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Recommended for Ripping
Issue: Issue 232
Posted Date: 9/22/2009
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I have a fair amount of aged oak timbers that are about 2x12 rough and full cut. They would make great tabletops, good stuff. What would you recommend to rip them? Your time and expert opinion will be appreciated.
Chris Marshall: Ripping the timbers should be easy to do with any 10-in. table saw or on a band saw, provided you've got plenty of outfeed support to help manage the weight as it comes off the machine (I'd crosscut them to rough length first to make them easier to manage). Hopefully you have a jointer to flatten one edge before ripping them to width. Then, if you want to resaw these thick boards into thinner 1x stock, that will involve using a big band saw with enough capacity to handle a 12-in.-wide workpiece standing on-edge. Again, set up plenty of outfeed support to work safely. If you rip these boards down narrow enough, you might be able to resaw them on your table saw instead.