How to Plane Lumber
Taking raw lumber and smoothing it out usually requires a plane. If you're doing it yourself without large machinery, a jack plane is the best tool to use. Most jack planes let you choose the angle of approach so you can adjust to different irregularities in the wood's surface. After you've finished with the jack plane, a sander or sandpaper can give the wood its last touches.
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Instructions
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Engage the stop on your workbench on the side opposite your dominant hand. Then, put a piece of lumber on the board, with the grain and the bench parallel. Push the lumber against the stop so that it won't move while you're planing it.
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Pick up the jack plane and place it on the wood. Put your dominant hand on the back handle and your other hand on the front handle. Make sure the board lines up with the edge of the workbench and the grain.
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Push down with your front hand as you move the plane forward. As the plane goes ahead, pull your weight back, so that, by the end of the stroke, you're pushing down with your rear hand.
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Pick up the plane and bring it back to the side where it started. Run the plane continuously -- it's not necessary for you to run it exactly parallel to the grain each time. Once you've gotten your side as smooth as it's going to get without sandpaper, turn the piece over and repeat for the other side.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear eye protection while planing wood. If a splinter flies up into your eye, you're going to have a lot worse problems than a rough board.
References
Resources
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