The top two photos shows a trying plane used on its side on a 6 foot long shooting board to join two pieces of silky oak (lacewood) 6 feet long and 3/4" thick. The handle looks awkward but is very useful to help push the plane along. This hand grip is very comfortable. The trying plane is very successful for jointing boards up to 6 foot long on a shooting board. For joining longer boards there will be more skill involved and a longer jointer plane may be required.


A well made shooting board will save you many hours every time you join several long boards together.
Besides plane making I also make my own furniture and I can safely say I wish I had a shooting board 20 years ago.

Note the board being joined is hanging over the end of the shooting board, and the other end is the opposite, to allow a short run up for the plane to start the cut.

This photo is an action shot showing how easy it is to walk along beside the bench to achieve the joint. With a shooting board you only need to concentrate on holding the plane firmly again the edge, and the plane and shooting board will get the edge straight and at 90 degrees for that elusive perfect joint.

The finished product. A no gaps joint with a resultant flat surface.

For more information on shooting boards and bench accessories contact Micheal Connor Woodworks