Get flat boards EVERY TIME with this simple process. // Handtool stock-prep.

Flattening by hand can be intimidating, unless you have a process.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The Minimum Timber Bench

The Minimum Timber Bench Plans are 34 pages of full-color, step-by-step instructions in standard and metric measurements. The plans include a full stock list and cut list. Every image is modeled in 3D and each step includes tips and tricks to make your build easier. This bench is designed for beginning woodworkers and power-tool woodworkers who want to get into hand tools. You can build it completely by hand or with a few common machine tools. Get your plans here:

The Minimum Timber Bench Course is 8 chapters of detailed build instructions. Follow along as I do each step of the build using basic machine tools (and a few hand tools). I'll take you from stock selection all the way through to flattening and using the bench. The course is 80 minutes long, fully searchable, and includes the complete plans for FREE!.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The English Woodworker:

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Mortise and Tenon Mag:

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Check out Compass Rose Toolworks

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Sign up for Fabrication First, my FREE newsletter

__________________________________________

Get My Book, Everyday Woodworking:

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Wood Work for Humans Tool List (affiliate):
*Cutting*
(Winner of the affordable dovetail-saw shootout.)
(Needs tune-up to work well.)
(Works out of the box)
(My favorite affordable new chisels.)
(I use these to make the DIY specialty planes, but I also like them for general work.)

*Sharpening*

*Marking and Measuring*
(For marking and the built-in awl).
(Excellent, inexpensive marking knife.)

*Drilling*

*Work-Holding*

Follow me on Instagram: @rexkrueger

0:00 Intro
1:14 Before we start
2:04 Getting Started
5:45 Checking Twist
10:03 Sound Check
12:43 Flat Edge
15:44 Cupped Side
20:43 Outro

[RexKrueger]

One correction: to get the second edge parallel to the first, I would usually use a marking gauge or panel gauge. I was really focusing on flattening here, so I left out this important step.

[jerrycomo]

Before I flatten a board with a plane, I moisten the convex side, apply heat or clamp flat and put out in the sun. Gets most of the warp out. Once dry, the planning step is a lot shorter. Got the idea from: 1-wooden boat builders (steam heat) 2-native American arrow makers (hold over open flame then bend over knee). 3-Japanese cabinet makers. In other words, the heat and moisture method has been used for 1, 000's of years. It took several attempts to figure it out. Now when I take boards home, I stick and clamp flat and let sit for a week. This has reduced the "flattening stage" to a minimum.

[johng]

Loved the “thud versus clack” tip. I haven’t seen that ANYWHERE else - and I watch a LOT of hand tool woodworking content !

[dumpster_witch]

It's really striking how skilled Rex is at the art of teaching itself 🌷

[ClarkEoC]

Loved the dropping the board trick, never seen it before.

[kevinboas]

I think I’ve watched all of your videos, and this is far and away your best one yet. This style of old school, direct, basics teaching is amazing content. Keep it coming!

[salimufari]

Love the content & these fundamentals tutorials are EXACTLY what new wood workers need. Thank you again for making it real for us Rex.

[ralfklonowski]

„Get the basics right and the rest will follow“ British football coach Fred Pentland, whose first unit at his new club Athletic Bilbao in the mid 1920s was „How to tie your football boot laces.“

[nevyn]

Holy crap Rex! This is you at your very best. Really bringing that education background into the forefront.

[devinteske]

I use the whub test. It’s one of my favorites (thank you for giving it a name). I absolutely love taking two boards that have been planed flat and could sit there and whub them together for hours because it is just so darn satisfying. I also will take a straight edge and just spin it over the face to see if it catches any high spots.

[roachwerks]

this channel is LOADED with an insane amount of free information. learn something new every time i visit

[robertthompson]

This video is brilliant. The whub whub vs the clack clack was a revelation to me.

[rabwilson]

Now this is by far my favorite vid you've ever done🤘

Please do more of these in depth "how to" vids

You make the process enjoyable as apposed to time consuming and annoying lol

[MagnusonMusic]

That “whub” sound is my favorite sound in the world. :)

[gamingscientist]

I had no idea I was waiting for this video. This is the kind of instruction I haven't found anywhere else. What an invaluable lesson!

[Splatterpunk_OldNewYork]

Your attention to detail is spectacular. Truing up a board is the friends we made along the way.

[TheNolimitcity]

Fun fact: Once you have a flat face of a board, it is referred to as a 'true' face. Then once you use the 'try' square to flatten the adjacent edge that edge is now a 'tried' edge. This is the origination of the expression: 'Tried and True'

[MegaSuperJaBaTo]

One of the best woodworking videos I have seen this year so far. Thanks and regards!

[zachx]

I’m so happy to see a video on flattening boards right before I do my biggest project where I need to flatten boards with hand tools. Unfortunately I only have a no.4 smoothing plane, but I’m sure it will work out 😅 thanks for the great content! I’ve made your mallet and short workbench and really enjoy them 🙏

[artefactsbubble]

First video I’ve watched of yours and even though I was thinking “oh man just get a jointer and planer, that’s what I want to do soon” I soon realised that I wish I had your craftsmanship and totally respect your skills. You’ve earned my sub