How do I joint a curved piece?
After epoxying a curved part nearly 8' long, I’m stuck wondering how to straighten the messy sides.
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Strategically placed infeed and outfeed stands support a large, curved workpiece with an awkwardly located center of gravity.
Q:
I'm just getting started in cold-bent lamination, and I may have bitten off more than I can chew. After epoxying a curved part nearly 8' long, I'm stuck wondering how to straighten the messy sides.
—Jacob Copley, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
A:
You can flatten the edges of bent laminations much like you would straight pieces, Jacob: on your jointer. First, chisel away as much of the excess epoxy as possible. Set up infeed and outfeed supports if necessary. Then, use push pads, held firmly, to guide the piece across the jointer knives.
Once you've flattened one edge, simply run the piece through the planer to parallel the opposite edge.