Popular Woodworking 2008-06 № 169, страница 46

Upside down. Turn your plane over and run small pieces across the blade; this is especially useful for mitered moulding corners.

It is also possible to hold the plane upside down with one hand and use your other hand to dragthe wood across the plane'scuttingedge. I find this a useful position for accurately fitting mitered corners on narrow moulding.

With Other Mechanisms

Bench planes are associated with the workbench, but are also used with other mechanisms. Shooting boards were developed for jointing and squaring small parts. They allow the user far more control than a vise. They also make it easier to work parts that are too small to be held or secured in other ways. There are three basic types of shooting boards: the joint and square, the miter and the donkey's ear. The joint and square is used for the edges and

ends of small parts. The miter shooting board trims and fits miters. The donkey's ear is used for fittingand adjusting standing miters, such as are found on a bracket base.

A miter jack is a special type of vise (usually made of wood) that holds miters for trimming. The jack usually has a cleat that allows it to be secured in a vise so both hands are free.

1 recommend having a dedicated plane for use with shooting boards, although a smooth plane will work well on a miter jack. Ajack plane is a handy and usual size for most shooting boards, but for very small work, you might use a smooth plane or even a block plane. As the name "joint and square" implies, this shoot ingboard is used with a plane for trimming edges and ends. Therefore, the plane's cutting edge is square, rather than crested. Because tolerances are so tight in small work, this plane should be well tuned and maintained. I have a Bedrock 6051 keep for use on shooting boards.

The bench hook is another device that is handy for planing parts too small to clamp or hold in a vise. The hook is a very simple object, nothing more than a strip of wood with blocks glued on the ends, but on opposing surfaces. In use, one block is hung over the end or edge of the bench. The otheractsasa dog and prevents small pieces of wood from moving forward while being planed. The weight of the plane holds the part down on the hook. PW

Shoot away. This shooting board affords more control than a vise for planing straight edges.

A chairmaker since 1971, Michael is the founder of The Windsor Institute in Hampton, N. H., where he teaches hundreds of students each year to build Windsor chairs.

to read his blog.

Miter jack. This specialized shooting board Bench hook. This simple device is perfect for planing parts too small to be held by a clamp or vise,

holds miters tightly for trimming.

12 ■ Popular Woodworking June 2008