thinning back plate

[Dave Bagwill]

five easy pieces...


Har-dee-har-har :-)

[Dave Bagwill]

Long ago, it feels like, I thinned a few backs and tops with a caveman approach that worked surprisingly well.

Materials:
A very flat surface - I think I used 1" mdf
Two metal pieces, used in construction; each one was 24" long, 2-3" wide, and exactly .100" thick.
A very flat and rigid board. 24" long, to use as a sanding stick

I laid the metal pieces on the flat surface and affixed them with screws. I placed them parallel to one another, 20" apart from the inside edges.

I placed a given top or back on the surface and between the metal pieces, using some thin 2 sided tape

I glued some 80 grit sandpaper to the sanding stick, about 19" in the middle of the stick length.
If I had sanded down to the metal, I would have a top or back consistently thinned to .100" - thickness of sandpaper.
I would put layers of tape at the end of the sanding stick to keep from going all the way to the metal; then I could remove the tape to take off more material.

Yeah it was work, but not much, and the results were very consistent and as good as my currrent drum sander. Go figure.

[peter havriluk]

Dave, the technique sure sounds easy enough, but I can imagine working up a good sweat and some muscle cramps taking that much wood off by hand.

But the price sure is right. And I have everything but the standoffs. Worth a try.

Thanks very much.

[Dave Bagwill]

Not sure what they are called, but got 'em at Ace hardware and have seen them at HD as well:

[peter havriluk]

That simplifies things a whole lot. Thanks.

[Carl Dickinson]

Simpson framing straps..

[Dave Bagwill]

Thanks Carl, and Welcome to the Forum!
Tell us a bit about yourself?
Dave