How to glue and sand a table plate?

[Tom Andersen]

Hi Guys,

maybe this is dumb question but anyway here it goes. I have a a jointer/planer (12 inches wide) and a hand belt sander. I do not have a wide jointer/planer or a wide sander. Suppose I want to make a table plate, how do I do? Do I prepare some 10 inch boards that are all jointed and planed, and then glue them together on the edges and sand them with the hand belt sander afterwards? Seems to me that is will be difficult to get the table straight and plane that way. Any hints? Should one rather take it to a pro shop that has a wide sander and accept the cost and trouble?

Thanks
Tom

[Tom Andersen]

By the way, I believe that it's called "table top" and not "table plate" in English? Sorry...

[Don Baer]

What I would do is to plane the 10" board first then using dowels to keep the two pieces aligned I'd glue and clamp them on a flat surface. If you need to you should be able to use your belt sander to finish it.