I am making my 2nd set of scales and I am using some 1/8" X 1.5" X 6" peices of wood that I got cut for me. They has some band saw marks on them so I sanded the heck out of them to get them smooth. Is there any easier way to do this. It took forever and the peices aren't perfectly level. Can I use a hand plane for something like this. Never used one before. Is the wood to small already to plane?

Thanks!!