Q:

When do I use a nicker on my rabbet plane, and how do I set it up?

Ryan Matthews, Parma, OH

A:

The nicker, or cutting spur, is designed to sever the fibers ahead of the blade, making for clean cuts across the grain. It is especially important when cutting joinery by hand, such as rabbets or even raising panels. For the spur to do its job properly, it needs to line up perfectly with the side of the blade; otherwise, you’ll get some tearout across the grain or a sliver of wood left between the blade and spur. To check and adjust the alignment, lay a steel rule across both surfaces and move the blade sideways as needed. The cutting depth of the spur is less critical. If yours is adjustable, set it just below the deepest cut you are likely to take. If not, it’s probably fine and you won’t need to worry about it.

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