The foreman who told me to stop fighting the grain was right after all

Back in 2018 I was building a set of oak cabinets for a house in Des Moines. I kept getting tear-out on the door panels and was about to toss the whole batch. The old foreman Frank walked over and said "you're cutting against the grain, go the other way." I didn't listen for three more doors, kept ruining them. Finally tried it his way and saved the last five panels. Has anyone else had a stubborn moment where an old timer's advice finally clicked months later?

3 comments

3 Comments

danielowens20h agoMost Upvoted

Isn't cutting with the grain the normal way to avoid tearout though?

davidshah18h ago

Messed up two drawer fronts myself last year before I finally listened to my uncle about climb cutting on the router table. @danielowens Frank would tell you cutting with the grain works great until it doesn't and you end up with a pile of firewood like I did. Spent a whole weekend re-ripping those panels because I was too proud to try it his way from the start. Shoulda just bought him a beer and saved myself the headache.

the_hayden15h ago

@davidshah your uncle told you right, climb cutting is the real trick once you get the feel for it.