Joining Flat Boards

[Matthew Zahn]

Hi all.  I am currently working on a project building a firewood box.  You can view what I am talking about here:  My project.  The bottom of the box is being made out of pine.  I need to join two boards that are 3/4" thick 11" wide and 29" long to one 3/4"x7"x29".  Can the kreg Jig be used for joining the flat boards?  I can put the plug side down so it won't be seen once they are joined.  I was planning on using the Kreg to join the sides to the base and then a dowel jig for the upper pieces of the one side.  I am open to suggestions as I am a newbie when it comes to this stuff.  This is on my honey do list.

Thanks in advance.

Matt

[Richard Sands]

I think you're talking about edgejoining (which is done to make tabletops and other wide pieces).  It is is shown on the Keg Jig SkillBuilder DVD Chapter 10 and at http://www.kregtool.com/media.html click on Skill Building Videos and then Edgejoining,  and is also on page 30 of the K3 Instructional Manual that can be found at http://www.rockler.com/tech/RTD10000075AC.pdf .

[Matthew Zahn]

Richard,

Thank you very much.  I wasn't sure how this would work out for 3/4" boards on the edge.

Appreciate the link.  Looks pretty easy.  Though the video suggests not using boards that are wider than 6".  I have two boards that are 11" wide.  Will this be a problem do you think.

Matt

Richard Sands said:

I think you're talking about edgejoining (which is done to make tabletops and other wide pieces).  It is is shown on the Keg Jig SkillBuilder DVD Chapter 10 and at http://www.kregtool.com/media.html click on Skill Building Videos and then Edgejoining,  and is also on page 30 of the K3 Instructional Manual that can be found at http://www.rockler.com/tech/RTD10000075AC.pdf .

[Richard Sands]

Matt,

I haven't done any edgejoing with my Kreg Jig, yet.  I will be doing a project soon.  I think that most of the boards I use will be 5-1/2"  wide, with perhaps a few a little wider.   

You could rip your 11" boards in half, so you'd be edgejoing four boards that are 5-1/2" wide and the one board that is 7" wide.

[Matthew Zahn]

Great Idea!  I think I will do that and hopefully avoid any problems.

Thanks. 

Matt

Richard Sands said:

Matt,

I haven't done any edgejoing with my Kreg Jig, yet.  I will be doing a project soon.  I think that most of the boards I use will be 5-1/2"  wide, with perhaps a few a little wider.   

You could rip your 11" boards in half, so you'd be edgejoing boards 5-1/2" wide.

[Ken Darga]

I've experienced excessive warpage, when joining wide boards.

The widest boards I'd use are 6"---4'' is better (less warpage).

When joining 2 or more pieces, edge-to-edge, alternate the joined boards grain, opposite one another.

The first board with the grain arc ''up'' and the adjacent board grain arc ''down''.

Examine the end of each board, and notice the direction of the ''curl'' or grain lines/pattern, or the arc of the grain.

Mark each board accordingly, or equiv method---use ''yellow'' chalk.

Works for me.

[Matthew Zahn]

Appreciate the advice Ken.  I will have to make some minor corrections to some of my other boards after the width of the blade is removed ripping the wider boards but not a big deal. 

Thanks,

Matt

Ken Darga said:

I've experienced excessive warpage, when joining wide boards.

The widest boards I'd use are 6"---4'' is better (less warpage).

When joining 2 or more pieces, edge-to-edge, alternate the joined boards grain, opposite one another.

The first board with the grain arc ''up'' and the adjacent board grain arc ''down''.

Examine the end of each board, and notice the direction of the ''curl'' or grain lines/pattern, or the arc of the grain.

Mark each board accordingly, or equiv method---use ''yellow'' chalk.

Works for me.