Getting back on track...
One thing about working for someone who owns buildings, there are always 'urgent' repairs and stuff that just can't wait. In this case it was a punch list of items to keep all his tenants happy (and my pocket lined). But I got back on track with the built-in hutch project yesterday and I did some shopping. Yay!
I'll write about the new tools in the "What tools did you buy lately" thread, but here I can tell you about the adventure with solid wood top, back and underside - that's the top of the base cabinets, the back between the lower and upper cabinets, and the underside of the upper cabinets. I can't use plywood for these because the hutch is over 8' long (123" to be exact), and I can't have seams in these pieces. When pricing the project I got a quote from my hardwood supplier for gluing up these three panels, which totaled about $600, of which $360 was for the labor. What they didn't mention, however, was the 2 weeks I would have to wait for it. So... When I went to order the three glue-up pieces, expecting it would take a couple of days, I was a bit thrown back on hearing "They'll be ready in a couple of weeks". Well, that just won't due.
What to do? What to do? Okay, this is not a problem. All I have to do is get the wood and glue them up myself. For that I need a jointer and a biscuit joiner. The way I see it, I already have $360 for the labor I won't have to pay for. So, I got me self a jointer and a biscuit joiner and did my own glue-ups.
Joining 12' long boards on a jointer with a 40" bed (or is it 36"? I don't recall) requires a little enginuity. I used a few nice, straight boards to extend the jointer bed to 26' long!
Now I saw Norm Abram join wood before, so I know how it's done. After getting one edge true, simply run it through the table saw to get the other edge perfectly parallel.