Light Thicknessing with a Radial Arm Saw

Frequently I need to make something small an exact thickness.  Here the piece of oak needs to be reduced in thickness to fit into the saw kerfs on the corners of this child's toy.  It is easy with a sanding drum on a radial arm saw and an auxiliary table.

Step 1 First, cut the kerfs

The toy is a wooden frame with a swinging yellow door in it.  A child threw a tantrum and then threw this.  The joints were end grain glued, and several broke.  Just to get started, I glued the pieces back together just as they had been.  I decided to make kerfs and add glued splines for strength.  The jig is from a previous Instructable on accurate miters with a radial arm saw.  I have set the motor so the shaft is vertical.  The jig slides from right to left against the fence.  Each corner has two kerfs, so after cutting one set, I turned the toy over and cut the second set.  This is about as close to the blade as I care to get my fingers without using pusher sticks.

Comments

[steliart]

 A very good ible Phil, even though personally I would be scared of the exposed blade (I know you take every precaution) I guess is just the picture. I would have gone with the more traditional method for this - vertical cut on the table saw with a spline miter jig to cut the joints. The sanding method is perfect.
Thanks for sharing  

[Phil B]

A table saw with the right jig would have been ideal for making the kerfs, unfortunately, I do not have a table saw.  One thing in my favor was that the movement of the jig and the work piece were from right to left, not toward the blade.  Another was that I purposely held the work piece with only a little downward pressure from my fingertips.  If anything had pulled the work piece from my hand, my hand would not have been pulled toward the saw.  I probably could have used two pusher sticks: one to hold the corner of the work piece in the jig and a second to push the jig across the blade.  Compare step 4 in this Instructable.   

Thank you for your comment.  I enjoy your Instructables.

[steliart]

 Oh! I see now, I thought you had a table saw.
Yes I understand completely how and why you do it now.
I would then recommend an instructable to you,  by Phil B "A precise table saw from an electric hand saw" he might teach you a thing or two. So no excuses not to have one now hehehe

[laxap]

Shortly after you published it, I received a lot of boxes that suffered from age and transportation, so I remembered your ible. I don't have such a disc saw, but you inspired me for a similar solution, using a cordless drill, and diagonal tenons.

Thank you my friend for this great ible. For this you'll get a patch.

[Phil B]

The great thing about Instructables is that we sometimes adapt someone's idea to use it in a new way he never considered.  I am glad I could be of help.  Thanks.

[foxwoodfarm]

The position of the saw in picture is very dangerous. Half of the blade is exposed.  If the blade grabs the wood you are cutting, your hand could hit the blade. I know you can do this 100 times without a problem but watch on the 101th.

[Phil B]

There are some things I cannot show in the photo because my other hand is holding the camera rather than assisting in making this cut.  Please notice how my left hand is positioned.  If it were possible for the saw to pull the wood into the blade, my hand is positioned so that the wood can be pulled away from my hand without pulling my hand toward the blade.  I appreciate your concern.  I considered all of the things you mention before I commenced and made my kerfs very safely, although also very, very cautiously.  If I let the 101st time completely dominate my thoughts, I would never turn the saw "on."

[laxap]

See this instructable to use both hands and take a picture.

[Phil B]

I remember viewing your Instructable quite some weeks back.  Although I have not triedd it, I fear my teeth would not hold the camera steady enough.  I would probably be more inclined to set the camera on a tripod and use the self-timer.  Thank you.

[merijnvw]

 this is very good

[Phil B]

Thank you.  And, it is unbelievably useful.  In addition, passing work between a sanding drum and a flat guide tends to straighten the work.  See my related Instructable on jointing boards with a sanding drum and a fence on a radial arm saw, or on any other sanding drum setup.  That is really useful!