Australian Wood Review – June 2017

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68 Australian Wood Review

TECHNIQUE

After this, or if your board is only mildly cupped or

twisted, you can now take a mid-sized plane set for a heavy

cut (a No.5, 6 or 62 would be perfect) and start by taking

cross grain shavings directly across the face of the board.

This will quickly bring the high edges down to the concave

centre of the board (photo 3).

You can either boldly mark the face with a crayon to

determine when you’ve reached the end point, or you will

quickly feel and hear when you’re taking full width shavings

across the board. You can also use a straightedge (such as

the edge of the sole on your plane), to visually check your

progress (photo 4).

Now to actually flatten the face you’ll need to take an

overlapping series of diagonal shavings that will traverse

the full width and length of the board as shown on p.66.

Then switch your approach and repeat the process, taking

a set of passes on the opposite diagonal.

Once you’re taking full length, full width shavings for a full

set of passes, you can check your results with a set of winding

sticks (photo 5). I’m using traditional handmade sticks, but

straight lengths of aluminium angle from the hardware store

will achieve the same result. Use the deviation of the sticks to

identify and highlight any remaining high points and target

those on your next set of passes.

Once your face is perfectly flat, I typically take a longer

No.7 but on the smaller board that I’m working on for this

article I’ve chosen a No.62. This is now used to remove the

diagonal plane tracks. Work in overlapping passes along the

longitudinal length of the board. Once again, the goal is

full length, full width passes (photo 6).

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3. Removing the high
   edges of a cupped
   board by taking cross-
   grain shavings.


4. The edge of the sole
   of a quality plane is a
   handy straightedge.


5. Winding sticks are
   perfect for checking
   flatness and the
   absence of twist.


6. Remove the diagonal
   toolmarks with
   longitudinal passes.


7. A finely set smoothing
   plane will finish the
   process.


8. Taking full-length
   shavings to dress the
   face edge.


9. Using the sole of
   the tool to check
   straightness.

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