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…back on 11 October 2005 MichaelP said concerning joining backs and tops…

“I use a plane and shooting board now so that I can set my blade at a slight angel to get a // joint profile. It gives a bit more glued surface area to the joint therefor I feel a bit stronger joint. To me this is one of the things that makes a planed joint superior.”

I came across this suggestion while search the archives for “shooting boards”. Thanks Michael.   I have been inspired by your logic, and excited about using your suggestion. But I need to be sure I understand the finer details of what you are suggesting – before I end up learning too many of my lessons the hard way.

T/F? When the pieces are being planed on an angle at the same time – they will match. BUT, for this to work - the sides need to be paired/stacked with one another so that when they are joined the sides of the boards that will make up the top are facing the same direction and the angles are complimentary and not opposed. This would require the tops or bottoms to be facing towards each other or facing away from each other as they are being paired/stacked into the shooting board.

Is there an angle you have determined to be the best for the application?

Do you still use “candling” as a method of inspection? It seems that would be a bit harder to use to determine how well they fit up because the 2 pieces will be overlapping.

What method do you use – if anything – to insure that one side does ride up over the other when gluing them up. Doesn’t seem like the tent method would work very well.

Sorry, for the many questions…

[quote=Tony]T/F? When the pieces are being planed on an angle at the same time – they will match. BUT, for this to work - the sides need to be paired/stacked with one another so that when they are joined the sides of the boards that will make up the top are facing the same direction and the angles are complimentary and not opposed. This would require the tops or bottoms to be facing towards each other or facing away from each other as they are being paired/stacked into the shooting board. [/quote]

I know I'm not Michael P Tony but I will attempt to answer for you.

True, you want to have the show faces or the inside faces facing eachother when shooting the board for an angle joint. Just like book matching, than the angle is cut the correct way to join the two halfs together.

I will let Michael answer the rest of your questions.

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I missed Michaels post but as far as planing soundboard/back edges prior to jointing I dont bother running the plane at an angle. As long as the bookmatched halves are planed together and with showfaces facing when you pnane them..when you open them back out and match up the join any irregularities on one edge are usually matched with an opposite irregularity on the other edge. I would candle the join before gluing regardless of how I work the edges.

No, I have no absolute angle it is somewhere around 7-10 deg I am guessing, not much. you are right about how to face the planks during shooting. Yes I still candle the joint. Miss fits will still show-up when candled.