Clicker press cutting boards...

[Mark842]

Just wondering who people use to plane there clicker press boards? I actually have a stack of about 60 boards in the shop as I trash both sides in about six months. I have a place that sells new boards that is close by for $100 so it is cheaper for me to just buy new. Everyplace I've ever looked at that planes them, it will cost me more to ship round trip and pay for the planing service then to buy a new one. Keep hoping a place will open up close by and I'll never have to buy a new board again...

Anyone know of anyone that does it near Utah?

[kgg]

Hi Mark,

I don,t have a clicker myself but am going to assume you are using a 1/2 inch material similar to puck board ( polyethylene). Which is used to line the ice side of hockey rink boards, kitchen cutting boards, whelping boxes etc. This material can be purchased in 4 x 8 sheets from 1/8" up at your local hardware store (Lowes, Rona, Homedepot) or plastic fabricator or they could ordered it for you. Then cut it to the size you need with a table saw or circular saw. In my area of Ontario a sheet in 1/2" would be about $200.

If that isn't possible for you maybe you have a local woodworker with a table drum sander that could take off a skim to give a nice smooth surface to the clicker press board.

Just my two cents worth.

kgg

[ljk]

It seems like everybody clicks toward the middle therefore you get a slight valley.

Naturally after time you get uneven cutting and possible die bending.  Now I'm speaking of red

die boards, and  also  wood boards.

I go to Harbor Freight and buy a cheap planner, about forty bucks.  Use a low setting

and plane from outside edge toward the middle.  As you get toward the center the cutting 

action will lessen.  Continue  planning all around the edge until it will cut across clean and smooth.

These planners usually run flat but adjusting the blades can be done

[brmax]

It may be possible depending on the width and or length of your material.

What is the material thickness we are working with here. I would think first is if the material will get hot to quick. I think some softer plastics might.

From my small purchases its the freight of these materials as it gets heavy very quick. Then if it requires truck shipping well, as you already mentioned its expensive to move any freight.

Floyd

[Mark842]

The boards are 36" x 15.5" x 1" polypropylene. As for trying to plane them myself, not interested. I already work 14-18 hours a day 6 days a week. I don't need another project. I'm just trying to find if someone close to me can do it cheaper than I can buy new ones for. If not I'm going to throw them out.

[brmax]

In my opinion you have found the best option.

If a local outfit could do the local pick up, even then the time needed with ultra pro equipment would be an issue. 

If I was local and made a typical offer, a suggestion would be for future one side only usage. This I think in this situation would be more accurate for the surfacer/operator. This incase they would be dished, one side is fine but keeping it flat during surfacing may be a real pain. All this would be “ if “ a blade/planer type machine were possible.

 

Good day there

Floyd

[Mark842]

There are several places I know of that do it for $5 a square foot like Weaver does. As for time, last time I saw it done it took about 5 minutes to do both sides. It's the shipping that kills the deal. Maybe I'll just wait till I go to the next Weaver leather auction and I'll just throw 20 of them in the truck when I drive out. Was really just hoping somebody was doing it out here in Utah or maybe a neighboring state.

Thanks for the replies!

[Ferg]

Well, I wish you were closer to Ohio. I use a wide belt sander in our woodshop.

If you want to load them in a pickup or trailer and get them here. You and I could do them pretty quick. Cost would be $20 per hour.

Ferg

[bikermutt07]

Any good cabinet shop would have a wide belt sander like @Ferg mentioned.

Call around and see what they say. They may charge you less if you are up front about donating one or two for trial and error.

When people bid things they aren't sure about they usually charge more in case there is a mistake. But, since you mentioned having 60 that you can't use right now.........

[KingsCountyLeather]

I would agree with Mutt, sacrifice a couple to let someone work out a cost for you?

when I am having my materials shipped around the country here or in the UK I always look for pallet prices and not the quantity on the pallet or even the weight. I buy lots of pallets of floor leveling compound and each pallet is a tonne weight.