Wood surfacing is done to achieve a smoother finish, ensure more accurate dimensions, and make handling safer.
Dimensions of wood are marginally increased when surfacing is done before to compensate for shrinkage that occurs during the seasoning process.
Distortions that occur during the seasoning phase can be corrected through surfacing.
Equipment known as planes, which feature rotating blades, are used to smooth out the wood surface and slightly round off the edges during the process of surfacing.
Usually, lumber is surfaced on four sides. Generally, hardwoods are surfaced only on two sides, leaving the other rougher edges to be finalized by the woodworker.
The surfaced wood should consistently exhibit flatness, while the turned objects must display distinct roundness, and the edges should always appear perfectly straight.
Sanding is another common method used to smooth out wood surfaces.
It is always recommended to sand in the direction of the wood fibers, starting with a coarser grit and progressively moving to finer grits for a smoother finish.
