In a previous post I pointed out a technique for cutting a flat surface on a twisted or warped board by using a joiner. Well, what if you don’t have joiner? What if the board is twelve inches wide and you have a six inch wide joiner? A fellow wood worker came up with an interesting solution using his bench top planner.
He created a jig that consists of a board with two end cleats. The board has to be flat and true. If it has any twist, even ever so slight, it will be transferred to the warped board that you are trying to straighten out. The board should be as long as the longest board you are going to straighten out. The end cleats should stand over the jig board by at least a 1/4 inch.
For the jig board I have considered using solid wood. The problem is over time it may warp slightly. In my opinion 3/4 inch plywood will make the best base.
The warped project board will rest inside of the jig. Now, the warped board needs to be supported inside of the jig. To accomplish that drill two rows of pilot holes down the length of the jig board. Space them about one foot apart. Take a set of 1 inch #10 sheet metal screws and cut off the end so that you have a screw that is slightly shorter than the thickness of the jig board. Do this so that when the screw is fully turned into the board, the end does not protrude out the other side.
Use these screws as adjustments to stabilize the warped board in the jig. Now you are ready to plane a smooth, straight, flat surface on that warped board. Once one side has been straightened, turn the board over and complete the planning on the other side.
