Reply To: How to know if wooden beams are completely straight?
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One thing to think about is, does it matter? If we are laminating two boards together, edge to edge, then it matters that they are straight along their entire lengths. If we are making a box with dovetails at the corners and nothing in the middle, then the only thing we need is for the ends of the boards to be out of twist relative to each other. It doesn’t matter what happens in the middle as long as it looks good. Those are two examples of “does it matter.” Also, the hand-tool approach of using a face side and face edge can help to reduce the need for perfectly true material.
That said, remember that planes tend to make things uniform. So, if the ends are out of twist relative to each other and a plane is taking uniform shavings, then everything in between has a good chance (but no guarantee) of being in plane with the two twist-free ends.
It has been a long time since I saw the table projects, but things to think about: If you are laminating boards, you may make the edges perfect, get the faces close, and then glue up knowing that you will need to level the entire glued-up assembly. So, it is a waste of time to make things perfect before hand. Also, with some tables, you will be attaching the completed top to a frame (aprons), turnbuckles will pull the top down onto the apron to keep it from cupping, and then you will plane the top surface to look good. This goes back to the “does it matter” part of this reply. Sometimes, perfecting things just doesn’t matter. Sometimes, a step later in the project will take care of things. When using hand tools, it is important to not use machine methods executed with hand tools. It can waste a lot of time.