Cutting an milling your own strips can be done easily, but it can also be a nightmare if you don't do the proper setup. Here's what works for me, and I do all this by myself.

* I use a long outfeed table and infeed rollers. Don't use rollers on the outfeed because the strips will want to peel off and fall to the ground. The outfeed table is two 2x8 pieces of OSB set atop work stands. The surface is just below the level of the tablesaw surface. I use rollers on the infeed side only because I have them. A table would work too.

* Take time to set the fence on the table saw to cut exactly 1/4" strips. Cut test strips from scraps until you're happy with the dimensions. I use a $10 Frued Diablo thin-kerf 7-1/4" blade - works great. I don't use a long fence - 20-24 inches is enough.

* Use fingerboards. I have two pushing down from above (one of them right over the blade), and at least one on the side pushing the wood against the fence before it hits the blade. This one you have to adjust after each cut.

* Run your planks through. With good infeed and outfeed support, and good pressure by the fingerboards positioning the plank, you're only purpose is to push the wood through. Check the strip width every so often to make sure the fence hasn't moved.

The router setup is just the same - outfeed table, infeed rollers. Take time to get a centered bit on your test strips, use fingerboards, and run 'em through. Tedious, but not hard at all.

Ross

: I would like some advice for novices. Two of us are building Little Auks on a
: shoestring budget. It is less expensive for us to rip our 1x6x12 North
: American Red Cedar and then mill it through our router than to purchase
: the kit. We are about finished with our strongback and forms and have our
: cedar. We have heard conflicting stories. On one hand a person writes that
: this is a piece of cake albeit time consuming and then another writes that
: this is a near impossible feat - whatever, we are committed and would like
: to hear from others.

: Aside from safety precautions, are there any special recommendatons for
: ripping the cedar. It appears that one need but mark a kerf and keep
: sawing until nothing is left and move on to the next plank. Should we make
: a special fence? Is is practical that one of us feed the board and the
: other catch it as it is well past the saw? Same questions for the router.
: We have already purchased the bitts.

: We plan to buy some white ash and use that for the outside stem and stern as
: well as the gunwale. We can but a cove on either end and build down for
: the hall and up for the deck. Previously, we had planned to use white
: birch but will follow advice from this bulleting board not to do so. Once
: this is done, you can expect more questions about epoxy and glass - havn't
: a clue about what to do or how do to it. But, you should have seen us
: before we became accomplished with the strongback and forms. Thanks.