Raiz Posted February 2, 2021 Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 Howdy folks! I have been using a chainsaw mill to create some 6x6 cedar posts 14' long that I intend to use to build a garage in a couple months. These posts are coming out.... well... less than perfectly square and straight. Is there a recommended method for taking off the required amount of wood to get them square and straight? I have a Dewalt planer (735x), but these posts are heavy and long, and I'm not sure if it's the right tool for the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted February 2, 2021 Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/1806B 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raiz Posted February 2, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 That sucker is expensive! I'm guessing something like this or a hand planer is my only option.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wimayo Posted February 2, 2021 Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 You might make an auxiliary table with a melamine or plastic laminate top that extends through your planer. Build it so that it is supported separately so that most of the load is off of the planer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Don Z. Posted February 2, 2021 Popular Post Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 Why push the board through the planer when you can have the planer walk down the board? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post drzaius Posted February 2, 2021 Popular Post Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 Or you could use a jointer like @wtnhighlander does Sorry, can't find the pic. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted February 2, 2021 Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 1 hour ago, Don Z. said: Why push the board through the planer when you can have the planer walk down the board? That's pretty slick! I wish my brain worked that way LOL When I see it I think wow that might actually work but had I not seen it I would have never thought of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted February 2, 2021 Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 That looks like a @wtnhighlanderjointer move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wtnhighlander Posted February 3, 2021 Popular Post Report Share Posted February 3, 2021 2 hours ago, drzaius said: Or you could use a jointer like @wtnhighlander does Sorry, can't find the pic. You mean this one? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted February 3, 2021 Report Share Posted February 3, 2021 Try and find a local lumberyard or millwork shop that processes material and see if they can handle them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted February 3, 2021 Report Share Posted February 3, 2021 16 hours ago, Raiz said: That sucker is expensive! I'm guessing something like this or a hand planer is my only option.... The 3.5” version can be had for about $200 and what Tom linked for about $600. I saw wide variance so thought I’d fill that conversation out. He posted the bigger tool as a single pass covers your work. The much cheaper 3.5” would take multiple passes, requiring blending etc., but is a like idea at a cheaper price point. You have to ask yourself how often you plan to do this, vs what price you could spin and sell the tool, gently used. Honestly, it’s the right tool, and a small percentage of the cost of a garage. Just my two cents. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raiz Posted February 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2021 Right on. I figure with each 6x6 post I make, I save myself about $60, so about $1200 saved on the final project. Buying a $600 tool I'll only use once severely cuts into that money saved. Building long tables with a "slippery" top on each end of my existing planer is the most appealing to me at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legenddc Posted February 3, 2021 Report Share Posted February 3, 2021 What do used ones go for? Could you buy it for $600 and sell it for $400-$500? Possible to rent? Seems like you'll have over 1,000 linear feet to pass over. Doing it once with a large enough hand planer seems a lot quicker then twice with a smaller one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted February 3, 2021 Report Share Posted February 3, 2021 3 hours ago, Raiz said: Right on. I figure with each 6x6 post I make, I save myself about $60, so about $1200 saved on the final project. Buying a $600 tool I'll only use once severely cuts into that money saved. Building long tables with a "slippery" top on each end of my existing planer is the most appealing to me at the moment. You can use a sled in the planer to flatten, but squaring it up will be tricky. How far out of straight & square are they? You may lose a lot of wood chasing square & straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted February 3, 2021 Report Share Posted February 3, 2021 I have a couple of the 3-1/4" planers too. It will be impossible to not leave lines with one narrower than the width of the beams. It can always be done by hand. The 6-3/4" planer is at hand for cheating. http://historic-house-restoration.com/images/novdec2012_034.JP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted February 3, 2021 Report Share Posted February 3, 2021 Triton makes a $250 7” wide hand planer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wimayo Posted February 3, 2021 Report Share Posted February 3, 2021 6 hours ago, Raiz said: Right on. I figure with each 6x6 post I make, I save myself about $60, so about $1200 saved on the final project. Buying a $600 tool I'll only use once severely cuts into that money saved. Building long tables with a "slippery" top on each end of my existing planer is the most appealing to me at the moment. Just keep in mind that, even with a long table, the machine will try to make the top parallel with the bottom. So, if the post has a bow or twist, you may also need an auxiliary sled to fasten the post to until you have the first side flat. Small shims will support it while making the cut. Then, of course, turn it 90 degrees and make sure the first flat surface is perpendicular to the sled to flatten the next surface square to the first. After that the sled is not needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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