Can I trim down deck boards using a planer or thicknesser?

[tal_itha]

My DIY low-level deck has been moving at a glacial pace the last couple of years. However the frame is finally finished and I'm ready to lay my boards... but I've hit a bit of a snag. well, a couple of them actually.

The boards were stored under a tarp in my carport. But they still got some water damage to them. some have cupped, others just have really stubborn watermarks that a couple of rounds of napisan and digger's rust remover haven't budged. I've also tried my belt sander, but its going through 1 battery cycle a board.

Also, even if all those boards were good, I underestimated, and I need more than I originally purchased.

The big catch - I can't find them ANYWHERE anymore. and I mean, anywhere. I've tried at least 12 different places. They are 90x22, and I can only find 86x19. I'm not too bothered by the width, that 4mm would be imperceptible really, especially if I mix them all in. But the height difference you'd definitely feel underfoot.

My question is, could I get an electric planer like this Ozito one ) or even a thicknesser (like this Ozito one) and use it to take 3mm off of the boards I already have? My thinking is that it would mean I can use the existing boards with some new boards mixed in, but also that it would help get rid of more of the water marks and cupping in the damaged boards.

Is there a catch to doing this? Something that I haven't thought of? I considered the effect to the slightly rounded edging of the boards, but if its 1.5mm off each side, I can't imagine that would be too big of a deal?

Obviously, an electric planer is much cheaper than a thicknesser - is there a huge learning curve or labour burden associated with the planer that would make the thicknesser more appropriate?

It isn't a huge deck - I have about 90lm of existing boards, and need about 110lm all up.

Any help is appreciated!

the 90x22 boards I already have

[EricL]

Hello @tal_itha 

This is definitely a question for our members. In my mind it would be a waste if your existing decking boards were not used. But it would theoretically cost you more if you purchased a new set of decking boards. Planing the existing decking boards seems an awful lot of work and you would have to invest in a planing machine, but you can always keep it in your garage for future projects. I vote purchasing the Ozito 2000W 330mm Corded Planer Thicknesser OPT-2033 for a uniform finish to all the boards.

Let me call on our experienced members @Nailbag, @Dave-1, @AlanM52, @Jewelleryrescue, @TedBear and @JoeAzza for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.      

Eric

[TedBear]

Hi @tal_itha 

that sounds like a lot of work to expect especially from from a planer. I think a thicknesser would be bad value for money unless you already know that you have other projects to use it for.

I suggest that better value for money would be to buy a decent table saw, which will trim off the small amount you require with ease - and you'd probably put that side downward on the decking - unless it gets rid of the water marks and looks good..

However, finding decent table saw from the recommendations isn't easy.  

The best rated saw I could see, at a reasonable price ($799) is the HiKOKI AC Table Saw C10RJ(H1Z)    

https://www.bunnings.com.au/hikoki-ac-table-saw-c10rj-h1z-_p0391193

The Ozitos are cheaper, but the table saws don't work well for long, if at all.  You'd get better value in the long run if you just buy a decent tool to begin with and have a good lifetime of use with it, rather than one that leads you to frustration  and then needs to be replaced too soon in its life anyway.

(I am assuming that you don't already own a table saw. If you do, use that.)

 

 https://www.bunnings.com.au/hikoki-ac-table-saw-c10rj-h1z-_p0391193

[AlanM52]

Hi @tal_itha,

I also recommend the Ozito planer/thicknesser!

Dressed pine is expensive (everywhere) and here is a video clip turning fence palings into dressed pine boards.

Note-1: I don't go overboard just enough to make them respectable.

Note-2: The WorkZone unit was gifted to me.

That lot was for a hand tool storage cabinet.

That cost less than $10 bucks.

Yeah... so get one you will love it 😊

Cheers

[Nailbag]

Hi @tal_itha 

I can feel your pain there as it looks like you might have Spotted Gum boards? If so, the issue is one similar to me where I wasn't able to match 140mm wide to do some patch replacements and had to hand plane down from 144mm. Fortunately I still got 19mm thick ones.

The issue is that the mills are closing down due to overseas imports, especially SG which is often not SG at all but a very similar looking one at the same cost. Unless the boards have streaks of black tracks from wood boring beetles then it's a copy. Different mills of genuine SG can have variances in width but wouldn't expect thickness.

In my mind your options are: 

1. Sell what you have and start fresh with standard dimension consistent timber. These boards will be fine if someone was just making a deck from these boards alone.

2. Use what you have combined with new boards. Don't use your hand-planer as you will get tracks and inconstant thicknesses. Instead buy a DIY thicknesser like the Ozito which is better than the Ryobi as it has rollers on the top to make end to end transitions handling of the timber easier. Then use these boards all together at one probably closest to the house. The difference in the width will be less noticeable set out like that. Use new boards to complete the space. Having said all that the cost of the thicknesser is $400 vs what will you get for the old boards? If its cost effective see option no 1

Nailbag

[Dave-1]

Good Morning @tal_itha 

My projects sometimes more along at the same pace Going through your post I am thinking of two options. Neither of them are heading towards a planner or sander at the first point.

Option one, Change the extra timber you need for an alternative colouring timber same height. When laying the timber go two or three lengths of your old then a length of new, If you think the colour is too different it will fade off aftera  few years (not the greatest but save you having to purchase more timber) 

Annual timber and decking maintenance shows two different types of timber, yellowgum I think for the deck and Jarrah for the privacy screen. The colouring is different even after 14 years but nowhere near as noticable for the first 6 months, after staining they kind of blend.

Option two

Pack out the new boards by 4mm. So you would have two sections, one normal and one packed out. As long as the timber has the same coloring you wont be able to tell. 

Cupping, depending on how bad it is, I would either skip the worst ones and chalk those up to a loss, small cupping you wont feel.

Hardwood deck restoration I had slight cupping and in reallity you dont feel it walking oon it, sanding it is a bit of a pain but I used a mains ozito belt sander and it went well.

I think you would feel the difference in the height of the boards between 0 and 4mm, maybe between 0 and 2mm you wouldnt niotice it so much.

Whoops, almost forgot. When you go to oil/stain the timbers it will really darken the timber. I went with the lightest colouring to start with and still lost a chunk of their brightness. The more you oil the darker they become as well as the longer they will last. 

Depends on the exact look you want I suppose I like the idea of alternating the colours or even packing out a section. Would love to see some future photos whichever way you go, planning, change of timber, or packing out.

Dave

[Noyade]

G'day @AlanM52 

Nice clip. 👍

What is that piece of metal (purpose?) that seems to keep jabbing at your abdomen?

[AlanM52]

Howdy @Noyade 

That's a blade guard mate!... I need to add to the safety gear a cricket Abdominal guard AKA Groin protector AKA Box 😄

When setting up the unit for thicknesser mode the guard is pulled out all the way to clear the table for mounting the dust port.

Although a nuisance... and by design for safety reasons the guard cannot be completely removed.

To setup for planer mode the dust port in mounted inside the unit.

  

Extraction plumbing includes pineapple tins 😀

Had to remove the base to squeeze the vac under the table.

I made a fence to even blade wear when edging timber.

Cheers

[Noyade]

Thanks @AlanM52  - all makes sense now. 😁

[Noyade]

G'day again @Dave-1 

"Cupping, depending on how bad it is, I would either skip the worst ones and chalk those up to a loss, small cupping you wont feel."

Silly question probably - but if the boards are cupped - rounded side up?