Hey everyone! Quick question for you all: when you're working with timber for projects like a box, is it common practice to dimension the whole board to size first or should you cut it into smaller pieces before getting everything to match in thickness? Also, I'd appreciate any recommendations for books or YouTube channels focused on hand tool woodworking. Thanks, I'm new to using hand tools!
3 Answers
I suggest dimensioning first. If you're making a small box, you can't run the pieces through a planer effectively if you cut them up first.
Totally agree with the other responses! Also, check out Matt Estlea on YouTube; he has a lot of modern, well-produced videos about hand tool woodworking. His second channel is focused on step-by-step woodworking projects which is super helpful for beginners.
It's generally a better idea to break down the lumber into smaller pieces first, unless you're specifically trying to keep the grain continuous. If your board is long and twisted, cutting it up beforehand will help you get more stable pieces. Just remember, some projects might need you to dimension first to maintain grain patterns, like if you're making a grain-wrapped box.