Subject: jointer clamps?

From: [email-masked] (Mayfilm)
Date: 9 Feb 1997 07:32:51 GMT

I saw in the Eagle America catalogue Jointer clamps. I can't afford a real
jointer right now. Does anyone have any experience with these clamps. I'm
building a table and the top needs to have jointed 5/4 red oak. I'm
wondering if these clamps do a good job on a table saw.

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From: [email-masked] (Jim Levie)
Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 18:12:02 GMT

>wondering if these clamps do a good job on a table saw.

There is generally quite a difference between a sawn and a jointed
edge, the jointed edge being considerably smoother. For a number of
years, before I acquired a jointer, I used a router and a series of
semi-precision straight guides as a substitute. And even now I'll use
them to joint boards longer than 5-6'. 

The guides were various lengths of heavy sheet metal formed into an
"L" shape for stability, with one 4" wide leg and a 1/2" leg. The
guide edge was as it came from the sheet metal shear and was used with
a bearing-over-bit straight cutter. I attached a 1/4 plywood spacer to
the underside of each guide with contact cement to provide clearance
for the cutter bearing.

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From: Paul Worth <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 16:26:16 -0500

> wondering if these clamps do a good job on a table saw.

I have a set of the Jointer Clamps.  They work quite well.  I try to
keep
a piece of 6" x 8' plywood around with the clamps attached.  Don't
forget
to run the board through again after you've got both sides straight 
because the first cut is not quite perpendicular to the face of the
board (because of the thickness of the clamp).

--Paul Worth--
[email-masked]