diff --git a/mine.lua b/mine.lua
index 1265810..75fdafe 100644
--- a/mine.lua
+++ b/mine.lua
@@ -8,15 +8,11 @@ mode.mine = { forward = true }
 local block = {}
 
 function mineSides ()
-    if mode.mine.left then
-        turtle.turnLeft()
-        turtle.dig()
-        turtle.turnRight()
+    if mode.mine.up then
+        turtle.digUp()
     end
-    if mode.mine.right then
-        turtle.turnRight()
-        turtle.dig()
-        turtle.turnLeft()
+    if mode.mine.down then
+        turtle.digDown()
     end
 end
 
@@ -40,7 +36,6 @@ function moveUpDown (delta)
         end
         turtle.up()
         delta = delta - 1
-        -- mineSides()
     end
     while delta < 0 do
         if mode.mine.forward then
@@ -48,7 +43,6 @@ function moveUpDown (delta)
         end
         turtle.down()
         delta = delta + 1
-        -- mineSides()
     end
 end
 
@@ -154,55 +148,38 @@ function generateNextSteps (w, l)
             -- Algorithm:
             -- 1. mine l blocks in the y-direction
             next_step = { x = 0, y = DIRECTION.Y * column_len }
-            next_step.mine = { forward = true, left = true, right = true }
-            if remaining_width == 2 then
-                local delta = DIRECTION.Y + DIRECTION.X
-                if delta == 0 then
-                    next_step.mine.right = false
-                else
-                    next_step.mine.left = false
-                end
-            elseif remaining_width == 1 then
-                next_step.mine.left = false
-                next_step.mine.right = false
-            end
             table.insert(step_buffer, next_step)
 
-            -- setup position for next minePlane
-            if remaining_width == 1 and math.abs(w) > 1 then
-                next_step = { x = -DIRECTION.X, y = 0 }
-                next_step.mine = {}
-                table.insert(step_buffer, next_step)
-            end
-
             DIRECTION.Y = -DIRECTION.Y
 
-            remaining_width = remaining_width - 3
+            remaining_width = remaining_width - 1
 
             next_step = { x = 0, y = 0 }
-            next_step.mine = { forward = true }
-            if remaining_width >= 3 then
-                -- 2. go in x-direction to mine a 3-wide column
-                next_step.x = DIRECTION.X * 3
-                table.insert(step_buffer, next_step)
-            elseif remaining_width > 0 then
-                -- or move for a finishing pass
-                next_step.x = DIRECTION.X * 2
+            if remaining_width > 0 then
+                -- 2. go in the x direction for the next y-sweep
+                next_step.x = DIRECTION.X
                 table.insert(step_buffer, next_step)
             end
         end
         next_step = table.remove(step_buffer, 1)
-        return next_step.x, next_step.y, next_step.mine
+        return next_step.x, next_step.y
     end
 end
 
-function minePlane (w, l)
+function minePlane (w, l, h)
     -- mine a plane starting from the current location l blocks in the
     -- y-direction and w blocks in the x-direction
-    print(string.format("Mining a plane of %d by %d", w, l))
+    -- print(string.format("Mining a plane of %d by %d by %d", w, l, h))
     mode.mine = { forward = true }
-    for x, y, mine in generateNextSteps(w, l) do
-        mode.mine = mine
+    if h == 1 then
+        mode.mine.up = true
+    elseif h == -1 then
+        mode.mine.down = true
+    elseif h ~= 0 then
+        mode.mine.up = true
+        mode.mine.down = true
+    end
+    for x, y in generateNextSteps(w, l) do
         -- print(string.format("Moving %d, %d relative to current pos.",
         --     x, y))
         moveAndCheck(x, y, 0)
@@ -214,41 +191,39 @@ function mine (block)
     if turtle.getFuelLevel() < 100 then turtle.refuel(8) end
     mode.mine = { forward = true }
     moveAbs(block.x, block.y, block.z)
-    -- Set up for next plane
-    -- 1. move in if necessary
-    local width = math.abs(block.xoff) + 1
-    local x_dir
-    if block.xoff < 0 then x_dir = -1 else x_dir = 1 end
-    if width > 2 then
-        move(x_dir, 0, 0)
-    end
-    -- Start mining planes
-    local h_remaining = function ()
-        return math.abs(block.z + block.zoff - mode.z)
-    end
-    -- initial pass without moving down
-    minePlane(block.xoff, block.yoff)
     local z_dir
     if block.zoff > 1 then z_dir = 1 else z_dir = -1 end
-    while h_remaining() > 0 do
+    local remaining_h = math.abs(block.z + block.zoff - mode.z) + 1
+    -- Initial pass; leave remaining_h at a nice multiple of 3
+    local excess = remaining_h % 3
+    if excess > 0 then
+        minePlane(block.xoff, block.yoff, (excess - 1) * z_dir)
+        remaining_h = remaining_h - excess
+    else
+        move(0, 0, z_dir)
+        minePlane(block.xoff, block.yoff, 3)
+        remaining_h = remaining_h - 3
+    end
+    -- Start mining planes
+    while remaining_h > 0 do
         -- calculate orientation of next plane
         local w, l
         if mode.y == block.y then
-            turnToFace(FORWARD)
             l = block.yoff
         else
-            turnToFace(BACK)
             l = -block.yoff
         end
         local diff_from_start = math.abs(mode.x - block.x)
         -- print(string.format("Distance from start: %d", diff_from_start))
-        if diff_from_start > 1 and width > 3 then
-            w = -block.xoff
-        else
+        if mode.x == block.x then
             w = block.xoff
+        else
+            w = -block.xoff
         end
-        move(0, 0, z_dir)
-        minePlane(w, l)
+        -- move down into the new plane and mine it
+        move(0, 0, z_dir * 3)
+        minePlane(w, l, 3)
+        remaining_h = remaining_h - 3
     end
 end