—See that the cutting edge is very sharp and that the plane-iron is set perfectly true and very shallow. Examine one of the ends of the piece by placing the beam of the try-square against the face side then against face edge to locate the high places. [Fig. 6].
Fig. 66.
In free end planing, the cutting edge must not be allowed to reach the farther corner or the corner will be broken off. Plane only part way across the end, stopping the cutting edge half an inch or more from the far edge. [Fig. 66]. After a few strokes in this direction, reverse the position and plane in the opposite direction, stopping the cutting edge half an inch or more of the first edge.
Keep testing the end as the planing proceeds that you may know what you are doing. Remove no more material than is necessary to square the end, and lay on the rule occasionally that you may not endanger the correct length in your efforts to square this end.
32. Finishing the Second End.
—Knife lines squared entirely around the piece, at a given distance from the end first squared, limit the amount of the planing that can be done on this end. If the waste stock is over one-eighth of an inch the saw should be used to remove all but a thirty-second of an inch before beginning to plane. Watch the lines. If you are uncertain as to their accuracy, test this end as you did the first one.
33. End Planing with the Shooting Board.
—[Fig. 67] illustrates a way in which the ends of narrow pieces may be easily squared. The plane is pressed to the shooting board with the right hand. The left hand holds the piece against the stop and to the plane.
