Fine WoodWorking has a neat little article in the April issue regarding the subject. It covers some less talked about tearout from handplanes, jointers, and planers, etc.

How Woodworkers Tame Tearout

*When I was a young child we would frequently visit my mother's parents in Dillwyn, VA. I remember watching my grandfather work wood for hours on end. He used the water trick quite frequently. Ever present was a cleaned out coffee can full of water with a brush at the ready. Though I was curious I lacked the wherewithal to ask, "Why the water?" This article brought back some nice memories.