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how do you square the shank face?

All I can come up with is to use a pin gauge in the mortise while the tail stock puts pressure on one of the small briar squares glued to the stummel.

Use a RH facing tool with a pin gage. No need to use the briar squares in the tailstock necessarily.

If you push the RH facing tool into the shank face without a briar block/tail stock combo, don't just you push the stumble right off the pin?

calsbeek wrote:If you push the RH facing tool into the shank face without a briar block/tail stock combo, don't just you push the stumble right off the pin?

Go in from the side (very light cuts until you're there).

Also, countersink the mortise first to help avoid making contact with the pin.

I never thought to countersink first, but it's pure genius. Thanks for that tidbit of wisdom that just made my life a little easier, George.

Yeah. Just a simple facing operation is all you need. I usually just go low speed and super slow until I touch the pin gage and then ground a tool to help me countersink after the cut. I always have tear out when I try countersinking before facing. That's probably my fault though.

Or file and sandpaper if it is not possible on the lathe due to space limitations.