Dirk Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 I want to put a large chamfer on a table top -- something on the order of .25" x 3". I can't put something this big on my table saw and don't have much in the way of planes. I'm sort of picturing some kind of router jig, but I'm not really crazy about how I'm thinking that will work. Any other suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 Circular saw? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted April 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 That's interesting. I'd probably have to rig up some kind of fence/guide thing because I'd have to run the saw along the edge. Definitely would want to try a few practice pieces, I could see how this could turn out wavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 Use a straight edge as a guide. Check this video starting around the 9 minute mark... http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/videos/low-entertainment-center-pt-3/?mode=posts&apt=video&att=project&atid=2406&menu=projects Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted April 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 Marc's video is pretty straight forward. I should have been a little more clear in what I am attempting. I want the 3" dimension to be along the face of the table top and the 1/4" dimension to be along the edge. To do what Marc shows in the video I'd have to set the circ saw at something like 75 degrees which doesn't make any sense. If I run the saw along the edge (essentially 90 degrees from the setup Marc had) then I can set the saw to 15 degrees. I'm thinking I'll need a fancy purpose built edge guide/jig so that the saw doesn't have a chance to tip. Still not convinced this is the best approach but may try it on some scrap pieces to see if I can get it to work in a safe manor and still get the result I'm looking for. I'm picturing a jig that kind of looks like the Greek letter pi that straddles the edge of the table top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 A circ saw is not that wide. I don't think you need a saddle. I would ride my circ saw on a bench. You can even use a sheet of ply. By the time you screw a couple of two by to the sheet, your work piece is now blocked up. A shim to get your saw to ride at the right height and your two by and sheet corner gives you something to push the saw against. This requires good common sense as you would run the saw on its side. It also requires working close to the edge of the ply so your saw motor clears. I think this is a lot faster than building a saddle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 It's definitely something I'd tackle with hand planes. I know that doesn't help you at the moment but maybe it's a good time to invest in a low angle jack. I'm sure a jig can be built to do this with a circular saw...just be very careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keggers Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 You might contact a local cabinet shop and see what they would charge to cut the chamfer on their table saw - assuming they'd have a larger cabinet table saw with outfeed support. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeslayer Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 i saw a jig on the woodsmith shop tv show on PBS a while back, they used a long straight bit in a shop made router jig that did what you want to do, don't know if their episodes are on the net or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted April 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 That router jig is what I was thinking of, but looking for alternatives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stobes21 Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Belt sander maybe? Secure the piece to your bench and hold the sander at a slight angle to slowly work down the corner. It would actually work a lot like a hand plane would, just mark your board on the face and the edge with where you want to come down to and make multiple passes taking a little bit at a time until you meet both your marks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Without hand planes, Stobes21's belt sand suggestion sounds the most reasonable. I don't think the typical circ saw will cut 3" deep, and a straight router bit that long might be hard to find as well. Either would require extra support along the table edge to keep them in line. Using the belt sander to work close to a layout line, then fine ttuning with a card scraper or sanding block may be the best choice, short of new tool acquisition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krtwood Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Router jig sounds pretty simple but it's going to take a while and make a mess. Table top sitting on the bench, close to the edge. One angled rail off the table top and one on top of it and the router attached to a long base plate that spans the two rails with enough extra to move across the whole chamfer. Like flattening a cutting board except at an angle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaneAndDestroy Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Definitely a belt sander, plane, or other such device. I think a Table saw is hard to pull off depending on workpiece size, and no circular saw or router will get you a 3" depth of cut. Basically like a giant raised panel, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPCV_Woodworker Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Shaper and a panel raising bit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 A sled to hold the router at the proper angle and a 1 1/4" dish cutting bit that cuts on the end. Similar to the rig that some use to flatten large panels and work benches but set at the angle (~15 degrees) to produce the chamfer. http://www.titantv.com/account/login.aspx?returnUrl=%2fdefault.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feibusch Furniture Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Belt sander maybe? Secure the piece to your bench and hold the sander at a slight angle to slowly work down the corner. It would actually work a lot like a hand plane would, just mark your board on the face and the edge with where you want to come down to and make multiple passes taking a little bit at a time until you meet both your marks. A power plane would make quick work of this as well, and possibly give you a flatter surface. A sureform tool would go a long way as well, and are less finicky than a hand plane, and are cheaper, don't tear out as much but leave unique marks that require more attention while sanding. these are available at your choice of box store. I would not buy a hand plane from one of these outlets, they are worthy of a stronger investment. Someone mentioned scrapers as well...If you don't want to buy a card scraper buy a 50 pack of utility knife blades, these will wreak havoc on your fingers so you might want to cushion the edges with electrical tape. No matter how you decide to go about your chamfer, I would suggest making a large sanding block. Take two 4 1/2" x 22" x 3/4" long pieces of mdf and glue/screw them face to face. This thicker piece of mdf will give you a nice flat surface to adhere sandpaper to. The reason to make it these dimensions all has to do with sandpaper size. cut a sheet in half and glue the two pieces end to end onto the block. use spray adhesive and a low grit sand paper. this should give you ample surface area to finish flattening out and remove tool marks from your chamfer in a very controlled way. hope this helps and good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stobes21 Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 A power plane would make quick work of this as well, and possibly give you a flatter surface. A power planer is a good suggestion. Just be sure to take a really light pass, as light as your planer can take, until you establish your angle and have a good reference surface to work off of. Those things can take off a lot of wood very, very quickly so be careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 I want to put a large chamfer on a table top -- something on the order of .25" x 3". I can't put something this big on my table saw and don't have much in the way of planes. I'm sort of picturing some kind of router jig, but I'm not really crazy about how I'm thinking that will work. Any other suggestions? Is this top already built? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted April 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2015 Lots of interesting suggestions. I really appreciate the input. The top is actually for a side boards piece of furniture so the top is approximately 20" x 60" (yes, it's like a large raised panel). The long edge I can do on the table saw once I make a tall fence (that's pretty easy). The short edges I'll have to use some other method like discussed above since I can't stand a 60" piece up on the table saw. I may take the plunge and get a plane as this really seems like the right way to go. My second choice is leaning towards building the router jig (like for flattening a large piece of wood) at an angle. I do like the suggestion too of making a large sanding block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted April 15, 2015 Report Share Posted April 15, 2015 Lots of interesting suggestions. I really appreciate the input. The top is actually for a side boards piece of furniture so the top is approximately 20" x 60" (yes, it's like a large raised panel). The long edge I can do on the table saw once I make a tall fence (that's pretty easy). The short edges I'll have to use some other method like discussed above since I can't stand a 60" piece up on the table saw. I may take the plunge and get a plane as this really seems like the right way to go. My second choice is leaning towards building the router jig (like for flattening a large piece of wood) at an angle. I do like the suggestion too of making a large sanding block. Is this a floating panel. If so 60" is to long and needs a center rail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted April 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 It's not a floating panel. The top is like a raised panel without the surrounding rails and styles. Somebody mentioned a shaper, but 1) don't have a shaper, and 2) I'm not confident I could find the exact profile I'm looking for. I do have a 3HP router and router table. The more I think about it I'm leaning towards a plane and a bit of practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 You won't get it with a shaper unless you had custom knives made for a vertical cut not gunna happen with a horizontal cut without a custom 8" head either. May me easier to drag the tables saw outside with a tall fence. Personally I'd just us the jointer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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