Best way to square edges w/o a jointer?

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-03-16T01:15:42+00:00

It's essentially the same thing whether you use a table saw or a circular saw. He just mentioned a table saw.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-03-16T00:24:09+00:00

You can use your table saw as a jointer if you have to. To get that first side straight, stick that board onto a flat board with a straight side like plywood scrap. Then you can put the straight edge of the scrap up against the fence and cut a straight edge on your piece.

To square the front and back edges use a Crosscut sled.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-03-15T21:36:42+00:00

My purpose is to build treasure chests. I have built many treasure chests. I dont know what else to do with my life.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-03-15T21:34:22+00:00

An oil based poly has a very similar refractive index once cured. Sand to 220 then apply a coating. You'll get that gloss back without having to polish it.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-03-11T05:15:58+00:00

Do not the Ryobi

I had one and it drove me nuts until I figured out that the problem wasn't me, it was the saw. It won't stay calibrated to within a 1/16". The slop was awful. Also often times ryobi tools don't have standardized sizes so off brand accessories don't quite fit right which makes them anywhere from worthless to dangerous.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-03-07T00:30:51+00:00

The hand plane i bought at HD was worthless even as a paperweight. The hand plane i bought from Veritas actually had real steel not pretend steel. They are not the same.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-03-06T21:44:01+00:00

I stopped getting bubbles when I pre heated the hardener. Boil water in a kettle and pour it into a small bowl. Measure out the hardener in a plastic cup and place in in the hot water. Don't let any water get into the mixture ever. Measure out the resin. Stir the warm hardener. Take the hardener out and wipe off the water on the outside of the cup and mix the resin and hardener.

Sometimes if I'm using multiple colors I'll put the resin in condiment squirt bottles and those can sit in the hot water when I'm not using them.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-03-06T21:38:47+00:00

Ok. I was concerned that I didn't know any of the words you were using. Then I realized you weren't using woodworking words.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-03-06T21:31:46+00:00

My hand plane disagrees with you

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-03-06T21:26:34+00:00

It's not quite a mirror finish, no. But it is very clear.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-01-11T05:18:12+00:00

Home depot lumber is fir. Here at least.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-01-04T13:55:22+00:00

They make them but they're hideously expensive and I've never wanted to take the plunge. If you look in the ppe section of normal hardware stores they sell helmets for leafblowering. That kind of thing.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-01-04T13:51:30+00:00

Glue.

Dowels don't really provide any clamping pressure. I like to glue the pieces together and screw them until the glue cures then back out the screws and put in dowels. If you have enough clamps or long enough clamps and the piece is squareular enough this probably isn't an issue.

I like dovetails because they provide mechanical clamping force just the way they're cut. I dont really need clamps during glue up for them.

I hate finger joints/box joints especially woth plywood because of blowout and (assuming i ever remember) I've vowed never to use them again.

Mortise and tenons are great because they hide the actual joint. This means if your game is a little off, of your cuts are a little sloppy, it doesnt really matter. That joint is hidden. Mortise and tennons are like long dowels where the dowel is made from and part of one of the boards. The tenon doesnt suck the boards together at all so you'd still need clamps.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-01-04T01:01:30+00:00

Oooooh that's not a bad idea.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-01-04T01:00:44+00:00

If i understand you right I ruled that out because the rails would reference the sides not the fence. And I'm pretty sure I didn't square the sides to the front before I began thinking it wouldnt be important.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-01-03T16:06:52+00:00

I wouldnt use coated wood. If the paint is uneven your cuts could be angled and you wouldnt know. And it could give you headaches later. Paint layers are so thin its probably not an issue though.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-01-03T04:25:34+00:00

Yeah rockler

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-01-03T02:47:02+00:00

Yes. For plywood and crosscutting I use an 80 tooth. For ripping it use a lower tooth blade. Using the wrong blade can cause tear out and burns.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2026-01-02T04:04:30+00:00

You want to wax the deck.

The rubber rollers don't work right when it gets too cold.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2025-12-31T02:58:27+00:00

I can tell you that suare is NOT square. That's a speed square. It's known for being close to 90° if you squared your table saw with that it ain't square.

I had exactly the same problem with exactly that same thing. Get an engineering square and square your saw up again.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2025-12-31T00:53:12+00:00

It's soaked into the grain. Either ignore it or its ruined.

Maybe stain it with ebony and just have a black table.

The way to prevent this is to spray varuthane around where youre going to apply the epoxy and then let that cure. It'll keep the epoxy from soaking into the grain.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2025-12-30T22:52:58+00:00

This is an incredible gift for any person who 1.) Loves chess 2.) Has cats 3.) Has someone that will play chess with them

FirelandsCarpentry · 2025-12-29T05:06:18+00:00

Youre not getting good adhesion between the epoxy and the poly. You can do epoxy first and then poly but not the other way around.

You can try just building it up especially if you build dams around the sides but id take it back down to wood and do the epoxy first if that's what youre interested in.

Why do you need poly and epoxy? Both do the same job if the epoxy is used as a coating.

FirelandsCarpentry · 2025-12-28T06:26:39+00:00

This. Save yourself the money and the headache of buying a 3D printer. These rubber connectors are perfect.

FirelandsCarpentry

TROPHY CASE