Is this true

[Wongdai]

I was talking with someone the other day, describing how I was getting some tear out on some of my pieces when I put them through the thicknesser, and he said it was because I was feeding them against the grain.

Is this correct? Are you only meant to feed through the thicknesser with the grain?

[jmk89]

Yes same as a jointer.

[Vernonv]

Yep, ideally you want the grain to be sloping forward and down (for a thicknesser with an overhead cutter).

[elanjacobs]

Definately agree with the previous posts, however, in my experience sharp cutters, slow feed and light cuts (1-3 mm) will handle just about any grain direction or type

[pjt]

and with a helix cutter block can get away with it a bit more