We bought what looked like two straight boards of rough-sawn sipo for the staircase stringers (paillasses). However, upon closer inspection they both had a crown and the crowns were not the same. How we were going to make them straight over 4 meters?
Enter the laser level! I put the laser on each beam and taped a straight edge with masking tape. Then we very carefully freehanded that edge on the table saw, using 3 people because these boards were extremely heavy. Then with one decent side, we flipped it over and ran it through the table saw with a fence, then flipped it over and ran the original side through again with a fence.
Now we had straight sides.
Next, we had to plane the flat faces smooth. This required 5 people: 3 to push and/or pull (the auto-feed mechanism doesn't work with such a heavy, long board) and 2 to stand on the supporting boards and ensure they didn't move. We got a workout from doing this! Each board was sent through at least 6 times total, sometimes more if there were big divots.
See what I mean about things never being simple? But now we have two smooth, straight boards that are ready for a final sanding before we cut the angles and mark the stair treads.
Also accomplished today: final coat of paint on the walls over the mezzanine and starting to paint more of the ceiling in the big living room area!
It was so satisfying to clean and pack up the planer. Now we have to decide whether to give it to a friend on permanent loan (in case we ever get crazy and decide to renovate something else) or sell it. I don't want to sell my precious tools!
I felt really tired today, like I was wading through molasses.
My mom left this morning for the States (to attend two funerals). She is worried that she'll have delays due to the big winter storms. She has a layover in Denver before arriving in Salt Lake City, both areas that risk becoming snow-bound.
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