How to Read Grain Direction
Reading grain direction prevents tearout. Always plane "downhill" with the grain.
The Rule
Imagine wood fibers as shingles on a roof. Plane in the direction that smooths them down, not the direction that lifts them up.
Visual Cues
- Look at edge grain—fibers angle one way
- Watch shavings—if they break up and the surface looks fuzzy, you're going against grain
- Use low light at a glancing angle to see fiber direction
On figured wood with reversing grain, no direction works everywhere. Use a tightly set chipbreaker (0.5mm) and high cutting angle instead.