Expert: Jamie Yocono - 1/2/2009

Question
QUESTION: When face planing bowed stock (8' lengths) I prefer to place the wood crown side down, placing my hand in the center of the crown and keeping it there well past the knives, it seems to take less passes and I dont have to turn the board end for end.I was told this is wrong and bowed stock should be run crown side up, taking wood off the back end, then turn the stock end for end and remove wood from the other end, then finish a with full pass.
What are your thought on this? Thanks, Carl

ANSWER: Hi Carl,

You didn't mention whether or not you own a jointer, but when face planing bowed stock, I always clean up one side on my jointer. I do this with the crown up, so that I'm basically taking down the two high edges on the back side. I will take off just enough so that the board is flat on one side. Then I run that board (flat side down) through my planer, taking off that crown. Viola! A flat board.

The problem with running a board through the planer the way you are doing it is that:

A) it can rock in the planer if the crown is down
B) it's a little dangerous (and I'm not a wimp, I do some incredibly stupid stunts by getting my hands a little too involved)

and here's the worst reason...

3) the infeed and outfeed rollers can press your board somewhat flat, the blade will cut the high spots, and when it pops out the other end, it will spring back and have the same crown you had in the beginning.

If you don't have a jointer, the proper way to plane this is with the crown up, and the planer set to cut a very minimal cut. You don't want the infeed roller pressing the board flat, or it will spring back with virtually the same crown when it's out of the planer. So take light cuts, until you get a flat spot. Once you get one flat side, you can plane the other side without any problem.

Bottom line - you need a jointer to do this correctly, in my opinion.

Good luck, I hope this helps. Write back if you need more information.

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jamie, Thanks for the quick response...I should have mentioned I AM using a jointer,a massive 15" italian made torrebelvicino.My question now is do you always have to run the stock with the crown side up? I do it both ways and always have better results running the crown side down being careful not to let the board rock on the jointer bed.

Answer
Carl,

As long as you can flatten one side of your stock, I don't think it matters which side you do first. The common thought is that it's easier to flatten the concave side, since there are only two points touching the jointer bed. That way, the wood can't really rock. On the crowned side, the board can rock, no matter how still you think you're holding it.

Grain wise, there is not a difference.

I've seen people rig up all sorts of systems for flattening out a crowned board. I've seen people use small wedges under the board, so that it doesn't rock. I don't agree with using wedges, but it's been done. My thought it - make that board flat however you can on one side. I have a Performax sander, so if I have a really bad board, I'll tape a wedge to the back side of it, to get it to lay flat on my conveyor belt, and then sand a side of it flat. Once I get that flat side, I take it to the planer.

So - to answer your question - no, you don't always have to run the stock though with the crown side up.  It just easier that way. Usually. But not always.

Good luck,

Jamie in Vegas