Woodturners often use this technique to size tenons on spindles, but it works just as well for planing. I keep various sizes of open-end wrenches attached to my thickness planer on a magnetic strip. When I need to plane lumber to a standard thickness — say, 3/8″ — I use a 3/8″ wrench to check my progress. It’s a lot quicker and more accurate than a tape measure: when the wrench just fits over the workpiece, I know I’m done planing.
-Jeff Dees
Ethel, Mississippi
