: I am about to build my first kayak (from plans) and would like to know if I
: can use a 6" x 6" x 12' clear cedar beam for my planks. I have a
: table saw capable of making 1/4" rips from a beam of this size and
: this would be the least expensive way for me to buy the lumber. Thanks for
: your help.

Hey John :)

Don't know what kind of table saw you are using, but, some suggestions, if you don't already know: First of all, with a beam that size, I would NOT use a thin kerf blade to do any ripping. It will heat up and flex and give you bad cuts. Stick to the regular 1/8th" carbide blades as they will dissipate heat better. Make your cuts no more that 1" deep at a time or the clean-out's on the blade will not function as designed and the blade will heat up. That and the motor will not bog down. If you slow the motor down too much, you will fry it. As was mentioned, try to keep your cuts in such a way as to end up with vertical grain on your strips. Flat grain strips will work and I personally think they are " Prettier ", but, you'll run into sanding and fairing problems down the road. I usually draw lines on the end of the beam ahead of time, so I'll know which way to cut with each piece. It's easy to get confused and end up with the wrong grain direction in the end. If you have the center of the tree in your beam, and you most likely do, I would not use the very center, as it will warp, twist and have an ugly line down the center. But, you will know when you see it. If you have a contractors model saw, I would opt for a Band saw instead, if you can find one or a neighbor with one. Then, when you get it down to manageable size, go to the table saw with the thin kerf blade. Usually, the thin kerf blades are only thin at the outside edge of the blade, for about 1 1/2" or so. Anyway, just a few ideas. C-Ya,

Rehd