Tapers with a planer

[oldandslow]

Wanna try to make tapered lams. I have a thickness planer but not a thickness sander.
Can it be done?

[skeaterbait]

Based on my experience with planers I would say it can be done with stringent caveats. Planers have a way of finding any figure in grain and destroying it. So your wood will have to be pretty clean as far as grain goes. Also, a planer makes a very clean, smooth surface, not conducive to gluing. You would still have to do some sanding to get a good surface for glue to adhere too. That in itself could be an issue with increased odds of uneven surfaces.

[Roy from Pa]

You will not get the tolerances you need for bow building.

[oldandslow]

How about an edge sander? I have a 6 x 89 edge sander!

[Roy from Pa]

You could make them but they are not going to be even enough in my opinion.

To make good tapered lams you need a drum sander setup.

https://youtu.be/YROaRoXTqk8

[oldandslow]

Sigh...yes
Wife wont be happy!

[Crooked Stic]

I guess I have to agree with Roy   

[Flem]

I agree with these guys, a drum or wide belt machine is your best bet. But I have seen a few edge sander set ups, don't know how they compare though. This one was posted on P.O.A.
[attachment=1]

[oldandslow]

Interesting...

[Flem]

Here is another one I thought was interesting back when I was getting ready to make my sander.
Obviously its a spindle, not an edge sander, but the working end is the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql9_wyb2m9U

[bubby]

I built a thickness drum sander, works pretty good

[oldandslow]

I've watched that video a couple times Flem.
Got a picture Bubby?

[oldandslow]

Dave Watson on youtube made a lam specific drum sander. Was interesting.

[Mad Max]

https://vanda-layindustries.com/html/the_hog_sander.html
This thing is very accurate I use mine all the time.
If you can find a 1/4 HP shop fan motor work really good, That's what I did

[Flem]

Quite a few guys here have made there own sanders. Mark (mmattockx) just completed one he shared with us that looked like a Thorne style.
This is a homemade unit, sans dust hood, built on the cheap.
[attachment=1,msg2943481]

[Shredd]

If you are gonna use your edge sander you have to partially flatten one drum, so that you get a flat grind...  You can leave the last inch or so near the edges of the drum still rounded so it helps with the tracking... 

   I will try to remember to post a pic of my device...  It is very accurate and I can dial it in to a couple of thou's of an inch...

[bubby]

https://youtu.be/th98CNnCrDY

[oldandslow]

Mad Max that looks like the cats meow!

[oldandslow]

That mark guy lives near me Flem.
Maybe I should take my cut lams out there...lol

[Buemaker]

I had this made. It does have pressure rollers, works very well.