Hello, and thanks for considering my question.
I’m an intermediate hobbyist woodworker and work in my small garage. I need a better way to edge joint long boards (to glue up for a dining room table) than the low quality jointer plane that I have used to date (and struggle to keep sharp and true). I have a nice 3 hp router and day dream about building a router table with a fence or jig just to edge joint boards. I could stand to build a nice router table anyway.
I’ve looked at many router jig and table projects in FW but am wondering if someone has any specific recommendations or advice or design in mind specifically for edge jointing with a router. Is this just a really bad idea? Maybe I just need to get over it and spend the money for a really, really nice jointer plane or 6-8″ power jointer.
Thanks.
Gary B
Replies
Gary.
Don't spend your money just yet. We have a number of tips and articles on our site that illustrate how to joint an edge without a jointer.
This one from Pat Warner is a very simple technique that uses a router. Here's a variation on that tip that incorporates an aluminum straight edge.
Here's a technique using the tablesaw and it is described in more detail in this article by Lon Schleining. This concept also works on the router table, though I can't find an example of it. Basically, the shim on the outboard side of the bit just needs to match the amount of material being removed with the router bit.
Of course, a dedicated jointer is going to do the best job in the fastest amount of time but as illustrated in the links above, it's not the only option.
Matt Berger
Fine Woodworking
Thank you very much. I especially like the guide with an aluminum edge. Great idea!
Gary
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