The Squaring Sequence: Face, Edge, Thickness, Width, Length

Rough lumber becomes precision stock through a specific sequence of operations. Skip a step or rearrange the order, and you’ll chase errors throughout your project. The squaring sequence, face, edge, thickness, width, length, has been refined by generations of woodworkers. Follow it exactly.

Step One: Reference Face

Nothing else works until you have one perfectly flat surface. This reference face becomes the foundation for every subsequent operation. Every measurement, every machine setup, refers back to this surface.

On the jointer, take light passes until the entire face shows fresh cut marks. Use your hand to feel for any slight humps or hollows. The surface must be flat in length, flat in width, and free of twist. Mark this face clearly so you never lose track of your reference.

Step Two: Reference Edge

With the reference face against the jointer fence, create a perfectly straight edge at 90 degrees to the face. This edge becomes your second reference surface, establishing the board in two planes.

Check the result with a reliable square. The edge must be perpendicular to the face along its entire length. Any deviation here multiplies through every piece you cut from this board.

Mark this edge as well, often with a second leg of the triangle symbol. The face and edge markings together tell you how to orient the board for every future operation.

Step Three: Thickness

The planer creates the second face, parallel to your reference face. Run the board with the reference face down on the planer bed. The cutterhead machines the rough top surface, creating a parallel plane.

Don’t try to reach final thickness in one pass. Take off 1/16 inch per pass for optimal results. Aggressive cuts cause snipe and leave rougher surfaces. Let the machine work at its own pace.

Remember that the planer doesn’t flatten; it parallels. Any remaining distortion in your reference face will be copied to the opposite face. This is why Step One must be done perfectly.

Step Four: Width

With thickness established, rip the board to final width. Run the reference edge against the table saw fence, placing the waste on the outside of the blade. The reference edge stays intact while you establish the final width.

This newly cut edge may show slight blade marks or be fractionally out of square. A single light pass on the jointer cleans it up. Keep the width pass minimal to avoid significantly reducing your final dimension.

Step Five: Length

Length comes last because crosscuts release internal stress. A board that was straight when ripped may spring slightly after crosscutting. By cutting length last, any such movement happens after all the critical dimensions are locked in.

Use a miter saw or crosscut sled for square ends. The reference edge runs against the fence, ensuring the cut is perpendicular to your established surfaces. Verify squareness with a combination square on both faces.

Why This Order Matters

The sequence builds upon itself. Each step creates a reference for the next. Attempting to establish width before thickness, for instance, would give you a board of precise width but unknown thickness. Crosscutting before ripping might leave you with a piece too narrow after the rip cut straightens a bowed edge.

Experienced woodworkers follow this sequence automatically. Beginners should consciously work through each step, verifying the result before proceeding. The discipline becomes habit, and the habit produces consistently accurate stock.

Batch Processing

When dimensioning multiple boards, process all of them through each step before moving to the next. Face all the boards, then edge all the boards, then thickness all at once. This reduces setup changes and ensures consistency across matching pieces.

Good projects start with square, flat, dimensioned stock. The joinery comes later, but it depends entirely on this preparatory work. Invest the time here, and your joints will fit the first time.