Hello there, sounds like you've got the wrong end of the sthick.
That's the exact opposite that you need to be doing!
Learn to use the cap iron, and the grain won't get plucked, regardless of grain direction,
Something like this will work, if you can match this profile, that's about 1/64"
I'd shoot for a larger camber like 1/32" if you can get away with it not tearing out the grain.
(If you have a wee bit more work to do)
Attachment 493965
Regarding info on the subject specifically David W on youtube or search Mr Weaver's "Setting a Cap iron article"on woodcentral.
Honestly, there's not much others you can trust, Derek Cohen's a good source for this info either.
Most gurus have vested interests not to show this!, whether that's selling kit or making silly clickbait controversial videos like recently.
Basically ..
1, Just make sure the mouth is NOT SMALL i.e frog should be all the way back flush with casting,
2, The cap iron honed around 50 degrees, steeper means more camber/cap iron can be set further away.
3, Don't set the cap further than 1/32" from the edge, I hope you haven't knocked the corners of the smother you have already.
And you'll never need a scraper again for flat work ever again.
Best of luck with the build
Tom