I was working on this 58" walnut table top until another "urgent" project popped up. As i was working on each joint i'd rub chalk along the edges, stand them up as you are, and rub the 2 pieces left to right a couple inches. This shows where the high spots are. Not sure if that would help 20231128_162311.jpg
The significant problems we encounter cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.
The penalty for inaccuracy is more work
Do you mean a small gap in the middle?
When you mount one board on top of the other, carefully, you can try to pivot the top board. It will pivot around the high point. Push the top board side to side from each end.
It is when the board doesn't pivot or pivots around the other end when you have a good match.
There's a video. Let me find it.
No dice, all the videos in the channel I had in mind have been taken down. I can make a quick one later if you want. I don't have 7' boards, your project is more difficult.
I know what you mean. I may have to try that when I have two helpers. I can’t manage that in my own and I’m doubtful that I could do one end.
If the faces of the boards are not flat it will be almost impossible to get a good fit whether by hand or powered jointer.
In hand work it is much more efficient to join the boards before flattening the faces. We use straight edge and winding sticks to ensure that the boards mate well and only flatten the face afterwards. This saves having to flatten the faces of each individual board, and then the glued up board.
Tony: You need to be able to identify they high spots and plane only those spots (not the whole length) until until there are no gaps. Set the plane very fine.
Supporting both boards high enough to run a light under the join might help, I have never had the need but it may work to find the high spots(s).
Last edited by Chris Parks; 11-28-2023 at 7:59 PM.
Chris
Everything I like is either illegal, immoral or fattening
Question: does the gap got all the way through...or just one face? maybe the high spots are around in back? So that from where the OP is standing, it would LOOK like a gap all the way along the boards...?
A Planer? I'm the Planer, and this is what I use