In the drawing below, the markings on the face side will indicate to me three things.
Firstly because I have placed the markings on the wide surface I have decided that this will be the face side.
Secondly the zigzag lines drawn in a rough arrow shape, tell me that I need to plane the timber in that
direction, as shown by the red arrow. This information is obtained after firstly planing the timber by hand or machine.
and finally, the longer line points to the face edge.
My file reference Face side and edge markings 01 scene 1
Web page reference FsFe03
Firstly because I have placed the markings on the wide surface I have decided that this will be the face side.
Secondly the zigzag lines drawn in a rough arrow shape, tell me that I need to plane the timber in that
direction, as shown by the red arrow. This information is obtained after firstly planing the timber by hand or machine.
and finally, the longer line points to the face edge.
My file reference Face side and edge markings 01 scene 1
Web page reference FsFe03
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Face side and face edge markings of a timber component.
Introduction.
In the chapter, Marking a shoulder line, I wrote about the importance in the marking out process of always having the
try-square up against, either the face side or face edge when marking a shoulder line, and showed the standard type of
marking used on these surfaces.
This is shown below. (In these series of photographs I have made the face side and face edge markings in felt tip pen
purely for the sake of clarity. In practice I do not use this)
My file reference FsFe01
Web page reference FsFe01
Introduction.
In the chapter, Marking a shoulder line, I wrote about the importance in the marking out process of always having the
try-square up against, either the face side or face edge when marking a shoulder line, and showed the standard type of
marking used on these surfaces.
This is shown below. (In these series of photographs I have made the face side and face edge markings in felt tip pen
purely for the sake of clarity. In practice I do not use this)
My file reference FsFe01
Web page reference FsFe01
As we all know,
timber prefers to be
planed in one
direction only, so it
would be helpful if
the markings
showed this.
The system of
marking that
appears opposite
does not tell you in
which direction to
plane the timber.
timber prefers to be
planed in one
direction only, so it
would be helpful if
the markings
showed this.
The system of
marking that
appears opposite
does not tell you in
which direction to
plane the timber.
A more useful forming of markings
I’m not sure who developed this system of marking, but I first became aware of them in the writings of
David Charlesworth in the Furniture and Cabinet making magazine. I personally believe that it is an excellent method
of marking timber, because once you have found out which way the timber wants to be planed, you place these
markings on the wood as a reminder.
Firstly I will deal with the markings that are relevant to the face side. You will notice in the photo below, that as well as
markings on the face side there are some on the edge.
Face side markings.
My file reference FsFe02
Web page reference FsFe02
I’m not sure who developed this system of marking, but I first became aware of them in the writings of
David Charlesworth in the Furniture and Cabinet making magazine. I personally believe that it is an excellent method
of marking timber, because once you have found out which way the timber wants to be planed, you place these
markings on the wood as a reminder.
Firstly I will deal with the markings that are relevant to the face side. You will notice in the photo below, that as well as
markings on the face side there are some on the edge.
Face side markings.
My file reference FsFe02
Web page reference FsFe02
And just to reaffirm what I said in the introduction to the topic, these markings on the side of the timber that are relevant
to the top surface.
These indicate that the timber needs to be planed in the direction of the sloping lines. In practice it is not uncommon to
remove the markings on either the face side or face edge, and if that was the case, we still have a mark on the adjacent
surface to remind us of the direction the timber requires planing. Like all good methods, it’s obvious in hindsight.
My file reference Face side and edge markings 01 scene 2
Web page reference FsFe04
to the top surface.
These indicate that the timber needs to be planed in the direction of the sloping lines. In practice it is not uncommon to
remove the markings on either the face side or face edge, and if that was the case, we still have a mark on the adjacent
surface to remind us of the direction the timber requires planing. Like all good methods, it’s obvious in hindsight.
My file reference Face side and edge markings 01 scene 2
Web page reference FsFe04
Face edge marking.
And there are exactly the same markings for the face edge, giving me exactly the same information that I had for the
face side. Which surface is the face edge, what direction I need to plane the timber, and which surface is the face side.
My file reference FsFe05
Web page reference FsFe05
And there are exactly the same markings for the face edge, giving me exactly the same information that I had for the
face side. Which surface is the face edge, what direction I need to plane the timber, and which surface is the face side.
My file reference FsFe05
Web page reference FsFe05
I think this is where a model can be much clearer. The markings on the face edge indicate that the timber needs to
planed in the direction of the arrow, and the two parallel lines on the face side confirm this.
My file reference Face side and edge markings 01 scene 3
Web page reference FsFe06
planed in the direction of the arrow, and the two parallel lines on the face side confirm this.
My file reference Face side and edge markings 01 scene 3
Web page reference FsFe06
The complete set of markings
And combining the two sets of markings this is what I will mark on all pieces of timber.
My file reference Face side and edge markings 01 scene 4
Web page reference FsFe07
And combining the two sets of markings this is what I will mark on all pieces of timber.
My file reference Face side and edge markings 01 scene 4
Web page reference FsFe07
Additional markings.
The competition box I made was in fact one of a batch of seven. Two were made from English oak, two from
mahogany and three from light brown oak, so I found that I needed additional markings. Although not necessary for
most projects I feel that it is worth mentioning.
Like all rules or guidelines there are exceptions. I planed the drawer sides and backs fractionally thicker than
required to allow me to remove all of the shoulder lines markings afterwards. It just gives a cleaner look for the
dovetails.
I decided that having spent so much time on getting the inside of the components perfectly flat and smooth, that I did
not see the benefit then of marking the timber with face side makings. So, having planed them to size, I added all
of the markings onto a piece of 25mm(1") wide masking tape, on the outer surface and not on the inside that would
be usual.
However, because the inner surface had been planed perfectly, that surface was still the datum surface where the
engineers try-square was placed against during the marking out process. I still placed the face edge markings on the
edges.
And these are the typical markings
.My file reference Face side and edge markings 01 scene 5
Web page reference FsFe09
mahogany and three from light brown oak, so I found that I needed additional markings. Although not necessary for
most projects I feel that it is worth mentioning.
Like all rules or guidelines there are exceptions. I planed the drawer sides and backs fractionally thicker than
required to allow me to remove all of the shoulder lines markings afterwards. It just gives a cleaner look for the
dovetails.
I decided that having spent so much time on getting the inside of the components perfectly flat and smooth, that I did
not see the benefit then of marking the timber with face side makings. So, having planed them to size, I added all
of the markings onto a piece of 25mm(1") wide masking tape, on the outer surface and not on the inside that would
be usual.
However, because the inner surface had been planed perfectly, that surface was still the datum surface where the
engineers try-square was placed against during the marking out process. I still placed the face edge markings on the
edges.
And these are the typical markings
.My file reference Face side and edge markings 01 scene 5
Web page reference FsFe09
 |
Most of what you see is self explanatory. Numbers 3 and 4 relate to the relevant joints on the drawer.
Because of the large number of boxes being made I decided that it would be a good idea to have the three boxes at the
bottom of the masking tape.
The centre box when ticked, indicated to me that I had planed the face edge to my satisfaction
Because this was the drawer back, when ticked, the left box indicated that I had planed that edge so that it fitted the
opening to the box, and the right box when ticked, that I had fitted the back accurately to the box opening.
My file reference Face side and edge markings 01 scene 9
Web page reference FsFe10
Because of the large number of boxes being made I decided that it would be a good idea to have the three boxes at the
bottom of the masking tape.
The centre box when ticked, indicated to me that I had planed the face edge to my satisfaction
Because this was the drawer back, when ticked, the left box indicated that I had planed that edge so that it fitted the
opening to the box, and the right box when ticked, that I had fitted the back accurately to the box opening.
My file reference Face side and edge markings 01 scene 9
Web page reference FsFe10
