How to Square a Board by Hand

Squaring a board by hand—making it flat, square, and parallel—is the foundation of hand tool woodworking.

The S6S Process

1. Face 1: Flatten one face with scrub, jack, jointer, smoother progression
2. Edge 1: Shoot one edge square to Face 1
3. Edge 2: Plane parallel to Edge 1 at final width
4. Face 2: Plane parallel to Face 1 at final thickness
5. End 1: Shoot square to all surfaces
6. End 2: Shoot square at final length

This sequence ensures everything is square and parallel.