I feel like woodworking used to carry a heavy stigma: you weren't considered a "real" woodworker unless you were exclusively using traditional hand tools—planes, chisels, and perfectly executed hand-cut dovetails. Honestly, that probably wasn't ever true. But nowadays, the gatekeeping has shifted. It seems like the barrier in the back of people's minds is the assumption that you need to spend thousands of dollars on heavy-duty machinery to even start woodworking. Let me tell

​ Whether you are running a heavy-duty cabinet shop workhorse or a portable job-site machine, getting glassy, flawless results straight out of the thickness planer is the ultimate goal. However, dealing with snipe, tear-out, and feeding issues can quickly turn expensive hardwood into scrap. ​Fortunately, you don't need to buy a massive new machine to get professional results. Here are five highly effective tips to improve the cut quality on your planer, regardless of its size