are you using for a base for the jig? Almost looks like a hollow core door slab.

 

[Cheese]

I'm also interested in your thoughts on the Woodpeckers setup.

What planing bit are you using Edward?

 

[ear3]

@ Bob D. It's just a platform I rigged up out of 2x6s (ripped a bit more narrow to be straight) and plywood. 

[member=6605]ScotF[/member] I really like the jig so far, though this is only the second time using it.  Very smooth action in use.  My only complaint is the lack of smaller extensions, which is why I had to extend the current setup to 10 ft. in length and use the 6 ft. rails for the slide carriage.  But I did contact Woodpeckers and am going to be getting a single 4 ft. extrusion that I will cut in two so I can work in  8ft. lengths.

[member=6237]deepcreek[/member] Yes there was dust collection, but it's basically useless when the bit extends that far below the machine for a surfacing cut.  Woodpeckers has just come out with a shroud attachment that I'm considering getting -- but there's so much dust generated from this sort of operation that I'd just as well save some CT bags and sweep it all up later.  I'm working outside the confines of the shop in my driveway, so I'm not so worried about the sawdust piles.

What are you using for a base for the jig? Almost looks like a hollow core door slab.

 

[ear3]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] Using Whiteside surface planing bit.  In terms of the end result it frankly isn't all that different or better than the 1 1/2" straight bit I was using before, but since it is less massive, there's not as much anxiety using an extender chuck and plunging it so deep.

Another thing I like about the Woodpecker mill is that the setup is really easy.  The crucial distance you have to match is that between the carriage and the rails, but that is simple to do by just using the carriage to finetune the position of the rails before screwing them down to the bed.

The main question about the woodpecker jig vet I suppose most people have is the value proposition, since it is ridiculously expensive. I don't really have an answer for that, and Im going to have to do a bunch more slabs before I can come to a firm conclusion. Giving my space constraints, where i needed somthing that could be easily setup, disassembled and stored for reuse, while also delivering precision, and the fact that I wasn't deferring the purchase of another more essential tool by getting it, I'm ok so far with the purchase. It certainly made the difference on the Elm Table I just finished, where i was able to remove the cupping that had developed in the top -- and I only had to remove about an 1/8 " , and so was able to deliver the final result still within spec. I don't think I could have pulled that off working by hand.

I'm also interested in your thoughts on the Woodpeckers setup.

What planing bit are you using Edward?

 

[Mtpisgah]

I flattened two slabs this weekend and have two more to do so I can complete the project. It was raining Sunday so I had to do it in the garage, what a mess. I have looked at the WP dust shroud and wonder if I can make it fit my sled (1”x1” Aluminium angle).

 

[Rob Z]

Hey Edward,

I’m back to the FOG after a long time away. Your table project is interesting and I’m enjoying the pictures of your work.

I ended up going the other direction of using a router sled and have started using a scrub plane. I haven’t quite developed the skills of the various pros on Youtube and the woodworking magazines but it is fun to learn handtool methods.