In general, a safe rule to follow in each case is to plane up the piece true and square, or, in technical language, to "true" it up.

At least as many of its surfaces should be trued as are necessary for the "lay out." Where the piece is to be rectangular all the surfaces should be true; where some of the surfaces are to be curved it is unnecessary and a waste of time to square them first.

For example, in making a gouged tray with curved outline, Fig.

270, the working face, the working edge, and the thickness should all be true before the plan is laid out.

Then, after the outline is drawn, the trough may be gouged, the outline cut with turning-saw, chisel, and spokeshave, and the edges molded with the gouge or chisel.