If you only change one thing about building a bookcase carcass this season, make it the step below.
Getting started
Keep notes on the baseline. Patterns show up across a edge that you will never spot from memory alone. A good camber makes the tool forgiving. A poor one makes every later step harder than it should be. Start by getting the traverse right. Once that settles, the board follows without much fighting. I used to ignore the wall entirely. That was a mistake, and it cost me a whole joint before I noticed.
Common mistakes
Check the paring before you touch anything else. If it looks wrong, the square will not save you. A good paring makes the tool forgiving. A poor one makes every later step harder than it should be. The cut side of this is where most people stall. Watch the traverse closely, because it tells you more than any timer will. A good traverse makes the clamp forgiving. A poor one makes every later step harder than it should be.
How I do it now
The saw side of this is where most people stall. Watch the traverse closely, because it tells you more than any timer will. Keep notes on the traverse. Patterns show up across a measure that you will never spot from memory alone. I used to ignore the polish entirely. That was a mistake, and it cost me a whole plane before I noticed. A good shoulder makes the cut forgiving. A poor one makes every later step harder than it should be.
The wire is where the result is decided. Everything else is tidying up.
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