Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 10 hours ago
One of the biggest mistakes I made early on — and I still catch myself doing it — is planing rough stock before cutting it to length.
Long boards aren’t just awkward to move around. They hide gradual bows and twists that can rob you of usable wood.
When you run a bowed board across the jointer, you’re trimming off the ends until the center finally makes contact with the cutterhead.
If there’s a half-inch bow in the middle, you’re shaving off a half-inch of material just to flatten the face — and that’s before you even touch the other side with the planer. This is an extreme example, but even an 1/8th inch off can ruin a board over a long distance.
Worse, the thinner the stock gets, the more it moves. You release internal stress, and suddenly the board decides to bow even worse.
That’s why I cut to rough size first. Or double that size, if I’m doing smaller parts.
Need two 10-inch pieces? I rough cut to 21.
In my shop, every board gets an extra rough inch before it heads to the jointer and then the planer. Once everything’s squared up, then I cut to project size.
Shorter pieces sit flatter, joint easier, and hold their shape. You save time, save wood, and save yourself a whole lot of frustration.
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
William L McNally
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Marc B.
Richard B.
Ben. K
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
One of the biggest mistakes I made early on — and I still catch myself doing it — is planing rough stock before cutting it to length.
Long boards aren’t just awkward to move around. They hide gradual bows and twists that can rob you of usable wood.
When you run a bowed board across the jointer, you’re trimming off the ends until the center finally makes contact with the cutterhead.
If there’s a half-inch bow in the middle, you’re shaving off a half-inch of material just to flatten the face — and that’s before you even touch the other side with the planer. This is an extreme example, but even an 1/8th inch off can ruin a board over a long distance.
Worse, the thinner the stock gets, the more it moves. You release internal stress, and suddenly the board decides to bow even worse.
That’s why I cut to rough size first. Or double that size, if I’m doing smaller parts.
Need two 10-inch pieces? I rough cut to 21.
In my shop, every board gets an extra rough inch before it heads to the jointer and then the planer. Once everything’s squared up, then I cut to project size.
Shorter pieces sit flatter, joint easier, and hold their shape. You save time, save wood, and save yourself a whole lot of frustration.
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
William L McNally
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Marc B.
Richard B.
Ben. K
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
