Replies

1. 
   observer | Dec 29, 2002 09:15pm | #1

   Hello up. No question you can joint 8 foot boards on your jointer and without the need for additional support. There is a certain touch required that you will only develop with practice, but it certainly is within the capacity of the machine.

2. 
   Marcello | Dec 30, 2002 05:59am | #2

   up,

   I am doing the same as you: 6" jointer, Cherry table, 36" wide, and I have never jointed boards this long before.  The only difference is my cherry table is 94", not 96".  I will start planing and jointing these boards this week or next.  I hope I don't mess it up.  Will keep you posted. 

   Marcello

1. 
   eddiefromaustralia | Dec 30, 2002 10:43pm | #4

   Marcello,

   I normally joint boards by hand (no jointer easily available), but saw this and kicked myself - will make the job quicker & easier.

   All it is is a strip of 1/2 inch ply on another board - if you've never made a shooting board before, they're not that difficult - just remember to put a groove into the base board under the straight edge so that the dust/plane shavings fall into this and do not foul the straight edge.

   Here's a more informative picture.

   Cheers,   eddie

   edit: broken link and spelling

   Edited 12/30/2002 3:40:08 PM ET by eddie (aust)

1. 
   Marcello | Dec 31, 2002 08:29am | #5

   eddie, thanks for that info.  haven't seen anything like it, then again, haven't seen much.  i'll try the edge jointer first, since i bought it already, might as well use it.  good to know other means and methods.

   marcello

1. 
   eddiefromaustralia | Dec 31, 2002 10:56pm | #6

   Hi Marcello,

   Misread your post yesterday - thanks for your reply. When I re-read your post about 1 hour after I wrote my reply, I had my finger on the delete button to remove my post, but then thought it's better to leave it up because it may be of use to someone.  Sorry to waste your time.

   eddie

   Edited 12/31/2002 3:49:28 PM ET by eddie (aust)

1. 
   GregB126 | Jan 01, 2003 05:33am | #9

   Eddie,

   Glad you left it.  Always interested to see what my cousins are up to down there.

   Cheers,

   Greg

2. 
   Marcello | Jan 06, 2003 10:16am | #15

   eddie,

   no waste of time.  it is good to know those things weather you use them or not.

2. 
   ron61 | Jan 01, 2003 07:47am | #10

   Have you thought about using a router? You will need to make a jig, so you can clamp 2 of your boards down at the same time and to where the edges you will be routing are elevated "so you are not cutting into you bench". You need at least a 1/2 straight bit. What you want to do is lay out your boards like you want to glue them up. Start with one of you outside boards clamp it down and clamp a straight edge to the top of the board" edge of your router base to the cutting edge of the bit less a 1/6. Climb cut the edge.Leave the board and straight edge clamped down .  Now clamp your next board leave a 7/16 gap and clamp it down. Climb cut it"run the other direction with the router". One thing to remember the router base is not dead center just make sure to keep the router in the same position as you made your first cut" say keep the wing nut side to the straight edge " the edges will fit perfect even if the straight edge isn't dead straight. That is If you don't bobble the router If you do just re rout it . Its easier than it sounds and would be easier on something that long. 

   Just another option

   hope it helps

   Ron

1. 
   LEIFBENDEKE | Jan 01, 2003 09:52pm | #11

   Ron

   speaking of using a router ..... have you or anyone else out there seen or used the joint-ability tool .  it uses a router ond a straight edge guide .

   i have seen it at the shows and it looks good , but have never talked to one of us " normal " guys who has one . !!

   leif

1. 
   ron61 | Jan 02, 2003 04:51am | #12

   I have seen the  joint-ability tool .Haven't use one .

   Ron

2. 
   tedwick | Jan 02, 2003 05:10pm | #13

   Greetings Leif!

   Sounds like a good Scandinavian name-

   I purchased a joint-ability tool and the spiral router bit sold along with it and love it.  I believe it to be superior for jointing.  I got the 5 foot long version, and not the 8.5 foot one which would be needed by the person who started this discussion.

   I have glued up several cutting boards just to test it-I also got Plano clamping system at the same time-the Joint-ability and Plano make quick work of edgegluing.

   I highly recommend it.

   Ted

1. 
   LEIFBENDEKE | Jan 07, 2003 02:28am | #19

   Hi Ted

   Yes your right.....Norwegian to be exact !!

   I guess i had better do something quick , the way the are upping the price .

   I saw it at a show a year or so ago for $199 , the last price I saw was $299 .

   Thanks for the input .

   Leif

3. 
   ian | Jan 03, 2003 02:46am | #14

   Leif,

   I came across this review whilst looking for something else http://www.thewoodshop.20m.com/jointabillit.htm  as you do, hope it helps.

   Ian

1. 
   LEIFBENDEKE | Jan 07, 2003 02:22am | #18

   Ian

   thanks a lot for the website .

   I checked it out and it had some good info .

   thanks much

   Leif

4. 
   bszydlo | Jan 06, 2003 10:56pm | #16

   Leif, after becoming very frustrated with my bench top 6" jointer I finally broke down and purchased the 8' jointability.  It was one of my best shop purchases!  The device works great for putting a clean, straight edge on any board.  When not in use I just store the jig on edge against the wall.  After using it for a few months I can strongly recommend it.  Bill

1. 
   ownersrep | Jan 07, 2003 12:51am | #17

   Maybe I'm missing something here but I jointed a lot of 8' material on my 6" Jet.  It certainly was a lot easier when I talked the wife into helping to hold one end on the thicker/heavier (8/4) stuff.  (It also had the advantage of helping me convince my wife that I needed an 8" Jointer.)  I saw the Jointability system at a WW show but I didn't see the advantage over Tru-Grip and some of the other systems (that are about half the price).

   Just IMO,

   Jim

3. 
   forestgirl | Dec 30, 2002 08:43pm | #3

   I've not attempted any boards this long either, but awhile back I saw an intriguing reader's shop tip in one of the old WWing magazines.  The gentleman had rigged up a piece of 1/4" or 3/8" plywood in a workstand (like a Workmate), positioned off the outfeed end of the jointer bed.  The piece of ply was perched sort of like a leaf spring, and the workpiece would slide nicely onto the semi-flopped ply and ride along that for support.

   Sorry, wish I had a pic, but have no idea where in the stacks this work tip is now.  Someday I'm gonna try it just for fun.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

4. 
   tedwick | Dec 31, 2002 11:07pm | #7

   Greetings!

   Once years ago I visited the shop of Espinet (Arthur Carpenter) in Baulines, CA.  He was making a table top at the time from a stringy, brittle south American wood called Shedua.  He was jointing the edges on a rather small jointer and not all that long either.  I asked him about that.  Here is what he said.  He liked the small joiner because when edging the long pieces it actully created a slight curve in the distance of the board so that the middle width was slightly narrower than the ends.

   When he glued it up, the ends touched and the bar clamps pulled the middle gaps together with the pressure.  Espinet claimed that created a more stable, taut top, that the internal stress stabilized the large surface.

   I have not had sufficient experience with table tops that large to argue or prove his point.  No question, his table tops were exquisite and beautiful.

   Something to consider.

   Ted

1. 
   Elcoholic | Dec 31, 2002 11:53pm | #8

   Tried my 6" jointer with some 8/4 stock 102" long x 8" wide.  That Koa was way too heavy to manage any kind of technique.  Roller stands just added more misery.  I made a long sled and straightened them on my TS which has a nice roller outfeed table.  From there clamped mating edges together and worked-up a sweat with my #7 Bailey.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   Life is tough.  It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne