>I haven't sworn off the big iron and dustmakers yet, but, after watching some pretty good woodworkers do with a plane in 20 seconds what would take me 2 minutes to set up, I am tempted to meddle in the dark arts. The problem is that I know exactly nothing about planes and other basic hand woodworking tools. I don't know a block plane from a smoothing plane, and will not be insulted if your replies are very basic.
Just for curiosity, and $$$ consideration, just what should a beginner look for in terms of tools for planing surfaces, end grain, etc.? How much $$$ would one need to spend to come up with servicable, decent quality tools?
My immediate needs (wants?) would be to take the surface or edge of a board down a bit, or to smooth up a dovetail or box joint. What would you recommend to do this? I'm not sure I know enough to recognize a decent used tool, or how to set it up.
Sorry for the rambling, but you probably get the idea by now. Any advice would be appreciated.
>A good reference book that has a lot of information about the various types of planes available, is The HandPlane Book by Garret Hack. When you start buying planes, there are two ways you can go. You can start off fairly cheaply with Stanley, Record, and other manufacturers purchased at flea markets and garage sales. This is affectionately known as "bottom feeding". That is where I started. Then you need to learn how to clean, tune and sharpen. Look to the menus on the left side of the screen for the WoodCentral articles. In the handtool section of this page are articles on tuning and sharpening of handplanes. Or, if you want to purchase brand new, look at planes from either Lee Valley or Lie-Nielsen. The dollar investment scale goes low end - flea market, middle of the road - Lee Valley, highend - Lie-Nielsen.
>You came here didn't you? I think I know you well enough to know you are an instant gratification type of guy so I will suggest new. You are going to need a block plane I will suggest the LN
60 1/2 R block plane more than you need now but you will grow in to it. You will also need a jointer try a Knight Razzie jointer to save a couple $. I don't want to get in to smoothers right now as there are to many to choose from.
No one I know about ever emerged from the womb knowing how to use hand tools--though I have run across one or two that thought they had.
Anyway: I'll second the advice that you read Garrett Hack's The Handplane Book. Before you can make any kind of intelligent decision on what to buy, you have to make yourself an informed consumer. Asking around can help; but you're the only expert on your needs, your expectations, your willingness to remove rust, your wants...and so on.
So read, ask questions, experiment, and become one who need not ask "what ought I get first/next..."
>Haven't you heard Bo? (Diddly that is and not Bo knows;) Lot's of good info commong your way. Here's a bit more, go to the link listed and start reading.
If your starting out get one new plane and play with it. A nice somewhat low cost plane is the Veritas block plane:
>2 things you need to know technique described nicely in Garrett Hacks book and how to make your tools sharp Leonard Lee's book. I like LV low angle block plane and the Low angle smoother very easy to understand and get some good useable serivce.
>Thanks for the replies and e-mails so far. I really appreciate them.
I have taken some advice already - I ordered Heck's book on planes and Leonard Lee's book on sharpening (needed that one anyhow). I'll take the advice and read up a bit before I plunk down my hard earned toy money.
Thanks again. And any other hand tool advice will be gladly received (as will advice on how to deal with still another "And just why did you need that...whatever it is?" question from my Sweetie Pie).
>go to the library, check out every book you can find on the subject, and read read read, is what I always suggest. This is basically a very simple business whose subtleties can occupy the rest of your life.
Many "intro to woodworking" books have basic toolkit recommendations, all slightly different, but you can't go wrong with the basic kit suggested. Peter Korn did a nice book, whose name escapes me; other members of this community suggest other books.
My Sweetie Pie suggestion: get her involved in a craft with equally expensive tools, and you'll never hear another peep.
>I don't think many of us consider ourselves on the dark side. We're more enlightened, and physically use electricity for lights, radio, music, really quite advanced.
Since it seems that your goal is to enhance an already productive woodworking hobby, I don't think your cash outlay needs to be too high. In your first post you mention wanting a plane(s) to clean up dovetails and box joints. I assume you mean trimming off a bit of overhanging end grain; which points toward a low angle plane (which plane may depend on the size of your projects). My guess is that a low angle block plane is a good start for the endgrain work. Both Lie Nielson and Lee Valley (i.e. Veritas) planes get very good reviews. You may eventually want a shoulder plane for fine tuning tenons. Again, LN and LV both get good reviews. As far as smoothing planes, the field is a bit larger with devoted users of anything from old woodies to new woodies; from common Stanley/Baileys to modern low angle smoothers. And let's not even get into the infill smoothers.
Is the "neo" in your email address Northeast Ohio? If so, I've heard great things about Conover Studios in Parkman and they offer classes on all sorts of handtool woodworking (see link).
Anyway, best of luck and welcome to the quiet side.
Cheers,
Mike - whose personal preference is tools that have been around the block a few dozen times
Disclaimer: Everything I know about woodworking I learned off of the internet so the above advice is mostly armchair quarterbacking. :-)
>Joe Jim Kingshott's bench plane& speical plane video's are very imforitive.He shows you how to set up your plane wich could be helpful referance.Good luck it's a very slippery slope! Jerry
