Timber Framers Guild Forums Tools Tool Forum What to look for in a slick? Which one to get?

I share Timbeal's feeling that a large slick with a long handle is easy enough to use low or high - on vertical faces. Horizontal planing is easier at a high level, but I can kneel if necessary.

As to working height in general, I benefitted from a trip to Plimoth Plantation and a good conversation with a re-enactor who was ax-hewing timbers there. His working position was to have one foot on the ground, and the other foot hooked under him onto the log in a semi-kneeling/squatting manner. In effective his own weight locked him to the log and I sure it steadied his accuracy on the vertical down strokes.

I mention this because it was lower working height for the log/timber than I had been using previously when hewing. "Just above the knee" as mentioned above. Maybe that relates somehow to the joinery question.