To make furniture that fits together like Legos, you need to know the ins and outs of milling lumber.
The milling process is how you make boards flat, straight, and square — and it’s the crucial first step to any woodworking project.
If you don’t do it right, your measurements won’t be accurate, your joinery won’t quite fit, and boards that were once straight will turn into hockey sticks over time.
It’s a pretty straightforward process. But there are a few things to know to get it right — not just for making boards square, but for keeping them that way.
This is a guide to how almost every professional woodworker mills lumber, using a jointer, planer, and table saw.
Yes, you can do your milling entirely with hand tools. But it requires quite a bit of skill, a lot more time, and bucketfuls of elbow grease.
If you’re ok with using modern machinery, this is the process to follow.
So throw on your safety goggles and ear protection (this will get loud) and let’s get to it.
Sam Andrews
March 19, 2023
Thanks for telling us that the edges of our lumber would have no tear out if we mill it according to the direction of its grain. My uncle relies on many timber-based materials to make the frames for his bedroom windows. I hope he checks out this detail before making a deal with the right supplier eventually. https://mfcestimating.com/multifamily-lumber-takeoffs/