I am currently working on a 7 shelf and double raised panel cupboard
in the shaker style. It will be used by a local artist to store her
work in progress. The hard maple stock I am using is 5/4 with rough
faces and edges. The wood looks nice but it is center cut and may
cup if I mill it thin (7/16 or less). I intend on working the
material down by hand because I need to reduce the carcass sides to 1
inch or 15/16 thick. I have a full stash of old and new bench planes
from #1 to #8 and scrapers to match the widths of most of my bench
planes. I own a scrub plane (#40) and some large owner made woodies
(I'll show you sometime when I get the courage). My question is
basic --- If I was in a hurry I would reduce the stock with my loud
dusty portable power planer --- How do I do it with hand tools? My
benches are both western (with end vise and dogs) and European (two
front vices, no holes, no dogs, good support jack for edge work. The
maple is without twist, cup or wind, but it looks like I will be
removing at least 3/16 material from over 75 board feet of stock! I
am looking for suggestions for jigs, methods, etc. Any good
suggestions will be attempted and appreciated. So far I have squared
and smoothed the edges of 4 - 50 inch boards and the satisfaction was
worth the effort. For the faces of the boards I will need a good
systematic old tools solution. How did the venerable old wood
grubbers do it?
Rex Wilson
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