Hello,
I am looking for advise on straightening twisted lumber. I recently purchased some reclaimed chestnut lumber for a tabletop. The stock is approximately 1 3/4 inches by 9 inches by 6 feet. Since I don’t own a planer, and only a 6 inch joiner, I had the supplier joint and thickness plane it before shipment. It has been in the basement for a few months and some of the boards have develeped quite a twist. Is there any hopes of using the tools on hand (Unisaw, band saw and hand tools) to straighten this stuff, at least sufficent for a rustic table?
Also, how best to edge join the stuff? Biscuits? Through bolts?
Thanks
Replies
Is it cupped or twisted? The former would be that the board has a slight curve end to end. Twisted is like an airplane propeller. In either case there is not much you can do as the changes probably reflect changes in stress due to the planing. If they are cupped you can alternate directions and take most of it out in final surfacing of the top.
You only need glue to join the boards together. Biscuits, dowels or bolts will cause more problems than they solve. Edge joint each board, apply glue and clamp for 8 hour with cold glues such as tight bond or elmers.
With best regards,
Ernie Conover
Ernie,Thanks for your advise. The boards are twisted like a propeller. Sounds like I'm screwed. They are about a quarter inch out, end-to-end, think I'll try a scrub plane and see if I can save the lumber. Thanks again.
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