Shooting Board
A shooting board is a woodworking jig used in combination with a Hand Plane to trim and square up the ends of boards with precision. It's an essential tool for achieving clean, straight edges and perfectly square corners.
There are three boards at the comakingspace. Unfortunately one is currently missing.
Where can I find the board?
Two boards are located under one of the workbenches, the missing shooting-board is normally located at the Saw Station, left to the chop saw.
General Tips
-Always use a sharp Hand Plane with a side, that is exactly 90° to the blade. A metal Hand Plane with a low angle blade is ideal.
-Confirm the angle is 90° before starting your work (or after the first edge you made).
-Make sure to press down on the Hand Plane, so it remains flat on the surface.
-Never use a rabbet plane (Simshobel),which would cut into the shooting board itself. The Hand Plane is guided along the board with its non cutting part of the sole against the board.
-The boards fences, where the workpiece rests upon (as well as the runway for the 45° board) can be adjusted by loosening the winged nuts on the back and inserting pieces of paper for finetuning the angle.
-If the board moves to much when planing, it can be clamped down for more stability
Two new shooting boards:
These two boards can be used for creating nearly perfect 90° angles and 45° angles (miters), as needed in box making. Another addon will be made, to make 45° as used in picture frames. These boards are located under one of the workbenches.
The design is loosely based on this video by Adrian Preda: Link
Both consists of a flat base made of two Boards of 22mm MDF with an adjustable fence and for the 45° board also an adjustable runway. You can do so by loosening the winged nuts and adding paperstrips to the gap.
They are 380mm in length and 260mm in width.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using a Shooting Board
1. Set Up the Shooting Board:
- Secure the shooting board to your workbench with clamps to prevent it from moving during use.
2. Prepare the Hand Plane:
- Choose a hand plane suitable for the job, such as a low-angle block plane or a bench plane.
- Ensure the plane blade is sharp for clean cuts.
- Set the blade to a shallow depth to take light passes.
3. Position the Workpiece:
- Place the workpiece against the fence, ensuring it is flush with the base of the shooting board.
- For end grain trimming, position the workpiece so that the edge to be trimmed is accessible to the plane.
4. Make the Cut:
- Hold the hand plane firmly and position it on the runner (the hardwood guide attached to the base of the shooting board).
- Push the plane along the runner, trimming the edge of the workpiece. Keep the plane's sole flat against the runner and the blade perpendicular to the edge being trimmed.
- Apply consistent pressure and use a smooth, controlled motion to make the cut.
5. Check the Cut:
- After a few passes, stop and check the edge of the workpiece for squareness and smoothness.
- Use a square to ensure the edge is perfectly 90 degrees to the face of the workpiece.
- If needed, make additional passes with the plane to achieve the desired result.
Tips for Best Results
Keep the plane blade sharp to avoid tearing out the wood and to make clean, precise cuts. Take light passes to maintain control and prevent damaging the workpiece. Apply consistent pressure on the hand plane to ensure even cuts. Periodically check the alignment and squareness of the workpiece to ensure accuracy.
Using a shooting board can greatly enhance the precision and quality of your woodworking projects. Happy woodworking! 🛠️😊
