Very nice! I've taken pieces down to about 2mm / 0.080" using my planer with factory blades, but below that they tend to shatter. I suspect that the thin strips start to buckle under the component of the cutting force that is applied along the length of the strip. Part of the reason why the helical cutter head works better here may be that the cutting force is 'smeared' out over a large number of narrow cuts that don't all happen at the same time, so the peak force is much lower than that of a straight blade cutting the full width all at once. One thing that has helped with the straight blades is fastening the wood to a backing board with double-sided tape, which also helps it resist buckling. But then it becomes a challenge to get it free again without breaking.
Excellent work, I’ve run down to 1/8” on my straight knife Hammer but it’s been a 50/50 proposition. I still have 2 new sets of straight knives but a helical head will be installed as soon as those knives are done. Job well done and instructions are great.
my makita bench top could do it with similar piece of jig used, usually at 0.9-1mm thickness. key to avoid the blowout on the edges would be to put the cupped face downwards. also lift the workpiece at the infeed and outfeed, like a arc shape when the thin veneer is going in and out..
P.S. great t-shirt!
Very nice!
I've taken pieces down to about 2mm / 0.080" using my planer with factory blades, but below that they tend to shatter.
I suspect that the thin strips start to buckle under the component of the cutting force that is applied along the length of the strip. Part of the reason why the helical cutter head works better here may be that the cutting force is 'smeared' out over a large number of narrow cuts that don't all happen at the same time, so the peak force is much lower than that of a straight blade cutting the full width all at once.
One thing that has helped with the straight blades is fastening the wood to a backing board with double-sided tape, which also helps it resist buckling. But then it becomes a challenge to get it free again without breaking.
Excellent work, I’ve run down to 1/8” on my straight knife Hammer but it’s been a 50/50 proposition. I still have 2 new sets of straight knives but a helical head will be installed as soon as those knives are done. Job well done and instructions are great.
This is very informative, thank you for sharing David.
thanks, the stops are a great idea. I'll be making something like it.
my makita bench top could do it with similar piece of jig used, usually at 0.9-1mm thickness. key to avoid the blowout on the edges would be to put the cupped face downwards. also lift the workpiece at the infeed and outfeed, like a arc shape when the thin veneer is going in and out..
Are you doing woodworking in the same room as you keep your Ferrari?
Yes I am.