How Do I Get My Boards Flat and Square Without Losing Size?

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Asked By CraftyNinja82 On

I'm really struggling to flatten and square my boards, despite having a jointer, a planer, and a hand planer at my disposal. I've watched plenty of tutorials and taken woodworking classes, so I understand the theory, but putting it into practice has been a challenge. Every time I try to flatten the board, it seems to shrink in size instead of becoming flat. What am I doing wrong?

1 Answer

Answered By WoodWhisperer37 On

It sounds like you might have a few issues with technique or tool setup. When you mention pressing down on one corner and it lifting another, it could be that your board is rocking. If you're trying to fix a hump in the middle, just remember not to take too much off at once, or you’ll end up having to re-plane other parts to even it out. Also, use your combination square wisely—just because it looks square on one surface doesn’t mean it will stay that way when you flip it over. Try to keep the board supported properly while jointing, with the concave side down.

HandyAndy123 -

Yeah, and what you mentioned about checking it with a square can be tricky. Sometimes a board looks flat but has internal stresses that you can't see until you start working on it. It's a real headache!

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