Dimensioning lumber in the workshop, generally means reducing the size of the rough hardwood lumber to its final proportions, needed for the project.
The steps are:
Cut the lumber to its rough size. Add an extra inch on each end lengthwise and an extra 1/8″ to 1/4″ to the width. The latter varies dependent on your skill and on how straight or warped a board is.
Leave the wood alone for a minimum of 24 hours. This gives it the opportunity to release all the stress that is in the wood when it’s cut.
Use the jointer to flatten first one side and then an adjoining side perpendicular to the first.
Using one of the jointed sides, cut the wood down to the correct thickness with a bandsaw or table saw. Again oversize it by an extra 1/8″ to 1/4″ and leave it alone for 24 hours.
Plane the cut side to the exact measurements required in the project.
Finally, cut the remaining side on a table saw. If you have a good saw and a sharp blade, you may not even have to finish the wood any further.
The length is often adjusted and fine-tuned during assembly of all parts.
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