Boat Building Forum

Find advice on all aspects of building your own kayak, canoe or any lightweight boats

Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
By:Jay Babina
Date: 1/16/2011, 9:01 am
In Response To: Strip: Ripping better strips (Stephen Troy)

Unfortunately, I'm going to play the devil's advocate a bit here.

A long fence is good if the wood is straight. If you have a bend or hollow in the wood, a long fence will give you an uneven thickness of strip. I have found that a shorter fence works best for me. I intentionally fasten a board along my fence up to the blade. So after the strip is cut, it now travels free. I use three feather boards. Once pressing the board down solid on the table top - just before the blade. One pressing in - in front of the blade and one further forward keeping the board parallel to the fence. After each strip is cut, I put the board back into position and push my two feather boards in a bit and re-clamp them.

I first sight down my board and If I have any bow in the wood, I make sure the bend is curved away from the fence. that way it will travel in towards the blade and the thickness will be good. If you have any bow in the wood facing inward towards the fence, you will get uneven thickness. (a thin spot) Some people actually snap a string line to check the lumber and hand plane a straight starting edge. This is one of the main considerations for getting perfect thickness throughout the run. I too have ruined some good wood before I noticed thin areas on my strips and the shorter fence cured it for me and more strict attention to the starting edge on the wood. And I usually rip 16' or 18' lumber.

I'm sharing what I do and some undoubtedly like long fences and have good luck. But check that edge on your wood before you start.

Messages In This Thread

Strip: Ripping better strips
Stephen Troy -- 1/15/2011, 11:29 pm
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Bill Hamm -- 1/16/2011, 12:53 am
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Al Edie -- 1/16/2011, 3:19 am
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Bill Hamm -- 1/16/2011, 3:27 am
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Al Edie -- 1/16/2011, 3:38 am
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Bill Hamm -- 1/16/2011, 7:04 am
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Tony Olsen -- 1/16/2011, 9:02 am
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Mike Savage -- 1/16/2011, 12:42 pm
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Paul G. Jacobson -- 1/16/2011, 1:37 pm
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Ken Blanton -- 1/16/2011, 5:55 am
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Jay Babina -- 1/16/2011, 9:01 am
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Ian Cummins -- 1/16/2011, 5:08 pm
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Kurt Maurer -- 1/16/2011, 7:23 pm
Re: Strip: Zen
Ian Johnson -- 1/16/2011, 8:08 pm
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Kirk Fredericks -- 1/16/2011, 10:49 pm
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Tony Olsen -- 1/16/2011, 10:58 pm
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Kirk Fredericks -- 1/16/2011, 11:04 pm
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Paul G. Jacobson -- 1/16/2011, 9:10 pm
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Phil Nelson -- 1/16/2011, 10:03 pm
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
ancient kayaker -- 1/18/2011, 10:39 am
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Phil Nelson -- 1/18/2011, 4:17 pm
Thanks all
Stephen Troy -- 1/17/2011, 12:31 am
Re: Thanks all
Paul G. Jacobson -- 1/17/2011, 4:02 am
Re: Thanks all
Bill Hamm -- 1/17/2011, 6:43 am
Featherboard use *PIC*
Paul G. Jacobson -- 1/17/2011, 6:50 pm
Re: Featherboard use
Les Cheeseman -- 1/20/2011, 9:54 am
Re: Featherboard use
Bill Hamm -- 1/20/2011, 10:08 am
Re: Featherboard use
Les Cheeseman -- 1/20/2011, 11:28 am
Re: Featherboard use
Bill Hamm -- 1/20/2011, 10:13 am
Re: Featherboard use
Bill Hamm -- 1/20/2011, 10:32 am
Re: Thanks all
Les Cheeseman -- 1/19/2011, 9:18 am
Re: Thanks all
Bill Hamm -- 1/19/2011, 9:28 am
infeeed.outfeed table extensions.
Paul G. Jacobson -- 1/19/2011, 8:00 pm
And the picture for that is--- *PIC*
Paul G. Jacobson -- 1/19/2011, 8:06 pm
Re: And the picture for that is---
Bill Hamm -- 1/19/2011, 8:52 pm
Re: And the picture for that is---
Bill Hamm -- 1/19/2011, 8:58 pm
Re: And the picture for that is---
Les Cheeseman -- 1/20/2011, 9:47 am
Re: And the picture for that is--- *PIC*
Etienne Muller - ireland -- 1/20/2011, 4:39 pm
Re: And the picture for that is---
Les Cheeseman -- 1/21/2011, 3:54 am
Re: Strip: Ripping better strips
Etienne Muller - ireland -- 1/17/2011, 5:07 am