29 Nov The Art of Shaving

One of the biggest challenges when building reclaimed wood furniture is not having a perfectly flat lumber to start.   To create the perfect canvas,  you must smooth the rough lumber into finished boards.   Some people achieve this through electric hand planes.   I, on the other hand, prefer the historical feeling that comes from straightening my boards by hand.

Hand planes are ideal for trimming and removing twists out of boards.  It meticulously shaves the surface of the board, creating a glass-smooth luster that accentuates the wood’s figure.   For this reason, the hand plane is one of my staples and I reach for it frequently when making a custom table- it is epitome of fine woodworking.

Planes come in a wide variety of sizes, styles, and designs for specific woodworking processes.  Determining if a board is flat end-to-end requires a straight edge.   For this reason, I rely heavily on my work bench (which I keep leveled at all times) so that I can flip the board to see if it is flat upon surfacing.

Is it a lot of work?  Sure.  It’s a process that calls for time and attention to detail.   I love hand planes and I cant imagine doing my work without it.  Personally, I feel it allows me to forge that special touch into each of these handmade pieces.