In keeping with the overall design of the table project, the table top looks best if it tapers towards the ends. If you look closely, you can see it in this photo of the mockup. I don’t want to taper the whole underside of the top; that would unnecessarily weaken it. So, I will only shape the edges, leaving the center at full thickness. How to do that? I suppose I could jig up something to make the cuts on the bandsaw, but by the time I did that, I could have done it with a handplane, or a series of handplanes. My students sometimes ask when they would ever need a scrub plane, if they own or have access to a jointer and planer. Here’s an answer.
The first pic shows the unmodified top, with my layout lines. You can see only one of the lines in the photo. There is also a scribe line on the end grain, created with a marking gauge, and another pencil line on the right edge.
The next pic shows the bulk of the material removed with a scrub plane. Note the size and shape of the shavings; they will change as the tools change.
Next, I used a #3 bench plane, set for a pretty course cut, to get within about 1/32″ of my lines. I was still planing across the grain, and the shavings reflect this.
I used my #5 to make sure things were flat, then finished with my #4 smoother, set for a light cut. The shavings are much thinner, and the surface is more clear. The process took about 30 minutes.
Finally, I shaped the front edge. I need to wait until I determine the final width of the top before I shape the back edge.
