OK Daddy_Tindell, you will get a better answer than this.
This is a question begging for questions.
* What kind of wood?
* How long has this wood been sitting around or did you just cut it.
* What are you scrolling?
Wood not properly dried will not take a finish very well.
And I believe as wood dries, it shrinks in size.
In my humble opinion, you can plane it whenever you want.
A few monthe drying for new wood and ever once in a while test cut a piece.
Do you hace a lumber mill near by? They could test moisture content
and tell you when it is cured