What starting thickness of stock should I start with for poplar frame and panel cabinet doors (will use router bits to make rails and stiles)? Is it better to use 5/4 rough stock and plane to 7/8 inches or start with 4/4 rough stock and plane to 3/4 inches?
Thanks for the feedback,
Brian
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Replies
It depends on your bit set, some are made for 3/4" and thats all ya got. Some have shims for spreading the cutters.
Normally I would start w/1" +/- and work down to 13/16" or 3/4.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
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4/4 to 3/4. You'll be stretching the cope and rail bits capacity going much thicker than 13/16".
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
I usually get 4/4 stock and plane it to 3/4". I also plane all of my rail/stile stock at the same time so the thickness is exactly the same. Doing this virtually eliminates those annoying mismatches where the rails meet the stiles during assembly.
Where I am the 4/4 S2S (15/16"+) is cheaper than the S2S in any other dimension. I usually plane it to 7/8" and let it rest a couple of days, then finish it off so as to reduce warpage.
Watch the real dark pop areas of heartwood. They're denser and hold moisture longer than the light areas and will jam a rip quick if you don't have a splitter. They'll warp after planing too.
I've had good luck buying 4/4 and planing down to 7/8 with poplar. I rough cut the lumber for each piece oversize before jointing and planing, so it doesn't take too many passes to make them straight and true.