Shooting board question

[Ron Conlon]

I'm eager to build a shooting board, but have a question that is vexing me. I guess it is geometric in nature. With every pass of the plane along the upper guide, isn't the upper guide getting stock removed as well?
The only other way I can visualize this is that the intended board sticks a bit past the guide board, but then the plane would not be cutting a true 90 degrees as the toe rides up and over the board.
I don't know why these questions pop into my head at 2am and keep me awake...

[Ruston Hughes]

Ron,

I wondered the same thing when I first saw a shooting board. The key is that the sole of the plane is slightly wider than the blade. That little edge of sole outside the blade will ride on the edge of the shooting board and keep the plane from cutting the shooting board any deeper than the depth of cut set on the plane.

Here's a picture from the Cornish Workshop website (www.cornishworkshop.co.uk) that illustrates.

http://www.cornishworkshop.co.uk/album/albums/userpics/10001/shootingboard004.JPG

[Ron Conlon]

Thanks Ruston! That makes perfect sense. I will sleep better tonight.