B-6 Machines components using stationary and portable power tools

Overview

Task B-6 covers turning rough stock into processed parts. Working from drawings and specifications, cabinetmakers cut wood and sheet goods to many different shapes and sizes. At the end of this machining stage the material is no longer rough: it is processed and ready to be assembled.

The task has seven sub-tasks: break out and dress solid wood, shape it, break out and machine sheet materials, machine joints, and do preliminary sanding.

Recurring list – industry standards. Wherever B-6 says "according to industry standards", the RSOS names: AWMAC (Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada), AWI (Architectural Woodwork Institute), WI (Woodwork Institute), CKCA (Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association) and shop-specific standards.

Recurring list – properties and characteristics of wood: cut, grain direction, density, colours.

Recurring list – sheet materials: melamine, particle board, MDF (medium density fibreboard), hardboard, plywood.

B-6.01 Breaks out solid wood

What you do

• Select and use the right tools and equipment for the application.
• Check moisture content against industry standards.
• Develop and review a cut list, using it to optimize material according to the project specifications.
• Make sure there is enough inventory for the project, allowing for waste factors.
• Choose lumber thickness and width from the project specifications (the cut list).
• Recognize material defects and assess them against industry standards.
• Choose wood for the visual look wanted and for the project specifications.
• Cut the wood to rough length and width.

What you need to know

• Properties and characteristics of wood, and how to identify species of solid wood.
• How to work out the dimensions and quantities of solid wood needed.
• The tools and equipment used to break out solid wood, how to use them, and the breakout procedure itself.

Range of variables

• Tools and equipment include: radial arm saws, chop saws, table saws, pop-up saws.
• Defects include: mineral stains, knots, insect damage, heartwood/sapwood, checks.
• Species include: birch, maple, walnut, fir, oak, pine.
• Properties and characteristics of wood include: cut, grain direction, density, colours.

B-6.02 Dresses solid wood

What you do

• Select and use tools and equipment.
• Joint, plane and rip solid wood to the width and thickness called for in the specifications.
• Read the characteristics of each board to decide if it is suitable.
• Work out lengths and cut boards to length.
• Correct performance problems according to industry standards.

What you need to know

• Properties and characteristics of wood; how to determine dimensions and quantities of solid wood.
• The sequence of dressing operations.
• What causes performance problems.
• The tools and equipment for dressing solid wood, how to use them, and the dressing procedure.

Range of variables

• Tools and equipment include: jointers, planers, saws.
• Board characteristics include: crooks, grain direction, checks.
• Performance problems include: tear-out, burning.

B-6.03 Shapes solid wood

What you do

• Select and use tools and equipment.
• Check shape and dimensions against the drawings and project specifications.
• Select and change cutting tool components to suit the application.
• Read grain direction to avoid tear-outs.
• Shape and profile solid wood according to the specifications.
• Secure the work to a jig with holding devices.
• Set up stock feeders to suit the width and thickness of the solid wood.

What you need to know

• Properties and characteristics of wood.
• Edge treatments, adhesives for edging and automated applications, and joint types, with their characteristics and applications.
• What causes performance problems.
• The tools and equipment for shaping, how to work out the dimensions and shape of the finished product, and the shaping procedure.

Range of variables

• Tools and equipment include: jigs, templates, band saws, lathes, shapers, routers.
• Cutting tool components include: blades, knives, router bits.
• Holding devices include: clamps, stops, pneumatic devices.
• Edge treatments include: PVC (polyvinyl chloride), solid wood, HPDL (high pressure decorative laminate).
• Joints include: dowel, biscuit, dovetail, finger, hardware, rabbets, dados, mitres, mortise and tenon.
• Performance problems include: tear-out, burning.

B-6.04 Breaks out sheet materials

What you do

• Select and use tools and equipment.
• Develop and review a cut list that optimizes material.
• Decide on the edge treatment from the project specifications, and adjust the cut list to allow for it.
• Choose the type of sheet material based on stock availability and the project specifications.
• Make sure panel saw blades are sharp and scoring blades are aligned.
• Cut sheet material to size.

What you need to know

• Types of sheet material and their properties and characteristics.
• How to determine dimensions and quantities of sheet material.
• The characteristics of a cut list.
• Joint types, edge treatments, and adhesives for edging and automated applications.
• What causes performance problems.
• The tools and equipment for breaking out sheet material, and the breakout procedure.

Range of variables

• Tools and equipment include: panel saws, automated equipment, table saws, routers.
• Sheet materials include: melamine, particle board, MDF, hardboard, plywood.
• Characteristics of cut list include: edge treatments, material thickness, joints, grain direction.
• Edge treatments include: PVC, solid wood, HPDL.
• Joints include: dowel, biscuit, dovetail, finger, hardware, rabbets, dados, mitres, mortise and tenon.
• Performance problems include: chipping, burning, uneven edge.

B-6.05 Machines sheet materials

What you do

• Select and use tools and equipment, plus accessories suited to the application.
• Check the cut list and edge treatments against the project specifications.
• Make sure panels are square, cut to size and chip free according to industry standards.
• Choose the edge treatment from the specifications, then apply and trim it.
• Shape sheet materials.
• Drill and route panels.

What you need to know

• Sheet materials: their properties, characteristics and applications, and their thicknesses and sizes.
• How to determine dimensions and quantities of sheet materials, and the sequence of machining operations.
• Edge treatments, adhesives for edging and automated applications, and joint types.
• What causes performance problems.
• The tools and equipment for machining sheet material, and the machining procedure.

Range of variables

• Tools and equipment include: edge bander, routers, shapers, line drills, edge sanders, jigs, templates.
• Tools and equipment accessories include: router bits, blades, drill bits.
• Sheet materials, edge treatments and joints: same lists as B-6.04.
• Performance problems include: chipping, burning, uneven edge.

B-6.06 Machines joints

What you do

• Select and use tools and equipment.
• Check the cut list and machining details against the project specifications.
• Choose joints from the drawings and project specifications.
• Use templates to place repetitive joints accurately.
• Make joints and test them for accuracy according to industry standards.

What you need to know

• Types of joints, their characteristics and applications, and how to determine the dimensions and quantities needed.
• Properties and characteristics of wood; sheet materials and sheet thicknesses and sizes.
• What causes performance problems.
• The tools and equipment for machining joints, and the machining procedure.

Range of variables

• Tools and equipment include: biscuit joiners, drills, routers, dovetail machine, saws.
• Joints include: dowel, biscuit, dovetail, finger, hardware, rabbets, dados, mitres, mortise and tenon.
• Performance problems include: chipping, burning, fit, flushness.

B-6.07 Performs preliminary sanding

What you do

• Select and use tools and equipment.
• Choose abrasive grit to suit project requirements and to minimize future sanding.
• Sand component surfaces according to industry standards.
• Check thickness against the project specifications.

What you need to know

• Properties and characteristics of wood; sheet materials.
• Abrasive grits, their characteristics and applications.
• What causes sanding performance problems.
• The tools and equipment for sanding, and scraping and preliminary sanding techniques.

Range of variables

• Tools and equipment include: scrapers, hand sanders, pneumatic sanders, wide-belt sanders, calipers, machinist rule.
• Performance problems include: burning, scratches, flushness.

Performance problems at a glance

Sub-task	Performance problems listed
B-6.02 Dresses solid wood	tear-out, burning
B-6.03 Shapes solid wood	tear-out, burning
B-6.04 / B-6.05 Sheet materials	chipping, burning, uneven edge
B-6.06 Machines joints	chipping, burning, fit, flushness
B-6.07 Preliminary sanding	burning, scratches, flushness

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Source: Red Seal Occupational Standard – Cabinetmaker, Task B-6 (pp. 58–68); acronyms from Appendix A (p. 150).