[6bmike]

Sounds like a job for the "Dowels." Dowel work is important. Check out the past threads for details on how to do.

Others can answer the rest of your question better than me, but I found for me, when 'Hitting' the bump to take out the slack lower my hands (not to my hips) on plane perfectly. I due tend to take my hands a bit higher at the top then ideal. I'm working on that, too.

But send in the dowels.