How to Shape Wood

Layout and Cutting

• 1

  Plane lumber to thickness, if required. Set the planer blade to remove only 1/16 inch at a time. Take less off at a time for extremely hard woods, such as rock maple and teak. Adjust the planer down with each pass, until the wood is the desired thickness.

• 2

  Lay out the dimensions and outline of your parts on the wood, using your plan or pattern as a template. Measure carefully and mark any and all holes, mortises for hinges, and other machining that will be completed on the face of the material.

• 3

  Cut your pieces out starting with the main outline. Use a table saw to cut away excess material, or to create straight edges on your pieces. Use it to cut long pieces to width as well. Move the pieces to the band saw, miter saw, or jigsaw for notches, curves and other detail cuts that need be made.

Machining and Sanding

• 4

  Machine any and all edges of the pieces that require moulding or shaping, using a router, shaper, or other edge-shaping tools, such as carving chisels, to complete the outline and profile of your piece.

• 5

  Bore holes for hardware or dowels. Mark and position them precisely. Mortise any hardware, such as locks or hinges, using a router and jig or hand chisels.

• 6

  Sand your parts either by hand or with a power sander. Use power sanders on large open areas on sturdy materials. Hand sand details and more fragile pieces. Start with coarse sandpaper to work out surface roughness, then progress to a finer grit paper for finish preparation.