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How to prevent bowing when preparing a board?

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Previous Back to: Wood and Wood Preparation12 Replies

Welcome! / Forums / General Woodworking Discussions / Wood and Wood Preparation / How to prevent bowing when preparing a board?

  • This topic has 12 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 2 months ago by Benoît Van Noten.
  • Author
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  • Aaron Stiff
    1 March 2021 at 8:29 pm #703526

    VERY new to woodworking, so this probably sounds like a silly question, but I’m just wondering what technique I should be using to eliminate creating a bow in the board I’m preparing. I can understand using winding sticks to remove twist, and sighting down the face will expose cupping (depression across the width), but how to I detect and prevent bowing (depression across the length)? Do I sight down the face edge? And is it just something you have to feel for when planing? Thanks!

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    Stijn Bossuyt
    2 March 2021 at 9:29 am #703589

    Hi Aaron,
    to check for bow, you usually use a straightedge. I use an aluminum L-profile, but you could also use a long enough level or make a straightedge from wood:

    Making a Straightedge


    If the wood is very thin (let’s say 1/2 inch or less), don’t stress too much over a slight bow. The construction will keep that board constrained.

    Settings
    Aaron Stiff
    2 March 2021 at 11:26 am #703597

    Thanks! I’ll check that video out.

    Settings
    Benoît Van Noten
    5 March 2021 at 9:23 am #703976

    To flatten my bench-top, I used the edge of an inexpensive 1m aluminium rule. Although a longer one might have been better. When placed on the board, it should drag all along its edge everywhere.
    Placed on a high spot it will “helicopter” – take thin shavings locally to remove the high spot.
    If there is a hollow, the rule will not drag in the center – remove material at one or the two extremities.
    I also check diagonally.
    When doing it for the first time, one might have the impression to chase one’s tail 😉
    I can not trust my eyesight because of my progressive lenses.

    Settings
    Aaron Stiff
    5 March 2021 at 10:52 am #703983

    Yes! That’s how I feel! One minute I’m too high, another I’m too low. But this is literally my first time planing an entire board, so I keep trying not to beat myself up. 🙂

    Thanks for the advice. I’ve kind of discovered those things you were talking about, like helicoptering. I’m glad I left 1/8″ on each side. 🙂

    Settings
    deanbecker
    5 March 2021 at 3:04 pm #704002

    Mark the four edges first.
    Plane down to the mark all the way around. This leaves a hump in the middle
    Then plane down to the mark going slow so as not to over shoot. Mark the surface with pencil lines and stop when they dissapear and remark.
    Set the plane shallow at first til you see how much you remove.
    Until i set it find i overshot a lot dont spare the pencil lead. Its your friend

    Settings
    Aaron Stiff
    5 March 2021 at 3:05 pm #704003

    Great advice. Thanks!

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    Colin Scowen
    6 March 2021 at 1:11 pm #704131

    Another good video to watch is the ‘Making a door’ video. It’s a free one. I watch it on spewtoob, but it may also be available on this site.

    Colin, Czech Rep.

    Settings
    Aaron Stiff
    6 March 2021 at 1:12 pm #704132

    Great. Thanks!

    Settings
    Benoît Van Noten
    7 March 2021 at 8:53 am #704225

    Making the edges first.
    I have not tried it, but there is a description of the process in the book from André Roubo.
    Starting from a rough sawn board, one makes two straight and coplanar (no wind) rebates first.
    It is partly shown in this video:

    look from about 11′.
    If the rebates are not straight, the board will not be flat.

    Settings
    Aaron Stiff
    7 March 2021 at 12:11 pm #704237

    Thanks! I’ve seen a few of Rex Krueger’s videos, and they’re very interesting.

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    Roberto Fischer
    7 March 2021 at 2:33 pm #704245

    I wonder why we usually don’t see these winding sticks more. They do appear like too much fluff and no net benefit over the simpler ones. I can’t say that I’ve tried them though.

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    Benoît Van Noten
    9 March 2021 at 4:55 pm #704585

    With simple winding sticks, one has to flatten the two ends of the board first; otherwise the winding sticks might rock and give unreliable information.
    I always flatten a few inches at the end of the board to avoid this.

    Those removable feet might be handy to choose between various rough sawn boards without having to plane the ends first.
    Taking them with you to the lumberyard?
    Those removable feet don’t seem difficult to make for one’s existing winding sticks.

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