Posted by
Easy WoodCraft on
Aug 22, 2016
One of the most frequent reasons I reach for my jack plane is to smooth a panel that's been glued up from several boards. Even with careful prep and clamping, there is almost always an edge that needs to be knocked off or smoothed out.
Skew cuts
To quickly remove high spots, skew the plane at a slight angle. Skewing the plane also produces more of a slicing cut and has less of a tendency to tear-out. The disadvantage to skewing is that you effectively shorten the body; this means it will follow surface undulations instead of removing them.
Go with the grain
As mentioned earlier, you always want to plane with the grain to avoid chipping and tearout. Although this sounds simple, it can be a real challenge, depending on the wood. The grain pattern on any single board can (
and often will) change direction over its length. This is compounded in a panel glued up of several boards, where the grain direction can be haphazard. Take the time to read the panel carefully, and make pencil marks directly on the panel indicating grain direction. Alter your planing to compensate.
Light finish cut
Once the panel is flat, adjust the plane for a fine cut (
see Using A Jack Plane) and then take a series of light passes over the entire surface to create a panel as smooth as a baby's bottom.
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