Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
How to Use Planes
Aaron Klassen
>I'm really new to using hand tools and I would like to learn more. I have been looking on the net for some basic instruction on how to use hand planes of all sorts with no luck. Since no question is a bad question I thought I would ask here. Does anyone know of good internet sites that would give me the information I need? Secondly, what are the titles and/or authors of really good informational books?
Thanks
Re: How to Use Planes
Michael Campbell
>"the handplane book" by garrett hack is required reading.
Re: How to Use Planes
Deadblow
>The Handplane Book and Old Tools are available as a boxed set at Amazon for around $28 bucks. Softcover, but a great deal.
Re: How to Use Planes *LINK*
Frank Mutchler
>Hi Aaron! Here's a good place to start. What type of plane(s) are you trying to use? For what purpose? Try picking up a copy of "The Handplane Book" by Garrett Hack. I'm sure many others will chime in with suggestions. You also might use the search facility here & read some of the previous threads addressing planes and their use.
Jeff Gorman's Plane Page
Re: How to Use Planes *LINK*
Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA
>1. Besides "The Handplane Book", I highly recommend "Planecraft," available from Woodcraft (one of Wood Central's sponsors - go to the home page, see link below, and scroll down until you find them listed at the left, about halfway down; I think Ellis Wallentine, Wood Central's host and organizer, gets credit or points or something if you link through here). "Planecraft," at about $10.00 plus shipping, may be one of the true woodworking bargains of all time. It's a British book, an early informercial for Record planes, but good in spite of its not so subtle touting of their product line.
2. Consider your local library, too; while "Planecraft" is not likely to be there, you may find "The Handplane Book," as well as Peter Korn's "The Woodworker's Guide to Hand Tools," a nice general book -- planes, while marvelous, are not the only hand tools you'll want to learn how to use if you're getting interested.
3. Once you've absorbed the basics, nothing beats practice. Get some pine or poplar, learn to sharpen the plane iron (aka cutter or blade, but "iron" is the official old-timer's term), and make shavings until you're comfortable, before starting a project.
4. Let me emphasize sharpness again. A dull iron will frustrate you beyond belief; a sharp one is about 50% of competent use of a plane.
http://www.woodcentral.com/
Side question of fellow Islanders
Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA
>Aaron, please forgive me for hijacking this thread, sort of.
We seem to attract about one or two beginners a week who ask how to get started. I, for one, think this is a Great Thing, as it adds to the pool of potential hand tool users. Would it be worthwhile for someone to write an article listing basic books, tips, etc., for getting started?
Re: Side question of fellow Islanders
Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL
>Handtoolwise, I am not much more than a beginner myself, but I agree with you.
I think that the first two points should be:
What do you want to do?
You must learn to sharpen!
Re: Side question of fellow Islanders
Aaron Klassen
>I think that an article or two would be very helpful. There doesn't seem to be a lot of reading material on the net on this topic, or the topic of beginner hand tool use. I think it has been taken for granted that people know how to use these things when that is not the case.
Re: My version of an FAQ
paul womack
>I put this together a while back.
As an aside, the Hack book is a very nice if you adore planes, but I (unlike others, apparently) wouldn't recommend it as an introductory text.
BugBear