When away from the shop, and wishing to plane a stick which has beveled ends, and having no means at hand of resting the bevel against anything without crushing the point, simply cut a short piece, slightly thinner than the work, to approximately the same bevel. Drive a nail at right angles to the bevel till it protrudes one-fourth or three-eighths, bend this parallel with the edges of the piece, and then bend the head of the nail down flush with the stick. This last bend prevents the nail turning. Nail this piece to a step, sill, or floor, rest the end of the piece to be planed against the nail point, which acts precisely like a bench dog, and the piece may be firmly held.

Fig. 68 - Handy planing dog.