workbench flattening with tearout

user-6920478 | Posted in New To Woodworking on March 24, 2020 03:07pm

Just finished laminating my workbench top with 8/4 Doug Fir. I began some flattening (although it didnt need much) with low angle jack plane. I realized it may not be the best choice so I switched the blade out to a 50 degree blade. There is still some tearout issues. It is a workbench, so Im not overly concerned, but still I would rather avoid.
My question is, it seems like some boards have teared out more than others. Is this because I wasnt careful enough when laminating them so grain was going in same direction? Im a new guy to this so I need a bit of assistance/guidance please.
Thanks in advance!

Replies

_mj_ | Mar 24, 2020 04:16pm | #1
Unless you can afford to be extremely picky about the stock you'll wind up with reversing grain somewhere. Totally unavoidable.planing at a 45 when flattening or even just skewing the plane can get you a bit more of a slicing presentation of the iron to the work.
user-6920478 | Mar 24, 2020 06:20pm | #2
thanks!
user-7274013 | Mar 24, 2020 10:22pm | #3
Just had the same thing happen to me, the table is flat so going to put the finish on tomorrow and start using the bench
DRBWWing | Mar 25, 2020 09:41am | #4
Yes, it probably is changing grain directions. It will be very difficult for you to plane the top with the grain.

Flatten a top is done by going at a 45's or even directly cross grain, frequently checking with straight edge/winding sticks as you to. Once you get it flat, grain issues can be avoided by omitting final planing and by sanding or scraping.

Skewing the plane, keeping blade exceptionally sharp, very thin shavings will help.
user-4722209 | Mar 25, 2020 09:54am | #5
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qtkBZHLJyD0

I used this technique on my hard maple workbench with near flawless results
tbonetim | Mar 25, 2020 02:44pm | #6
During my recent split-top Roubo build, I took great care to orient the 4", 8/4 ash laminates that I used for the top so that they would have grain going in the same direction. Nevertheless, it was impossible in places, as grain switched direction over the length of some boards. I wanted the satisfaction of hand planing the top level, and it was really quite a pleasurable and rewarding workout. As you may be able to see in the photos, I too had noticeable tearout. You can also see the plane marks that I decided not to treat with my smoothing plane once the top was dead flat; nor did I apply any finish to the top. Whereas tearout would be unacceptable in any other woodworking project, I considered the tearout and slightly "fuzzy" plane marks to be an asset on this benchtop. Four months of use has confirmed that the surface is both functional and attractive to my eye.
mikaol | Apr 19, 2020 05:36pm | #7
Hey,
I use a 2" bottom-flattening router bit and 3/4" pipe clamps for the router base to ride on. Works great on Brazilian ebony and Angelique, 2 seriously hard woods.
Mikaol