Whats the best machine to make T&G 2×6’s
I’m making a timber frame home, and i’m using 2×6, and 2×8 for a subfloor. I saw my own lumber on a woodmizer, but the local mill shop wants .37$ a linial foot for milling T&G. The house will have about 2-3k bd ft Subfloor and the same in finished floor. Too expensive to just have it done. What can i do to T&G 1 5/8″ thick stock? All the router bits and shaper cutters i can find only cut up to 1 1/4″. Should i buy one of those woodmaster type planers and run it through there? Its the only way i can see putting an edge on 2″ stock. What do you think? One idea i’ve been given so far would be to use a dado cutter on the table saw, but this seems like a lot of back and forth work on 5-7k bd ft. What would the best setup be for something like this? I”m trying to leave the boards as long as possible, and i’ve had some trouble making T&G on a shaper before as the sides aren’t always parallel. WHAt do you think? THanks for any advice!
Kelvin
Replies
KELVINPOTTER ,
A molder could machine all four sides in one pass and create uniform widths . Sounds like it would cost you about $1,200 for the t&g . A shaper with a power feed and set up twice. Just for the heck what about using a Router with a slot cutter . Cut a 1/2" x1/2" slot and use plywood splines as the tongue , trying to think out of the box on this one .
good luck dusty
Dear Kelvin,
Give Woodmaster a call and see what they say, but I think woulkd be your best bet.
John
You could try to get a 4 or 5 head moulder used. Some machines will surface & joint at the same time.
$.37/ft seems a bit high for T&G with you supplying milled stock. If they surface, join, plane, and mill the T&G on rough stock, this is about right for pricing.
Can you check around your area to see if there is anyone else you can outsouce to?
Check with molding suppliers in your area.
Try a posting on woodweb.
Groove both sides with router & use a spline
It would run you about $2200.00 for them to mill 6000 bf. You could buy the Woodmaster, do it yourself and still have the machine for future use for less money. I believe the 12" Woodmaster ,cutters, shipping etc would be less than $2200.00.If time is of the essence than farm it out.
mike
This is an ignorant question, but your post makes me curious. Why are you using such thick material as a subfloor? Is it because in a timber framed structure the joists are far apart? Would it be simpler to just use more joists?
Yes your right, but the look would get ruined. Normally on spans this wide you would space 2x10's on 16" centers, seeing as the timbers are massive they can support the weight, but any closer than 2' starts looking really packed, especially seeing as mine are exposed to the bottoms. It probably still is over doing it, but it will also help deaden some sound hopefully.
Thanks for the replies. This is what i was thinking. Woodmaster or the splines. Good ideas!
Kelvin
Mark
My house was built in the early '50s and has 2x6 T&G subflooring over 4x6 girders on 4' centers. It is a solid floor.
The giggest problem I have with the floor is that it is not weatherproof. If covers a crawl space and I can feel the draft._________________________________
Michael in San Jose
"In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell
I understand now. But still, even if he uses 2' centers for the joists he should be able to reduce the size of the subfloor to maybe 5/4 material, I'd think.
Kelvin,
I've been researching this for awhile.
Chanie Thomas at [email protected] or [email protected] had a woodmaster model 718 for sale $1500 with a full pro pak. No time on the machine because her husband died before he could play with it. She is in Indiana. Don't know if she sold it.
I really wanted a woodmaster but, have decided to use my existing machinery to make flooring. I purchased a big power feeder for my 14 inch table saw. I will use it to size, joint and notch the boards. I'm also playing with the idea of mounting a shaper bit onto the table saw and trying that out with the power feeder. I like the idea of the plywood splines. Lots of scrap plywood out there crying out to be splined up.
Cheers
M. Stehelin
Here in Western Washington I was able to buy t&g 2 x 6 spruce in 16' lengths from a local lumberyard about 8 years ago. Quality was excellent btw
If you have a shaper already, just use a couple of rabbet cutters spaced correctly with a bearing(s) betreen them to cut the tongue, and one pass with the appropriate rabbet cutter to cut the grove. You'll need a power feeder for this.
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