Flattening Large Surfaces

While I always look forward to the completion of a project, there are certain milestones along the way that can bring almost as much satisfaction. One of those is creating a smooth, flat solid-wood panel. Whether it’s a tabletop or case piece, the top often becomes a focal point. So you want it to look its best.

From a woodworking point of view, the attention often seems to center around sanding and finishing. The reality is that to end up with a flat, smooth panel, the process begins way before that step.

I’ve found it helpful to divide the process into three stages: preparing, flattening, and smoothing. For each stage, there are a range of tools to consider that will help achieve