Trimming Maple Slab

Nice Job !

Bob S.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I used Bob's method below and it worked great. All that is now left
to do is mount the Twin-Screw Veritas vice. I have it sitting on a
temporary base until I get time to build myself something better.

You can see a picture of it at
http://www.jenarae.com/wood/workbench1.jpg complete with round bench
dog holes and a tool trough at the rear

Ray




"Bob S." <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> For a nice clean cut line use your router and a two-fluted, 1/2" shaft,
> straight bit. Place a straight-edge 90 deg to the long edge at the point
> you want to cut off. Draw this line all around - both sides. Place a
> straight board (fence) the distance from the outside edge of your router
> base to the nearest edge of the router bit. Clamp the fence and clamp a
> board to the end where the router will bit will exit to prevent blow-out.
>
> Set bit for initial pass of only about 1/16" deep. Then only make cuts
> about 1/4" max (and that may be a tad to much) until you're half way
> through. Flip the top over, align fence, clamp, repeat routing sequence.
>
> You could try a circular saw to cut within about 1/8" of finished edge then
> finish with the router to get a nice clean edge. The circular saw will burn
> the edge and leave it pretty ragged looking.
>
> Bob S.
>
>
> "Grizzle" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:gL%Fb.21614$6b2.10783@edtnps84...
> > I have a laminated solid maple workbench top that is 2 1/2 " thick. It is
> > 28" wide and ~82" long and I need to trim off the uneven ends. Anyone have
> > any good suggestions?? :)
> >
> > Ray
> >
> >

I picked up some 1" maple at the local Windsor Plywood that was finished on
1 side only. It was in a variety of widths and lengths. With the help of my
6" General Jointer and Unisaw I was able to get enough 2 1/2" + pieces to
enable me to glue up 2 - 11" wide slabs that I could run them through the
planer. I looked at a lot of different designs before doing my workbench. I
decided to go with the tool tray at the back and round dog holes. Now only
thing is to find some more maple that is wide enough for the jaws of the
Veritas Twin-Screw. Then on to replace the base with something more fitting
of the top.

Ray


"Guy LaRochelle" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Ray,
>
> Nice job...........what kind of wood did you use for your bench? Is it
your
> own design? Regards. -Guy
>
>
>
> "Roy Warren" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Thanks for all the suggestions.
> >
> > I used Bob's method below and it worked great. All that is now left
> > to do is mount the Twin-Screw Veritas vice. I have it sitting on a
> > temporary base until I get time to build myself something better.
> >
> > You can see a picture of it at
> > http://www.jenarae.com/wood/workbench1.jpg complete with round bench
> > dog holes and a tool trough at the rear
> >
> > Ray
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "Bob S." <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:<[email protected]>...
> > > For a nice clean cut line use your router and a two-fluted, 1/2"
shaft,
> > > straight bit. Place a straight-edge 90 deg to the long edge at the
> point
> > > you want to cut off. Draw this line all around - both sides. Place a
> > > straight board (fence) the distance from the outside edge of your
router
> > > base to the nearest edge of the router bit. Clamp the fence and clamp
a
> > > board to the end where the router will bit will exit to prevent
> blow-out.
> > >
> > > Set bit for initial pass of only about 1/16" deep. Then only make
cuts
> > > about 1/4" max (and that may be a tad to much) until you're half way
> > > through. Flip the top over, align fence, clamp, repeat routing
> sequence.
> > >
> > > You could try a circular saw to cut within about 1/8" of finished edge
> then
> > > finish with the router to get a nice clean edge. The circular saw
will
> burn
> > > the edge and leave it pretty ragged looking.
> > >
> > > Bob S.
> > >
> > >
> > > "Grizzle" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > news:gL%Fb.21614$6b2.10783@edtnps84...
> > > > I have a laminated solid maple workbench top that is 2 1/2 " thick.
It
> is
> > > > 28" wide and ~82" long and I need to trim off the uneven ends.
Anyone
> have
> > > > any good suggestions?? :)
> > > >
> > > > Ray
> > > >
> > > >
>
>

another method would be to cut to rough size with your circular saw, one
pass from each side. Use a 1/2 pattern bit in your router with a guide to
clean up as much as possible, flip it over and use a 1/2 flush cut bit with
a bottom bearing to ride on the previous cleaned up surface.

--
"If you are arrogant, who's going to care if you're the best?"

I like this one, another excuse to whip out the chainsaw, he he he.
d


"DJ Delorie" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Cut it with a chainsaw, leaving an extra quarter to half inch or so.
> Clean up the extra as follows:
>
> Put your router on a "sled" (i.e. bolt a long board to the base, with
> a hole for a straight bit). Put a straight bit in, set it 1/2" or so
> lower than the board.
>
> Ok, now clamp boards to the top and bottom of your slab, such that the
> edges are 1/2" beyond where you want the final edge to be.
>
> Put cleats on the bottom of the router's board such that the cutting
> bit just reaches to these new boards. The cleats will hit the outside
> faces of the new boards just as the bit hits the inside faces of the
> opposite board.
>
> You can now freehand the router between the two boards to flatten and
> smooth the rough ends. You might want to start with the bit only 1/8"
> exposed, then 1/4, then 3/8, etc.

I did something similar.

http://www.istop.com/~bmacgillivray/tools/workbench.html

Like you, I've designed my own workbench to suit myself. Being left handed,
I designed it for a lefty. I got a great deal on some maple but didn't have
enough to finish the base. Someday, I hope to get around to building a
suitable base. For now it will continue to sit on my old workbench.



"Grizzle" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I picked up some 1" maple at the local Windsor Plywood that was finished
on
> 1 side only. It was in a variety of widths and lengths. With the help of
my
> 6" General Jointer and Unisaw I was able to get enough 2 1/2" + pieces to
> enable me to glue up 2 - 11" wide slabs that I could run them through the
> planer. I looked at a lot of different designs before doing my workbench.
I
> decided to go with the tool tray at the back and round dog holes. Now only
> thing is to find some more maple that is wide enough for the jaws of the
> Veritas Twin-Screw. Then on to replace the base with something more
fitting
> of the top.
>
> Ray
>
>
> "Guy LaRochelle" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Ray,
> >
> > Nice job...........what kind of wood did you use for your bench? Is it
> your
> > own design? Regards. -Guy
> >
> >
> >
> > "Roy Warren" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Thanks for all the suggestions.
> > >
> > > I used Bob's method below and it worked great. All that is now left
> > > to do is mount the Twin-Screw Veritas vice. I have it sitting on a
> > > temporary base until I get time to build myself something better.
> > >
> > > You can see a picture of it at
> > > http://www.jenarae.com/wood/workbench1.jpg complete with round bench
> > > dog holes and a tool trough at the rear
> > >
> > > Ray
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "Bob S." <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:<[email protected]>...
> > > > For a nice clean cut line use your router and a two-fluted, 1/2"
> shaft,
> > > > straight bit. Place a straight-edge 90 deg to the long edge at the
> > point
> > > > you want to cut off. Draw this line all around - both sides. Place
a
> > > > straight board (fence) the distance from the outside edge of your
> router
> > > > base to the nearest edge of the router bit. Clamp the fence and
clamp
> a
> > > > board to the end where the router will bit will exit to prevent
> > blow-out.
> > > >
> > > > Set bit for initial pass of only about 1/16" deep. Then only make
> cuts
> > > > about 1/4" max (and that may be a tad to much) until you're half way
> > > > through. Flip the top over, align fence, clamp, repeat routing
> > sequence.
> > > >
> > > > You could try a circular saw to cut within about 1/8" of finished
edge
> > then
> > > > finish with the router to get a nice clean edge. The circular saw
> will
> > burn
> > > > the edge and leave it pretty ragged looking.
> > > >
> > > > Bob S.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Grizzle" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > > news:gL%Fb.21614$6b2.10783@edtnps84...
> > > > > I have a laminated solid maple workbench top that is 2 1/2 "
thick.
> It
> > is
> > > > > 28" wide and ~82" long and I need to trim off the uneven ends.
> Anyone
> > have
> > > > > any good suggestions?? :)
> > > > >
> > > > > Ray
> > > > >
> > > > >
> >
> >
>
>

For a nice clean cut line use your router and a two-fluted, 1/2" shaft,
straight bit. Place a straight-edge 90 deg to the long edge at the point
you want to cut off. Draw this line all around - both sides. Place a
straight board (fence) the distance from the outside edge of your router
base to the nearest edge of the router bit. Clamp the fence and clamp a
board to the end where the router will bit will exit to prevent blow-out.

Set bit for initial pass of only about 1/16" deep. Then only make cuts
about 1/4" max (and that may be a tad to much) until you're half way
through. Flip the top over, align fence, clamp, repeat routing sequence.

You could try a circular saw to cut within about 1/8" of finished edge then
finish with the router to get a nice clean edge. The circular saw will burn
the edge and leave it pretty ragged looking.

Bob S.


"Grizzle" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:gL%Fb.21614$6b2.10783@edtnps84...
> I have a laminated solid maple workbench top that is 2 1/2 " thick. It is
> 28" wide and ~82" long and I need to trim off the uneven ends. Anyone have
> any good suggestions?? :) My 3 hp Unisaw will cut it ok but I am concerned
> about keeping something that heavy and long straight and its too thick to
> use a circular saw. Would be a good time for a new blade in the saw as
well
> I think!
>
> Ray
>
>

Are you sure it's too thick for your circular saw? Seems to me like most
7.5" saws will cut 2.5" deep. I am not certain about that without checking.
Anyway, I would use the circular saw to cut as deep as it will go, must be
2" at least. Then, use a hand saw to cut the last bit, keeping the saw kerf
to the waste side of the circ saw kerf. Use a flush trim bit in your router
to clean up the handcut portion.

--
Bill Pounds
http://www.bill.pounds.net/woodshop


"Grizzle" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:gL%Fb.21614$6b2.10783@edtnps84...
> I have a laminated solid maple workbench top that is 2 1/2 " thick. It is
> 28" wide and ~82" long and I need to trim off the uneven ends. Anyone have
> any good suggestions?? :) My 3 hp Unisaw will cut it ok but I am concerned
> about keeping something that heavy and long straight and its too thick to
> use a circular saw. Would be a good time for a new blade in the saw as
well
> I think!
>
> Ray
>
>

Beautiful
Tony
"Roy Warren" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Thanks for all the suggestions.
>
> I used Bob's method below and it worked great. All that is now left
> to do is mount the Twin-Screw Veritas vice. I have it sitting on a
> temporary base until I get time to build myself something better.
>
> You can see a picture of it at
> http://www.jenarae.com/wood/workbench1.jpg complete with round bench
> dog holes and a tool trough at the rear
>
> Ray
>
>
>
>
> "Bob S." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> > For a nice clean cut line use your router and a two-fluted, 1/2" shaft,
> > straight bit. Place a straight-edge 90 deg to the long edge at the
point
> > you want to cut off. Draw this line all around - both sides. Place a
> > straight board (fence) the distance from the outside edge of your router
> > base to the nearest edge of the router bit. Clamp the fence and clamp a
> > board to the end where the router will bit will exit to prevent
blow-out.
> >
> > Set bit for initial pass of only about 1/16" deep. Then only make cuts
> > about 1/4" max (and that may be a tad to much) until you're half way
> > through. Flip the top over, align fence, clamp, repeat routing
sequence.
> >
> > You could try a circular saw to cut within about 1/8" of finished edge
then
> > finish with the router to get a nice clean edge. The circular saw will
burn
> > the edge and leave it pretty ragged looking.
> >
> > Bob S.
> >
> >
> > "Grizzle" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:gL%Fb.21614$6b2.10783@edtnps84...
> > > I have a laminated solid maple workbench top that is 2 1/2 " thick. It
is
> > > 28" wide and ~82" long and I need to trim off the uneven ends. Anyone
have
> > > any good suggestions?? :)
> > >
> > > Ray
> > >
> > >

Ray,

Nice job...........what kind of wood did you use for your bench? Is it your
own design? Regards. -Guy



"Roy Warren" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Thanks for all the suggestions.
>
> I used Bob's method below and it worked great. All that is now left
> to do is mount the Twin-Screw Veritas vice. I have it sitting on a
> temporary base until I get time to build myself something better.
>
> You can see a picture of it at
> http://www.jenarae.com/wood/workbench1.jpg complete with round bench
> dog holes and a tool trough at the rear
>
> Ray
>
>
>
>
> "Bob S." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> > For a nice clean cut line use your router and a two-fluted, 1/2" shaft,
> > straight bit. Place a straight-edge 90 deg to the long edge at the
point
> > you want to cut off. Draw this line all around - both sides. Place a
> > straight board (fence) the distance from the outside edge of your router
> > base to the nearest edge of the router bit. Clamp the fence and clamp a
> > board to the end where the router will bit will exit to prevent
blow-out.
> >
> > Set bit for initial pass of only about 1/16" deep. Then only make cuts
> > about 1/4" max (and that may be a tad to much) until you're half way
> > through. Flip the top over, align fence, clamp, repeat routing
sequence.
> >
> > You could try a circular saw to cut within about 1/8" of finished edge
then
> > finish with the router to get a nice clean edge. The circular saw will
burn
> > the edge and leave it pretty ragged looking.
> >
> > Bob S.
> >
> >
> > "Grizzle" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:gL%Fb.21614$6b2.10783@edtnps84...
> > > I have a laminated solid maple workbench top that is 2 1/2 " thick. It
is
> > > 28" wide and ~82" long and I need to trim off the uneven ends. Anyone
have
> > > any good suggestions?? :)
> > >
> > > Ray
> > >
> > >

Cut it with a chainsaw, leaving an extra quarter to half inch or so.
Clean up the extra as follows:

Put your router on a "sled" (i.e. bolt a long board to the base, with
a hole for a straight bit). Put a straight bit in, set it 1/2" or so
lower than the board.

Ok, now clamp boards to the top and bottom of your slab, such that the
edges are 1/2" beyond where you want the final edge to be.

Put cleats on the bottom of the router's board such that the cutting
bit just reaches to these new boards. The cleats will hit the outside
faces of the new boards just as the bit hits the inside faces of the
opposite board.

You can now freehand the router between the two boards to flatten and
smooth the rough ends. You might want to start with the bit only 1/8"
exposed, then 1/4, then 3/8, etc.