How do you make 1/2" thick wood?

[Jim Young]

While planing some maple down to 1/2" I realized that I was waisting quite a bit of good material. I started with 4/4 planks that were already planed 2 sides.

I have a bandsaw that could resaw the planks but I'm not sure if the waist side would be thick enough for anything. The way I figure it I would have less than 1/4" thickness left over by the time I planed both pieces.

Just wondering what others think and are doing in this case.

Pic is of the bed in progress. The 1/2" lumber will be for the slats.

[Scott Coffelt]

You already have mentioned two options. I agree if you use 4/4 and resaw the excess will have fewer uses. Option, purchase 5/4 and resaw in half this should net you two the thickness you need, especially if you purchase rough sawn.

Option two, check with your lumber yard to see if they have 1/2 thick pieces, I know mine does.

I hate planning and throwing away lumber if I can avoid it.

[robertfsmith]

If you keep planing it, then you just have sawdust. If you resaw the boards, then you have some thin stock for shims, scroll sawing, inlay, lamination, or plenty of other things. Oh and for testing finishes!

The way I see it. thin stock comes in alot handier than no stock. Plus there's that much less dust to dispose of.

And your planner will last longer.

[Steve Clardy]

Hmm. Most I have seen are 3/4". WHy not just surface to 3/4" and use that way? WOuld be stronger, and would only raise mattress heighth 1/4". I guess the plans call for 1/2"? Steve


Jim, ol Ken threatened to whip and banish me and burn my shop down. [He is partially a firebug I heard.] I thought you were talking about mattress slats, not headboard slats. SO-----please forgive.:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Ken Salisbury]

Originally posted by Steve Clardy
Hmm. Most I have seen are 3/4". WHy not just surface to 3/4" and use that way? WOuld be stronger, and would only raise mattress heighth 1/4". I guess the plans call for 1/2"? Steve

Hey Steve ---- you been in the hops?

He is referring to the slats to be installed in the headboard and footboard, not the mattress slats.

You shouldn't drink so early in the day <IMG src="http://www.klsal.com/smiley2.gif">

[Dennis McDonaugh]

I haven't been able to get two 1/2" thick boards out of 4/4 rough and get two good sides. Maybe if you only need one side it'd work. I have made one 1/2" and one 3/4 " thick board out of 6/4 rough.

[Steve Clardy]

Originally posted by Ken Salisbury
Hey Steve ---- you been in the hops?

He is referring to the slats to be installed in the headboard and footboard, not the mattress slats.

You shouldn't drink so early in the day <IMG src="http://www.klsal.com/smiley2.gif">

Ken ol man, you really caught me there. Hops? No, gave that up.
But-----------how about just plain old OZONING? Would that excuse get me out of my mess? I am begging--------

[Stan Smith]

That's a great question and one that I have had for a long time. I was buying boards at places like home depot. Buying the 3/4 just gave the leftover thin pieces. Yeah, you can use them for various things, but over time they start to build up. There are some good ideas for use of the strips already said here, too. Thanks for the ideas. Also, like others said, try to buy thicker pieces and then the "waste" might be available for other projects. If you have at least 1/4" thick usuable left that's better than 1/8". I got a drum sander (performax 16-32. With it I've found that I can do a little better cleaning up stuff than with the planer with less waste.

[Keith Outten]

Stan,

Find someone with a laser engraver in your neck of the woods, they will probably buy all the thin wood you have left over from projects, even short scraps. Laser engravers can turn scraps into great stuff, I don't even have any scraps for the woodstove anymore. The only waste from my shop is dust and I'm in the process of building a 400 gallon composter for the dust, chips and grass clippings. The goal is "No Waste".

Seriously, thin wood is very expensive...check the catalogs and you'll be surprised at the prices. A local engraver who doesn't have a work shop has to buy all of their material. They might as well purchase your scrap, this could help reduce the rising cost of lumber for your projects.

Besides laser cutting scroll saw types of projects I use all the thin lumber I can get my hands on making wooden business cards. Believe me any local engraver will be happy to see you coming, maybe you can trade off for their services.

[Lee Schierer]

Fortunately, I can buy 1/2" stock from my wood supplier. However, the price is nearly the same as it is for 3/4" stock only I don't have to deal with the labor of cutting it down or the chips.

I have several pieces of 1/8" material that was left over from ripping down 3/4" stock when I needed a 1/2" thick piece and didn't feel like getting to my supplier. I used to do the ripping with a thin kerf blade on my TS before BS, now I use the bandsaw to resaw the board.

With a bandsaw, you should be able to resaw 5/4 stock and get two half inch pieces dependiing upon how rough the original cut was if it is roung cut. 6/4 will give you more margin for roughness.

[Stan Smith]

Thanks for the tips, Keith. However, I live in the boonies and there are no laser engravers around here.

[Tom Gattiker]

Maybe you could take all those thin strips and build a canoe!

[Stan Smith]

That would be way beyond my ability, but they're too thin for that anyway.