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Working By Eye |
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Using the reflection of your work isn't the only way
to turn your cutting tools into layout devices. You
also can use the portions of a tool that are machined
or ground flat at the factory as an accurate straightedge.
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When undercutting the shoulders of a tenon, use the
unbeveled face or the long edges of your chisel to gauge
your progress. Place the chisel across the joint and
look for light peeking under the tool. If you see
a hump under the tool, you have more work to do.
If you see a slight valley there, you are done.
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The long edge of a chisel can reveal
whether or not a tenon's shoulders have been undercut,
as shown here. |
The
sole of your plane is another powerful measuring tool.
A jointer plane, which can be 22" long or longer,
is also an accurate straightedge. As you flatten a
board, pause and use the corner of the tool (made
by the sidewall and sole of the plane) to check your
work. You will easily see hills and valleys as light
leaking out under the tool.
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The edge of a handplane can reveal
whether your board's
face is cupped or bowed.
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However, there is one caution of which you must be
aware when using reflections as guides. Many people
use straightedges to check the flatness of their planes'
soles. The human eye can easily pick out a .001"-wide
gap underneath a straightedge if there is a strong backlight.
If you do this, don't forget that shiny plane
soles will reflect the light leaking under the straightedge
and make the error in the sole appear twice as bad as
it actually is. Many woodworkers have spent long and
lonely nights flattening their plane soles to eliminate
a defect that was insignificant to the function of the
tool – and all because they didn't know exactly where
to look when measuring.
Christopher Schwarz |
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Other
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