Sean, I can't offer you any advise that you didn't already find out for yourself.

You covered it well and it really shows how you identified your problems and worked out the solutions.

I can say that slow even strokes are more effective than short fast stabby ones. 

@Timmy2Hands Thanks! Yeah I tend to go too fast when planing. I eventually slow down.

You make this look less frustrating than it actually is. Raised panels are hard. I "like" to cut them vertically in a vise instead of laying flat. I skew the plane with the front pointed up and just go right across. I put like in quotes because it's still difficult and really error prone. 

You make this look less frustrating than it actually is. Raised panels are hard. I "like" to cut them vertically in a vise instead of laying flat. I skew the plane with the front pointed up and just go right across. I put like in quotes because it's still difficult and really error prone. 

Thanks. I find for me that the panel was too small to sit vertically in my vice and made for an awkward hand position. I had more control with it laying down. I'm glad I had that scrap piece to practice on though.

Tim is right Sean. Slow down, and you will find you have a lot more control, and the shavings will be more even. I might also make the panel in the center larger, with a more heavy angle going towards the sides. But of course, that is just a personal preference. Great work though Sean, and I loved watching it in real time.

Thanks for the tips. I just get so worked up when I know I have a lot of hand planing to do that I just race to get it done lol.

Tim is right Sean. Slow down, and you will find you have a lot more control, and the shavings will be more even. I might also make the panel in the center larger, with a more heavy angle going towards the sides. But of course, that is just a personal preference. Great work though Sean, and I loved watching it in real time.

I like to use my table saw to cut raised panels and then clean up the saw marks with a smoothing plane. For me at least the less material I remove with hand tools the less likely I am to screw things up.

I'm with you there, but wanted to learn how to use my hand plane. I made a total of 6 panels and only 3 came out good lol.

I like to use my table saw to cut raised panels and then clean up the saw marks with a smoothing plane. For me at least the less material I remove with hand tools the less likely I am to screw things up.

buying my first hand planes.  What brand do you recommend?

I own the WoodRiver number 4 and low angle jack plane. I also own a vintage number 3. If you can afford the higher end planes, Check out Lie-Nielsen or Lee Valley Veritas as they are great planes but if you don't mind working with the planes and want to save a few bucks, the WoodRiver brand planes are also nice.

buying my first hand planes.  What brand do you recommend?

Dear Sean, I am a beginner box-maker and very much appreciate your video's. However, at 0:47 you say "I got the combination square set to .... seconds". I cannot get the picture what this means (and I think it is important). Could you please elucidate on this? Regards, Hans

@Hans  said:

Dear Sean, I am a beginner box-maker and very much appreciate your video's. However, at 0:47 you say "I got the combination square set to .... seconds". I cannot get the picture what this means (and I think it is important). Could you please elucidate on this? Regards, Hans

I've set the ruler on the combination square so that it's 1 9/32nd's out from the end of the combination square so that I can mark a line at the distance in from the edge of the board. Hope that helps!