Thanks guys! I need all the help and encouragement I can get. I just finished my first raised panels. Tenons are not the prettiest, small gaps due to me not sawing square. Lesson learned. Practice makes perfect right? I have decided I need a shooting board though. On Derek's site he showed a few examples and I think I can throw together a simple one with scraps. I even have some countertop laminate.
Question, will leather suffice or should I make wooden jaws? I'm leaning towards yes. I dropped my tiny vise down a tap and had wooden jaws that were level with top and it has worked out great. Hit the jaws a time or two and all is good.