I'd like to work with full length strips vs scarfing, and I have boards 18-20' long.
After a morning of setting up the bench planer in the yard (garage not long enough) with a approx full length out feed (16') and and half length (8') infeed table, I did a test run. The result was 'ok', but not good enough yet.
My board came out of the planer planed at a slight angle (ie one side of the planed face was clean, with some 'still rough' along the other side of the board face'. I stopped to investigate, and realized that my infeed (maybe outfeed as well?) had fallen slightly out of alignment horizontally with the planer, and were being fed with a slight twist. I had to stop due to incoming weather, and wanted to rethink my setup anyway.
So...I realize the simple solution is just to 'line things up better', but was wondering if anyone has good tips/tricks for processing long boards on uneven/soft ground? I did buy some cheap mastercraft support stands for the infeed/outfeed that feature adjustable height, so that helps, but the soft ground tends to allow them to shift/tilt under the weight of the feed tables.
I'm thinking next time I will cut a little (ie 2'x2') plywood pad for each support stand, and level those on pads of dirt before even attempting the rest, but the yard is also on a slight slope so getting everything level and at exact height of the planer bed is proving more complicated than I expected!
![Thinking :thinking](./images/smilies/econ_thinking%5B1%5D.gif)
I figure it is worth the effort to get this right, as I need the same setup for cutting/routing the strips, and I intend to keep building canoes in the future.
Any suggestions/anecdotes appreciated!