I like to use my Lie-Nielsen #7 to clean up the edges of boards I’m about to edge-join. This makes the edges square, clean and also allows me to make a sprung joint. That’s a joint where the boards touch at the ends, but are slightly apart in the center – making a nice tight glue-line. It’s easy to create with a couple of extra passes with handplane down the center of the boards.
Getting ready to run the Lie-Nielsen #7 down the edges.
I clamp the two boards together which gives more surface area to run the handplane and also auto-corrects in case I’m not holding the plane perfectly square to the face.
Using my Lie-Nielsen #7 to joint both boards at once.
I look for two full-length shavings, one from each board.
Sprung Joints Can Use a Single Clamp!
Although a single clamp closes up the glue line nicely – even over 10′ ! – I think I’ll use a couple more during the glue up 😉
Morton is a furniture designer + builder working in Harvard, MA. He reviews tools for Highland Woodworking on YouTube. You can also find him on Facebook, Twitter @morton, and his own YouTube channel.
Good post, concise, and great photos.