I'm a long-time woodworker who's now getting serious about using hand tools, and I'm facing some challenges with my first shooting board setup. I've cut a dozen pieces of 3/4"x3" poplar for a folding dog gate, but my cuts weren't as square or accurate as I hoped. So, I decided to create a shooting board using some scrap materials. It's not fancy, but it appears square enough for my needs. I followed a technique from Rob Cosman to dado the edge of the board to protect it from the sole of the plane.
I'm using a Stanley #5 plane, which I thought was sharp enough after some light sharpening and a new Hock blade. Yet, on the shooting board, I struggle to get a clean cut. Often it feels like I'm either cutting air or the plane just jams. I've seen videos of people pushing planes through wood smoothly, but my experience has been the opposite; I need a lot of force to get any action. I believe my blade might not be sharp enough for end grain, but I'm not sure if there's more to it. Can someone help me troubleshoot this?
2 Answers
Another thing to consider is the setup of your workpiece. Try clamping it better and ensuring everything's aligned at 90 degrees. Remember to take lighter passes, too! It may also help to adjust the blade so it takes an even cut across its width. If you're not getting shavings, adjusting the blade by a quarter turn can make a big difference. Check your blade’s sharpness closely, too; it might feel sharp but could use some extra work to hit that sweet spot.
It sounds like your issue could definitely be related to how sharp your blade is. Honestly, 'reasonable sharp' just doesn’t cut it when planing end grain—make sure it’s really SHARP. Also, be aware that the 45-degree bed angle of the plane isn’t ideal for end grain; a low-angle plane might perform better. Don't hesitate to sharpen it more aggressively and give it another go. Also, it might help to do your initial tests on some softer wood to avoid wasting your poplar.
Yeah, some woods can be tricky. Have you tried spraying the end grain with some isopropyl alcohol before cutting? It can help reduce tearout!