“Hey, can you flatten this for me?”

This is one of the most common requests we receive from customers. The answer is…probably. As a shop that provides CNC router services, we have the right equipment to flatten almost any type of wood (as well as other materials). However, there are important factors to consider before completing just any project. 

Risks of Using CNC Router Services to Flatten Wood

There are a couple of risks we like customers to know about concerning flattening projects. 

• Blowout. Unfortunately, there is always a risk of blowout when flattening wood. We do everything in our power to avoid this outcome, but sometimes, it’s unavoidable. It’s most common around cracks or knots in the wood but can happen anywhere.

• Internal stress. Some materials can have internal stress that is relieved during CNC router services, causing the blank to break from the vacuum and ruin the part. Sometimes, even after machining a part, the part will twist and bow.

What We Need to Know Before Flattening a Piece of Wood

Here is the general information we need to know before taking on a flattening project: 

• Surface condition. The surface condition of the wood is crucial to consider before firing up our router. Are there cracks and knots that we should know about? Is the wood freshly cut and dripping with sap? Alternatively, has it been kiln-dried to the point of brittleness?

• Initial flatness. Our machine needs a relatively flat, straight edge to hold onto, so we’ll want to know the wood's initial flatness. It helps to provide a picture with a tape measure or straight edge next to it so we can gauge the flatness visually.

• Current and desired size. How large will the blank be when we receive it? What are the desired final dimensions? This information tells us how much room we have to work with.

Tip: Always include a picture! 

When it comes to flattening projects, a picture speaks 1,000 words! It’s immensely helpful for us to be able to visualize what we’re potentially going to be dealing with.

When the Answer Is “No” 

We hate nothing more than turning down a customer's request, so trust us when we say that it's for a good reason if we decide against taking on your project! There are even times when we agree to a flattening project based on pictures and descriptions but choose to cancel the job once we receive the material. That’s because we never want to scrap your parts and waste your time.

Curious if we can take on your project? We’re happy to give it our honest assessment! Request a quote today.