ok, my poplar feather stripping came today but it's just a tiny bit too big. what's the easiest way to uniformly sand it to fit? should i just use a sanding block and do it by hand or is there an easier way?
what's the easiest way to uniformly <reduce> it to fit
yeah, i need a table saw....I zip them out on my table saw in about 5 minutes give or take.
The absolute easiest most uniform method is a razor sharp Stanley 60-1/2 block plane with the iron set for about a .002 cut, and the throat set tight to prevent tear-out when it encounters gnarly grain.
Just take a perfectly uniform pass on a flat surface, end to end, and the reduction is predictable and almost effortless.
OTOH I've been sharpening and using handplanes for millwork installation for 45 years. Nonetheless, it's an easy skill to learn. The hard part is learning to sharpen.
To the guy looking for poplar - heartwood(green)/sapwood(white) mixed? All same size? +/- .00x" spec @ 8%MC ? How many sets at a time? It's not easy to make straight strips - there's a fair amount of waste. But poplar is easy to work. Also, why is poplar better than basswood for the app? (I'm not a table tech)
smt
ok, my poplar feather stripping came today but it's just a tiny bit too big. what's the easiest way to uniformly sand it to fit? should i just use a sanding block and do it by hand or is there an easier way?
You gonna make me some?
I'll give it some thought and send a PM next time i'm working poplar.
Not sure i would consider it less delicate than basswood, though. I think with any of these soft hardwoods, the type or grain used would make more difference than the actual species of wood.
smt
p.s. The rounded bottoms makes me wonder how they are made?
Must be a shaper op. (I did not register that on the example i saw on Slate's link, will have to look at some more).
On high volume (thousands of feet) these would probably be run in a small 4 or 5 head moulder. On small volume ( hundreds of ft) they would probably be run on BS, TS, + shaper or planer for sizing, maybe widebelt sander for finish width, depending what tolerances need held. In a shaper sizing op, a rounding head/knife could just be substituted for a square cutter.
Do you have a link to the product you prefer?
smt