5 simple steps to finished boards

When you go to your lumber yards you are likely only able to get finished boards that is four square, meaning both edges and both faces are at 90° to each other. This is also why a 2x4 is actually 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches. Determine if the wood working plans you are using show the rough or finished sizes so you know if you need to adjust the dimensions.

Like all things you have to pay more for finished boards as opposed to rough boards. In same cases this can be substantial. So it only makes sense to try and get stock that is rough. This is lumber that is fresh off the mill. It has not been planed to a finished size and the surface isn't smooth like finished lumber.

Step 1: Rough cut your lumber

I like to cut all my lumber to rough lengths before I start to plane anything. I take the cut offs and store them away for another project. This will keep the extras from warping as much. This is a simple step and I usually use a circular saw with square to do this. The ends don't need to be 100% square since you will be trimming the to their finished length later.

Be sure to cut out any loose knot or check from your stock. They can break loose while planning and cause an injury.

Step 2: Planning one face flat

First thing to do at this point is to analyze the grain of the lumber to determine which way it goes. Anytime you plane wood you need to do this because if the grain is going into the wood you will likely get a rough finish and tear-out is more likely to occur. Also determine if there is any cupping of the board. By placing the cupped face down it will sit better on the jointer table and be easier to plane.

You want to make sure that you have it set to only remove about 1/32". Nice light passes and you will get a nice smooth surface. Keep passing your boards through the jointer until you have removed all the rough surface and the face is flat.

Step 3: Square one edge

To make one of the edges square to the face I just planned I set the fence on the jointer so it is exactly 90° to the jointer table. Do not adjust the depth of the cut. In fact I never cut more then 1/32" at a time. Like before, determine which way the grain goes and feed the board so the grain rises out of the edge. Continue to pass the board through the jointer until all rough material has been removed. When you get a nice smooth edge check it with a combination square to see if it is square to the face.

Keep feeding the stock through checking after each pass with a speed square to make sure the edge is square to the first face you planed flat.

Step 4: Rip the stock to the rough width shown on your plans

Now that I have a flat face and one finished edge I can run the lumber through my table saw to rip it to the rough width. You want to make this width 1/16"wider then the finished dimension shown on your plans. Set the fence so it is square to the blade and the blade height should be 1/8" higher then the thickness of your stock. Rip the board to width. Now I go back to the jointer and clean up that edge, removing all the saw marks from the table saw and making it 90° to the finished face.

Now your board should have two finished edges parallel to each other plus are square to one face.

Step 5: Truing the second face

The next step is to true the last face and make it parallel to the first and square with the two edges. This is done at the thickness planer.

To plane the second face I use the thickness planer. It will plane down this face to my desired thickness and make it exactly parallel to the first face I planed on the jointer. I set my thickness planer to remove 1/16" at a time. It is important to measure your stock and determine the thickest point. Sometimes rough stock can vary in thickness and you shouldn't assume it is a specific thickness. Place the finished face down on the thickness planer table and continue to feed it through the planer until you achieve the thickness you need.

Conclusion:

By following the 5 steps above you will get beautiful square finished lumber at a lower price. This does take some time but the freedom to have dimensions of lumber that aren't available at the lumber store is a nice. Most woodworking plans that you purchase will also have advice on how to complete the plans and what tools work best for making certain cuts.

Always remember to read and follow the directions that come with your power tools. This will provide safety information as well as tips and techniques on how to use the tools more effectively.