Hello Everyone,
I think I'm flunking Planing 101. I bought a Bosch 1594K planer to plane some rough-sawn cedar. Should I be able to run 3-1/4" rows down a long board (8" wide) without leaving a line showing the path of each run? Essentially, should I be able to get the surface near-perfectly smooth? Even if I plane at, say 1/64", and overlap, I always leave a "plane line." Of course, I can sand it smooth. But I would like to develop a little skill.

you're going to have to sand it no matter how you do it. Planing with the grain will leave ridges, as you already know,
try this instead
First sharpen the plane blade, a blade out of the box isn't sharp enough. You can find out the proper proceedure for sharpening on line. Next, instead of going with the grain, go at a diagonal, taking a minimal bite. This will get the board even, and pretty smooth, then , and there is no way out of it, you're going to have to sand. Or, you can always buy a stationary planer for about $300 - $600 Thats the best way.
There are other ways, such as scraping, but this will wear you out quickly

This message has been edited. Last edited by: nona,

Thanks, Nona. That idea of going diagonal is intriguing. If leaving ridges means I'm doing a clumsy job, then I need to correct it. If leaving ridges is inevitable, then I'm good. It's not that I mind doing some sanding. I just want to learn to "do it right" and get the best possible results. Thanks, again.

removing any noticeable amount of wood from a planing at less than plank width will always leave a ridge. ridges can be hard to clear away, since that deep a cut is not only going to leave a little roughness periodically if the grain opens up, but experience told me that you can't push a plane, power or not, in a straight line to save your soul.

that's where the 12, 15, and open-arm plank planers come in.

that is also where pulling in the blade a little and taking just a thin curl off your surface with the handheld comes in. you are less likely to cut grooves and dips that way as your pressure comes and goes on the tool, and it's easier to sand it smooth.