07. Planing the Perfect Edge using a Shooting Board

This easily made jig will guarantee all your edges - at whatever angle - will be planed to perfection.
Visit www.blackburnb... for books and to sign up for lessons in Woodstock NY.

[@edwardconway5955]

This is my first exposure to your channel and I really like your style and content. Rex Kruger turned me on to your channel and I thank him for that and you for the amazingly clear and concise instructions here. Ed

[@gjbmunc]

Great. I'm also a fan of Rex K. We have slightly different approaches (I prefer older traditional tools in general) but his info is always on target.

[@jamespeelecarey]

In 1979, while on honeymoon, I found Graham Blackburn's book, "Illustrated Frniture Making" in the bookshop at the Smithsonian Institution. It was the start of my woodworking career. It is wonderful to see him making videos on this channel. Thank you for introducing me to a craft I have enjoyed for a lifetime.

[@gjbmunc]

Thank you so much, and keep enjoying!

[@nevadacool]

Quick search for shooting board produced a real life wood worker, using, hand tools, who would have thought it. Thanks, you are a excellent teacher, you have one more subscriber, thanks for sharing your time

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome!

[@bjen2005]

That my friend is short of genius !!!. I have to make one now. Love that 45 degree piece that has the dowel pins and presses directly into the shooting board.

[@gjbmunc]

Good luck!

[@emmysan93]

I’m learning more from you than many other woodworking channels on KZbin. Thank you for your knowledge.

[@gjbmunc]

Glad to help

[@vollzeitflieger2490]

Rex Krueger sent me here. I instantly became fascinated by your explanations and descriptions. Thanks for sharing!

[@gjbmunc]

Welcome!

[@byOldHand]

Great explanation. Thank you for sharing Graham, this video is very warm and friendly. Also I had great time while listening to the shaving of the wood, very relaxing…Stay safe and see you soon ✌🏻🛠🪚⭐️

[@gjbmunc]

Thank you. Really loved your brace and spade bit restoration.

[@byOldHand]

@@gjbmunc Thank you very much Graham, great to hear from you 🌟⚒️⚙️

[@1954JDR]

Great video. My first job in Uncle Elmer's wood shop was squaring lumber for him using a shooting board and his grandfather's wooden block plane.

[@gjbmunc]

I'm sure his was probably a little different, and if he was i production a machine might have been faster, but for the individual woodworker the old-style one is quite good enough.

[@markcoren2842]

I'm glad I found your channel! I just headed over here after Rex Krueger mentioned you have a channel. I've got a couple of your books but hadn't thought to look for you on KZbin. Thanks for sharing so much of your knowledge.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks and welcome

[@iangatley199]

Thank you for sharing your expertise. Your channel feels like a good instructional book come to life! I Learn several new things every time I watch an episode, despite thinking I know all there is to know about, for instance , shooting boards. I think my favorite thing of all is that you’ve numbered your episodes, so I can just go back to the beginning and watch them all in order.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks so much!

[@ArchEdge]

Thank you Graham - For a long time now i've been struggling getting square results from my shooting board. This video has definately given me different techniques to try tonight when i get home. It never occured to me that you were not intended to plane hard against the top panel...

[@gjbmunc]

Sometimes the old ways are not immediately obvious!

[@hangingoutashingle7784]

This is a great explanation of a shooting board. I am amazed how I keep coming back to these simple jigs. I really appreciate how straightforward you lay this out. I'm going to go try the wedge approach. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome. Good luck with the wedges.

[@scottmatich1374]

Love the woodwork!

[@gjbmunc]

Great!

[@JamesWilliams-en3os]

This is an excellent video. I “discovered” the shooting board several years ago, and I consider it the most important jig on my hand tool woodworking bench. I have resisted buying a fancier version for finalizing miters, thinking all those metal slides and screws and doodads were more than is really required. I am simply delighted to see the use of wedges and the plain wooden 45 degree add-on jig shown here… it proves my instincts were right, there is no need for all those high-dollar angle-cutting fences. This is traditional hand-tool woodworking as I have always wanted to do it.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks!

[@thomashverring9484]

Thank you! I've subscribed and clicked the bell. Rex Krueger sent me :^)

[@gjbmunc]

Awesome, thank you!

[@bearshield7138]

This is mind bindingly wonderful. I never thought of use a jig of some sort for everything, That idea opens so very many doors.

[@gjbmunc]

Great!

[@dahljerald2934]

I really like your no nonsense and practical approach to working with hand tools.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks!

[@haroldschultz5864]

Great video my friend, I actually just built a shoot board for end grain but didn't realize it had so many other uses . Thank you . P.S. Slightly envious of your mitre plane .

[@gjbmunc]

Plenty of them still out there....

[@jaguen123]

It is a reAL PLEASURE WATCHING YOU IN THE WORKSHOP

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks!

[@rodforcier3661]

A pleasure to watch a true craftsman. The art is in the process, not only the product, and the process improves the product. Thank you. I think I will have more pleasure in my product by following your approach. Rod Forcier

[@gjbmunc]

Thank you very much!

[@PapaJoeWalsh]

Excellent! I am planning on making a shooting board and found this video - exactly what I was looking for - simple and effective. Most important was the tip about not planing up to the top board, but have a slight overhang; simple but critical. Thanks for posting this video.

[@gjbmunc]

Geat! Good luck!

[@nox_ross]

First time watching your videos. I was told about your channel by @Rex Krueger. Love the content and I’m subscribing. Looking forward to more videos.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks and welcome

[@nickmurray3137]

I'm glad you decided to start making videos.

[@gjbmunc]

It's fun - and more people seem to watch videos than read books these days.

[@peterdarinzo7161]

So glad I found this video! I've been having so-so results with my shooting board, now I know not to ride the fence, but to extend the workpiece out a little. Makes much more sense to me when planing end grain. I love watching these videos with my 3 week old son in my lap, and I can't wait to teach him of these techniques!

[@gjbmunc]

Sounds like a great thing to do!

[@ianpearse4480]

I am really enjoying the review of jigs and I am learning a lot. Thank you.

[@gjbmunc]

So glad!

[@DessieTots]

Thank you Graham. I’ve been completely exasperated by my failed shooting technique. I was pressing my plane against the edge of the shooting board and getting angles instead of the clean, crisp and ninety degree edge I was aiming at.

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome!

[@ianmurray3820]

Kudos to Rex, I have power tools for when you just need to get it done.! But hand tool work is so much more satisfying when it goes right, not so much when it goes wrong.! Hopefully the ratio of right/wrong will improve with your help..👍😁💪🏻

[@gjbmunc]

I Hope so too.

[@ronhope3970]

Nicely put and thanks for sharing.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks for watching!

[@isacoritay]

Grandpa! I wanna be happy like you when i grew up. Thank you for the knowledge

[@gjbmunc]

You are very welcome

[@riccardo-964]

You're a gem, gentle sir.

[@gjbmunc]

Thank you!

[@glennirwin4710]

Great information.

[@gjbmunc]

Glad it was helpful!

[@billffromnh]

I too never knew the shooting board was so versatile. Thanks for opening my eyes.

[@gjbmunc]

Ah, what we all have almost forgotten!

[@user-hf9jx4yq2z]

A video that gives you confidence to try things by yourself ❤

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks!

[@Musicpins]

The wedges were genious, fantastic.

[@gjbmunc]

A good example of what has been forgotten!

[@jimzeidler3829]

Really enjoying your channel. I've been getting interested in wood working tools and now, woodworking for about a year and a half, now. Not to mention, these types of videos, are relaxing, full of great info and interesting to watch 👍😎🤠🇺🇸

[@gjbmunc]

Happy to hear it. Good luck!

[@jimzeidler3829]

@@gjbmunc Thank you Sir 🤠

[@volatilesky]

Perfect thanks! I've thought of making one before, but it was never explained to me that you don't actually run the blade against the board. Kind of wondered how it works when the board will eventually get destroyed from the planer. I am however going to steal the miter with pegs to slot into it.

[@gjbmunc]

You are welcome!

[@peterdolding6918]

I like that you are showing the old shooting board. Modern shooting boards you use the board to guide the plane and as you said this historic ones user guides the plane but this is not 100 percent true. I have come across shooting boards of the design shown here with thin guide sacrificial boards those are half way between the modern and historic design. In those setups the plane is running along the edge of the guide sacrificial boards there is a reason for it. With a shooting board with a guide be it modern or old design you don't need to have marked the line you are squaring also when you use shooting board not often like being in a cattle property and the like and only doing repair wood work less plane control skill required to get the same result. There seems to be a difference here between historic shooting boards from place making items day after day and places where wood work might be once every 2 years thing. The lower usage historic ones are likely to have a guiding board of some form of the plane including ones made from cut down wooden school rulers..

[@gjbmunc]

Of course. No one solution or method works for all occasions.

[@yomamma6756]

Thanks for explaining the basics of this

[@gjbmunc]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kevinorr6880]

I suspect there are more than a few here from Rex’s channel…me too. Thank you and I subscribed.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks for the subscription!

[@RobCardIV]

yehaw cowboy ! Rex Krueger sent me here and im thankful he did so !

[@gjbmunc]

Thansk - to you and Rex!

[@rjpaulsen1]

I love wood working. Was born in Santa Cruz, CA and grew up in Kingston, NY. Are you my dad?

[@gjbmunc]

Don't think so....but nice to meet you anyway.

[@chiplane3976]

Graham - what a great video! Liked and subscribed. Keep these coming!

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks, will do!

[@blackcatespressobar6761]

So awesome. Love it!! Thank you!!!

[@gjbmunc]

You are so welcome!

[@daneasley7659]

Thanks great video! I didn't realize you are suppose to to have wood sticking past the side of shooting board to plane. Great information thanks excellent videos.

[@gjbmunc]

Good to hear!

[@johnsmall9729]

Nice! Timely too, as it happens. Thanks!

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome!

[@user-io9ln1or7c]

Thank you very.much Sir.🎉

[@gjbmunc]

Most welcome

[@arick_mnc]

Graham, would love to see a shop tour! Thanks for the awesome videos

[@gjbmunc]

Will definitely do a short shop tour soon.

[@Raye938]

Rex Krueger sent me to check this out, glad he did!

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks, Casey.

[@jaybali7526]

Love this guy!

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks!

[@stufarnham]

Great in depth video. I learned a ton...

[@gjbmunc]

Great! Keep watching, more to come.

[@flybyscy]

Great video and thanks for sharing. It's clear how the plane is square to the bed of the shooting board, but what's not clear to me is what keeps the plane square to the stop if it isn't pushed against the table.

[@gjbmunc]

Because you should be planing to a line on the workpiece, and the stop (even though it may be angled) is not the planing guide.

[@GizmoDuck_1860]

Okay. Never thought of that. I was taught the shooting board is only for endgrain. Never considered long grain. It's one of those many occasions where I go, "why didn't I think of that?" I will also no longer feel like I'm cheating in using jigs

[@gjbmunc]

Great!

[@jeffwhitworth8510]

Thank you! Have been quite frustrated trying to figure out how I can cut an angled edge accurately. Using angled wedges on my shooting board is the perfect solution. Why didn't i think of that!

[@gjbmunc]

I've been keeping it a secret!

[@NeilSoulo]

Good video, recommended by Rex. However, though I'm sure that you are aware of it, you didn't mention that the cutting edge of the iron must be straight and parallel to the sole of the plane. If not, then the edge of the wood might be square in the horizontal plane, but it won't be square in the vertical plane. I believe that Rex made the same omission.

[@gjbmunc]

Very true.

[@user-io9ln1or7c]

Thanks.🎉

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome 😊

[@roman_le]

Perfect video, thank you very much!

[@gjbmunc]

Glad you liked it!

[@ignazioc]

If the plane doesn’t run along the table, how can that become square? I mean depends on how you shout the plane it may go a bit vs left or right. Is for this that you need the pencil mark ?

[@gjbmunc]

The shooting board, provided the sole of the plane is at a perfect right angle to the side of the plane, simply guarantees that the edge of the workpiece is square. It has nothing to do with making the edge of the workpiece straight - for this you need to plane to a marked (pencil) line.

[@tedrzz]

Love the backer board idea on the end grain approach! Definitely doing this next time!! Thanks Graham!

[@gjbmunc]

You.re welcome.

[@ronwoodmarcenaria4936]

Gostei da explanação. Parabéns. I like the explanation. Congratulation

[@gjbmunc]

Obrigado!

[@petervandermolen9835]

Super! Very useful tips.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks!

[@imcg]

Thanks Graham, great video. Are there any particular considerations toward wood selection for a shooting board? Does the stop or fence need to be a hardwood? Cheers!

[@gjbmunc]

anything flat and reasonably stable. the stop can be anything. remember the top board where the workpiece rests is not used as a fence, the workpiece overhangs this.

[@imcg]

@@gjbmunc perfect, thank you sir 👍

[@paramoose]

Marvelous content Mr. Blackburn and I enjoy your energy & persona! I do look forward to learning more from you through your videos as I integrate more traditional woodworking techniques in my own shop. What make & model plane are you using there?

[@gjbmunc]

It's a Lie-Nielsen miter plane - no longer made, but they do now produce a shooting board plane - good but really expensive.

[@kaaona123]

Hey Mr. Blackburn, are you planning on making a video on the unique tools you have? I would love to learn about that mitre plane.

[@gjbmunc]

Yes, soon.

[@youzhou2946]

just found your channel, and its amazing! it seems unable to order directly from your website, so done via Amazon. Also a question - why shouldn't plane against the top board of the shooting board rather overhanging? If that top board is perfectly straight, couldn't that be a reference?

[@gjbmunc]

No because you'll eventually destroy the edge!

[@dagda825]

That helps me with the bench hook. I can rough cut a guide that's the same height as my guide block. Rough cut it to the angle I want to cut into the bench hook's fence and then true the guide block on a shooting board. I just need to ensure my fence and initial guide aren't too tall for the shooting board. That might just work.

[@gjbmunc]

Sounds good to me.

[@anthonygibbs9245]

I like the way he talks plane and simple

[@gjbmunc]

😊

[@MB-st7be]

I still don't understand how the shooting board is different from a bench hook. Sure it has a 'bed', but the bed does exactly same job as your workbench surface, no?

[@gjbmunc]

Yes, you CAN use a bench hook for trimming the end of a board with a plane, but its more important use is for making exact (often angled) cuts with a saw. The primary use of the shooting board is to make a square edge to the board using a plane.

[@floridabob3834]

And I thought I had to use plywood... who knew? Great video.

[@gjbmunc]

What's plywood! (just joking!)

[@Geninkenneth]

Amazed. New subscriber. Recommended from Rex Kruger.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks and welcome.

[@bobbabcock3847]

Outstanding, only sb vid that doesn't call for guiding the plane with the upper platform, interesting.

[@gjbmunc]

Can't speak for other people, but it always seemed simpler to plane to a line rather than eat away at the table or adjust the iron so it didn't cut the guiding edge!

[@rossanctuary5238]

Q: Does the fence always has to be placed away from the top end of the shooting board?

[@gjbmunc]

The workpiece does not align with the table, if that's what you mean.

[@joem5332]

The iron has to be sqaure in plane also?

[@gjbmunc]

Absolutely!

[@z3r0ph84]

I came from the Rex Krueger video, always looking for good content

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks for coming

[@aussieguiri8502]

Completely changes the way I think about shooting boards

[@gjbmunc]

Hopefully helpfully!

[@aussieguiri8502]

Absolutely for the better and definitely less proscriptive than other explanations. May I ask where he shooting plane you are using come from?

[@gjbmunc]

The metal one comes from Lie Nielsen, not sure if they still make that exact model, but they are selling a so-called shoot-plane for $650. The wooden one is just an old American-made miter plane, single, up-bevel, low-angle iron, works just fine: good quality iron and easy to true (plane) the sole to perfect flatnesss and to a perfect right-angle with the sides.

[@awiggan1]

What’s brand is the shoulder plane?

[@gjbmunc]

It's a Lie-Nielsen. but I don't think they still have it in their catalog. Check on line (and even eBay).

[@jessestrum]

hi graham i just subscribed,can you tell me the make of plane your using on the shooting board cheers john

[@gjbmunc]

Lie-Nielsen

[@jessestrum]

@@gjbmunc thanks mate

[@Pete.Ty1]

👍👍👍

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks!

[@red-rio]

amazing

[@gjbmunc]

I guess so, but the simplest things are often the hardest to discover!

[@negaopiroca2766]

Thanks for the video! I don't understand how it will work if the plane is not running against the side of the board. One dimension will be square for sure but how do you get the other right, for example a mitre?

[@gjbmunc]

The primary purpose of my shooting board is to plane a SQUARE edge, along the side of a board or at the end of the board. To make sure you're planing a STRAIGHT edge is why I mentioned drawing or scribing a line (along the side or at the end of the board) just as if you were planing to this line with the workpiece held in the vise. In the case of a mitre, I would first scribe the mitre on the workpiece (then probably saw it using the bench hook - see the episode entitled 'The Best Woodworking Jig for Exact Sawcuts) and then, using a mitred stop as shown, plane it on the shooting board to get the EDGE perfectly square. Sorry if I didn't make this clear enough.

[@negaopiroca2766]

@@gjbmunc many thanks, I understood now what you mean, and it makes sense. To also get the board straight it might be a good idea to have a thin layer of plywood protruding, that doesn’t catch the blade and where the plane sole can run against. Looking forward for more videos!

[@jasonzvokel6317]

I enjoy hand tool woodworking, but I do not recognize the plane you were using. What make or type is that one?

[@gjbmunc]

The metal plane is a now discontinued Lie-Nielsen plane, but almost any plane with sides square to the sole will do the same thing.

[@jasonzvokel6317]

@@gjbmunc ah ha. I generally use a number 6 for shooting. I am familiar with the Lee Nielson one, but I remembered the tote being on the back. Thanks for the info! Enjoying the channel

[@seanys]

“… a hundred years ago…” when that shooting board appears to have been made. 😲

[@gjbmunc]

yes, I'm getting older by the day...

[@kevinorr6880]

I like that plane. Make and model? Thank you.

[@gjbmunc]

The metal plane I use in the video is a Lie-Nielsen miter plane (not sure if they're still available), the wooden one is a standard wooden miter plane - but almost any plane with sides perfectly square to the sole will work

[@kevinorr6880]

@@gjbmunc thank you. I’m gathering that the Lie-Neilson is not available

[@2tall54]

Thank you for your exp;anation and demonstrations. I am a noob to woodworking; what kind of plane are you using on the shooting board?

[@gjbmunc]

It's a miter plane made by Lie Nielsen - but almost any plane with square sides will also work.

[@sethdexter8317]

What is that plane?!

[@gjbmunc]

A miter plane -but almost any plane with a sole exactly perpendicular to the sole with work..

[@sethdexter8317]

Thank you for the response. But what plane is the one you are using specifically in the video? Make and model?

[@gromadaigor]

I thought I know everything about shooting board. But I don't)

[@gjbmunc]

There's always something new to learn - even for me.

[@pleappleappleap]

You need a microphone. Badly.

[@gjbmunc]

Working on it.

[@dariocarafa3788]

What shooting board playing or shooting plane are you using?

[@gjbmunc]

I'll use whatever's to hand so long as the side is perfectly perpendicular to the sole. But my favorite is the Lie-Nielson (now discontinued).