The process of squaring up rough stock—stock which has not passed through the mill planer— is not so very unlike that for squaring up mill-planed stock. The main differences, however, are very-important.

Leveling or Truing the First Broad Surface

Level up one of the broad surfaces of rough stock for a face side, taking off as few shavings as possible. A level surface is one of which all points lie in the same plane. To level a surface, therefore, means to plane off the high places. Figure 42 shows a surface "in wind" or not level or true; also, a true surface.

Fig. 42—Winding and a True Surface

There are several ways of testing a surface of rough stock to find whether it is true or not. An experienced mechanic would probably find the eye-sighting test sufficient This consists in closing one eye and sighting with the other along the length of the piece for straightness, Fig. 43. Another test is to sight across the piece to see whether the front arris and back arris line up, i.e., whether they lie in the same plane, Fig". 44.

Fig. 43 — Testing for Straightness

Fig. 44 —Testing for Twist

Fig. 45 —Sighting for Winding of Surface

A substitute for the winding-stick test, on pieces of some width—three or more inches—consists in plac­ing the straightedge along the two diagonals. The straightedge test for length and width must be given as usual, in addition to the diagonal test. These tests will show where and how much is to be planed and will need to be made frequently as the planing proceeds. If the piece of rough stock is in wind, two diagonally opposite corners will appear high. Plane diagonally across the piece until these corners are roughly leveled. It may be that the middle is on a level with these corners and the other two corners are low with reference to the center of the board. In this case, the diagonal plan­ing will take the middle down as well as the two high corners. Finish by planing parallel to the grain, so as to leave a smooth surface. Put on the face mark.

Planing the First Edge

Straighten and square one of the edges for a face edge. This is done in the same way as for rough stock S-2-S, described in the preceding chapter.

Gauging for Width and Planing Second Edge

The directions for gauging to width are the same as those given in a preceding chapter, also planing for the second edge.

Gauging to Thickness

Since rough stock is variable in thickness, it will be necessary, to set the marking gauge to the thick­ness wanted and mark sharp lines, one each on the two edges. Keep the head of the gauge against the face side in so doing.

Planing and Testing Second Surface

Since the face side was leveled and the thickness gauged from this, the second surface of rough stock ought to be level and true, if the planing is made to stop at the gauge lines on the two edges and if the middle of the board is neither high nor low with reference to these lines. To see whether the middle is high or low, place the straightedge across, as in Fig. 47, and test at a suf­ficient number of places to show the true condition. This test must be made frequently while approaching the lines, that the surface may be level when the lines are reached—at least not low in the middle, for there would be no remedy for that without decreasing the thickness below what is desired.

Securing Length

The directions for planing first end of rough stock, measuring length and lining and planing second end will be found in preceding chapters under the same heads.

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