To joint long pieces of material, tune in to J-channel
I needed to put a straight edge on a long piece of stock, but because the piece was longer than my jointer's tables, I didn't have much luck. I headed to the hardware store and bought an 8' length of aluminum J-channel (normally used with aluminum siding).
I sawed off the flange, as shown, and attached the J-channel to my board with cloth-backed double-faced tape. Keeping the channel against my tablesaw's rip fence, I then cut a straight edge on the opposite edge of the stock.
With this one 8' piece of J-channel, I've found that I can joint stock up to 10' long. The tape will keep its tack for many boards if you wipe the dust from the wood before applying the channel.
-- Ron Radecki, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Complete Guide to Joinery
Buy an 8-foot aluminum "J" channel
TO: lpf1; not true. This method is for turing one edge, remove channel,flip board over and true the second edge to the first. Think about it.
7/16/2011 10:03:17 AM Report AbuseYou would have to make sure that the J channel flange (against the wood) and the J channel back (against the fence) are parallel. I would think a piece of angle would be better?
7/14/2011 10:42:45 AM Report AbuseRip a 4"W frm facty edge of 3/4 plyw Cut 1"W strip affix to edge of 4" pc Attach 3"pc at one end Make handle attach to end w/3" stop Use by place crown out to blade Set fence to rip sgt edge Make jigs 4'/6' or Lv 8' use push stick if no handle
2/4/2011 04:30:54 PM Report AbuseMust have been another type J channel, correct alum siding J channel is to flimsy especially after you cut off the bottom. A lot of vendors do not sell one pc, usually have to buy a full carton as alum siding is about a thing of the past in favor of vinyl Will give my straight edge in another post.
2/4/2011 04:04:00 PM Report AbuseHey, great idea! I'm always trying to put that first straight edge on my band sawed (read wavy edged) lumber, and this seems like just the ticket.
5/7/2010 08:55:35 PM Report AbuseNot to be negative, but aluminum j-channel is too flexible in my opinion. What i used is a 12' section of 4"x4"x1/8" galvanized angle iron clamped to my rip fence. This gives me at least 5' to 6' of straight edge on both sides of the blade. Most of the time i don't work with boards more than 6' long anyway. This insures a straight cut all the way down.
5/7/2010 07:41:50 AM Report AbuseA strip of masonite or 1/4" ply could be used the same way. Just make sure it overhangs the rough edge toward the fence. The tape you reference would hold it well enough for a quick cut. Use new tape each time though, its cheap.
5/6/2010 05:38:49 PM Report AbuseI've been using my router and clamp-on straight edge as a jointer for a good many years. To set the straight edge the proper distance from the edge to be jointed, I cut a 4-foot long piece of 1/4" hardboard to the same width as the 1/2" straight router bit is from the edge of the router plate. It works perfectly. It takes a bit of time, but I'm retired and have lots of it.
4/10/2010 02:20:09 PM Report AbuseNever thought of a J channel. Been using another piece of aluminum to do the same thing for years. Works terrific.
4/8/2010 04:54:20 PM Report Abuse