WWA Info Exchange

Tampa Tom · Last edited by Tampa Tom on Tue Jan 03, 2006 2:26 pm; edited 2 times in total

SO, you wanna know the Tampa Tom method for face planing? SURE you do! (Even if you don't, too stinkin bad BSEG

)

So, I got this rough piece of cherry (Thanks, Jim C) that needed to be face and edge planed. Only problem - no jointer. No sweat! I got me some planes!

See "The armament"

This is what I'll be using - a No. 5 plane, a No. 7 plane, an No. 32 fore plane and a thickness planer.

See "Finding the warp"

After cross cutting the board to rough lenghth, I place the board cup down (it had a cup) and rock the sides and edges looking for the board to 'wobble.' Sure enough, it did!

See "Marking the high areas"

So, I flip the board over and mark the high areas with chalk. This way, I can see where I need to work first!

Continued...
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Tampa Tom · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 8:32 pm Post subject:

OK, so, where was I? Oh, yeah.

See "Attacking with a No. 5"

So I clamped across the bench and got to work with the No. 5 and No. 32 planes. First task was to shave down the high areas. Once the high areas were down to a manageable level...

See "Waxin the sole"

I take out the No. 7 and wax the sole with some candle wax. Makes the plane slide real nice....

See "Working with the jointer"

Ya see! I told ya!

Continued...
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* http://tomsworkbench.com
* Purveyor of the world's finest Weasel Spit
* Why do they call it a WORKshop if I go there to have fun?
* Founding member: WWAFLAUX#1
* Passed 16,000 posts 7/23/09 - 8:41 a.m.

Tampa Tom · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 8:38 pm Post subject:

See "It may not look pretty..."

After working on the board with the jointer, and flipping it back onto its face to see if I had whacked the warp out - I got it to sit nice and stable on the table. Hey, that rhymes!

See "Find the thickness"

Now, I gotta get the weasels to hand me the tape measure, and I find the thickest part of the board. In this case, a hair under 1 1/4". Set the planer head, plug in the cord, and watch the wood chips fly!

See "Through the planer"

After doing the 'top' side, and getting it completely smooth, I flip the board over and plane out any rough areas. What do I come out with at the end?

See "Ta da!"

A really purty piece of cherry that has flat and parallel faces. Then, it's off to the table saw to straight-line rip the board.

Now, who says those old planes are just wall decorations? BSEG

My head hurts now. I'm gonna go get a beer!
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* http://tomsworkbench.com
* Purveyor of the world's finest Weasel Spit
* Why do they call it a WORKshop if I go there to have fun?
* Founding member: WWAFLAUX#1
* Passed 16,000 posts 7/23/09 - 8:41 a.m.

JigSaw Mama · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 8:55 pm Post subject:

Tom,
Very nice tutorial. Would you also put this in the "How To..." section, please? Thanks.
Trisha
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Gene · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 9:06 pm Post subject:

Hey Tom, how about expanding on technique a bit. Grain direction, plane angle of attack, etc.
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Tampa Tom · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 9:27 pm Post subject:

Oh, man, I strain my brain and you want me to do MORE work?!? BSEG

Vic - Any way Ken or JJ could move the post as is?

Gene -

It's kinda funny - I don't spend a lot of time reading grain direction, mostly 'cause I'm gonna thickness plane the final product. However, I do tend to skew the No. 5 and No. 32 - they give me a nicer cutting action. The No. 7, however, I plane in straight, overlapping passes. In this case, I spent more time working the 'edges' of the board, because I was working on the concave side.
_________________
* http://tomsworkbench.com
* Purveyor of the world's finest Weasel Spit
* Why do they call it a WORKshop if I go there to have fun?
* Founding member: WWAFLAUX#1
* Passed 16,000 posts 7/23/09 - 8:41 a.m.

art92543 · Veteran Joined: 10 Sep 2005 Posts: 558

Nice post, TT!

Not too neanderthal, not too Norm. You're using the best of both worlds. Now if I only had some of that cherry to practice on---.

Tampa Tom · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 9:43 pm Post subject:

Thanks Art - I prefer to think of myself as a pragmatist - or a kid in a candy shop! Smile

And, you ever get to the Tampa Bay area, be sure to look me up! BSEG

_________________
* http://tomsworkbench.com
* Purveyor of the world's finest Weasel Spit
* Why do they call it a WORKshop if I go there to have fun?
* Founding member: WWAFLAUX#1
* Passed 16,000 posts 7/23/09 - 8:41 a.m.

imray69 · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 9:46 pm Post subject:

Tom, me thinks you're being too nice to them weasels. Get them outa bed to help. Couple on each plane and I think they could do it.
Nice tutorial though. I think I'll just send you all my timbers that need to be " taken down a notch ". Have fun and enjoy. Ray

Clay Kessler · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 10:13 pm Post subject:

Great tutorial Tom. Nice job by you and the weasels. I have not had to do this - yet - but I only have a 4" jointer so I expect to sometime. I am glad you showed the way!
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art92543 · Veteran Joined: 10 Sep 2005 Posts: 558

Thanks TT. I'll do that. And if you and Rhonda ever get out to Oregon, please plan to come and visit and spend some time with Lalah and me on our deck watching the wildlife on the river and having a beer (or two or three)!

SWolf · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 12:24 am Post subject:

Thanks TT.
These are the posts I like to see the most.
Now I just need to get a no. 5, 7, and 32...
unless 5 + 7 + 32 = low angle block.

S

RixWorx · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 12:26 am Post subject:

I have a pdf print out of the tutorial portion of this post up to and including the post by Tom @ Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 9:27 pm

saddletramp · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 5:39 am Post subject:

Hey Tom

Great tutorial (although it's more work that this old man wants to do). Very interesting.
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♫♪♪♫♫ Saddletramp, saddletramp, I'm as free as the breeze and I ride where I please, saddletramp ♪♪♪♫♪

Paul Gauthier · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 8:25 am Post subject:

I'm with ST, but I admire those who are young enough and du.......ahhh strong enough to do this kind of work.(picture no. 1 smiley here, can't do em on this computer)

Well done Tom.
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" Life experiences are like quarters. You lose both when you sit on the couch."
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maiznblueguy · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 8:33 am Post subject:

Tom, nice tutorial, but how did you train those weasels to take pictures?
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Dennis

JCCLARK · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 9:22 am Post subject:

Great job Tom.
That sure beats going to the gym for exercise!
Keep the pictures comming.
(and next time get your wife to demonstrate-LOL)
_________________
Jim

Tampa Tom · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 9:28 am Post subject:

Art - Can do. We have to get us some of that great Oregon wine as well!

Swolf - actually 5, 7 and 32 = 42 (the fail safe answer to all questions) Smile

I really didn't spend any more than - say - $50 for those planes on eBay...

Rix - MANY thanks for creating the .PDF. I used to be good at computers...

Saddletramp and Paul - Yup, young, strapping and dumb as a box of rocks - that's me! BSEG

I figure by the time I get too old to plane boards like this, my kids will have moved out. THEN, I'll have enough room to get a jointer! BSEG

Maiz - those weasels are talented, aren't they? The little buggers actually wanted to PAINT a portrait of me doing that work, but I had to talk them into photos...

JC - SUre, I'll have Rhonda doing that work in a bikini! BSEG

_________________
* http://tomsworkbench.com
* Purveyor of the world's finest Weasel Spit
* Why do they call it a WORKshop if I go there to have fun?
* Founding member: WWAFLAUX#1
* Passed 16,000 posts 7/23/09 - 8:41 a.m.

Michael Colip · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 9:57 am Post subject:

Tom, that's really cool. Nice job.

Gail · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 10:21 am Post subject:

awesome Tom, I won't give up my Jointer but I may pick up a hand plane or two.

Keep up the good work.

Love the shirt.
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