Our lumber is delivered rough (not straight, flat, or smooth). Before we can joint or rip, we need a straight edge. We have built a machine for producing a straight edge on a board. In the photos below, you can see a bench along one wall—note the fence running back to and passed the radial arm saw in the background, and the shaper head mounted in the bench. The fence is offset for an eighth inch cut at the shaper head. One or more passes, with finesse, will give a straight edge.
In general, we use our “straight-line machine” to give us a reference edge to work from, not any sort of finished surface. But Austin thought that, with care and a sharp cutter, we could joint these great mahogany boards for gluing. To my surprise, we did.
Gluing up the top.
We let the top dry for a couple of days. We used the trestle base to support the glue-up, because it was long and strong and true.
