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SEPT/OCT 2002
Volume 45/Issue 5


IN THIS ISSUE
Project Articles
The Toy Train
The Cold Frame
The Toy Puzzles & Kitchen Helpers

DEPARTMENTS
Ask Smitty
Owner’s Gallery
Letters from Owners
 
Academy Notes
Using the Shopsmith Mortising Attachment to Drill Square Holes
 
Service Pointers
MARK V Wedge Locks & Way Tubes
 
Safety Tips
Using the Shopsmith Safety Kit

What's New
Incra Miter Gauge 2000

EDUCATION
Find A Shopsmith Woodworking Academy Near You

National Woodworking Academy in Dayton, OH

ONLINE CATALOGS
Online Accessory Catalog
Request Printed Accessory Catalog
Online Replacement Parts Catalog

MARK V INFORMATION
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MARK V Demo Near You

Request MARK V Information Package

LINKS
Links Worth Visiting
Free Woodworking Tips

FEEDBACK
Contacting Shopsmith

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Shopsmith, Inc.
All Rights Reserved

Ask SmittyASK SMITTY!
Here are the questions . . .
and SMITTY’S answers for this issue!

Joining two long boards together, end-to-end
 
From L.J. Bowman, via e-mail:
 
I need to join two 1" x 12" boards together, end-to-end to make a 14' long board. Any suggestions ?

Your best bet would be to cut a half-lap on the joined ends of each board. Set-up a dado blade to make a cut EXACTLT half the thickness of each of your two boards. If you're joining 3/4" thick 1" x 12" boards, set your depth-of-cut to 3/8".

Use your dado blade to crosscut a 6" to 8" long half-lap on the end of each board (make the half-laps about 1/2 the length of your board width...a little longer won't hurt).

Glue your two boards together and clamp tightly for 24 hours. If you want more strength, add about 4 dowels (or 5/8" long screws if visible screws will be acceptable on your project).

This approach is recommended providing this is not to be some sort of structural member that will be required to hold a lot of weight or be under a great deal of pressure. If it IS to be a structural member...or is expected to hold a lot of weight, I would suggest that you start with the procedure above, then glue and screw a 12" x 18" piece of stock to each side of your joint...providing this visible “sandwich” in the middle is not detrimental to your design. .

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