Bookmatch on your tablesaw
When you get lots of lumber, you’ll sometimes find small areas with really cool figure. I usually cut these out and play with them–split them in half and glue them back together to make bookmatched box tops, for example. Someday I’ll get my bandsaw set up to resaw them properly, but in the meantime, you can do a pretty decent job on your table saw. Here’s the steps:
1) Set the blade height to be just under half the height of the block
2) Calculate the thickness of the block minus the kerf (usually 1/8″), then divide that in half. Set the fence that far from the blade.
3) Run the block through, cutting almost-but-not-quite halfway through. Use pushsticks! I use a jointer-type flat pad pushstick on top, and a conventional one pushing in from the side.
4) Flip the block over, and keeping the same side against the fence, repeat.
During step 4, be sure that the blade isn’t cutting all the way through. If it is, the risk of kickback is very high.
5) Mark the outsides with a pencil so you know which sides go together.
6) With a handsaw, cut the remaining splinter down the middle to separate the halves.
7) Chisel off the splinter that was holding the halves together, then sand it flat
8) Put them side by side and fiddle with the arrangement until you find a design you like best. Be sure to have the cut sides facing up, as the bookmatch is closest where the wood was next to the blade.
9) Douse it in mineral spirits or rubbing alcohol to bring out the figure, and call over someone to admire it!
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