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Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

Posts

Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

#1

Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

Richard Gillespie

>Being a self taught hand plane user isn't all it's cracked up to be. I'm convinced that my teacher is a dummy.

I thought that the lever cap had to be set so that the blade can't move in any direction. So I've been setting it where I can just release the pressure by hand. If I have to grab a screw driver to do it's too tight.

Yesterday, I watched a INTERNET video on hand plane use and was blown away when I saw the demonstrator adjusting both the depth knob and the lateral adjustment lever with the lever cap set. Is that correct? If so, the releasing the lever cap, making adjustments and resetting the lever cap like I've been doing has been totally unnecessary.

How much pressure are others using?

Re: Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

#2

Re: Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

Ted Shuck

>Just enough pressure so that I have to press firmly to close the lever cap. If you are really cranking it down, you could blow out the threads in the frog for the hold down screw or break the lever cap. These parts are just cast iron.

Easy does it...

Ted

Re: Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

#3

Re: Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>I do it like that all the time. It should only take minor pressure to hold down the blade. A source of great knowledge is Jim Kingshott's video: "Handplanes". It's OK to bring a substutite teacher now and again;)

Re: Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

#4

Re: Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

Alan Hamilton

>Richard,

Another vote for "just tight enough."

My situation is worse than your's: not only is my teacher an idiot, so is my student!

Alan

Re: Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

#5

Re: Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

Russell Seaton

>I use quite a bit of pressure on the lever cap. But not so much that the blade adjusting wheel and the lateral adjuster cannot work. I've tried the "not so tight" way and the blade moved up when planing.

Re: Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

#6

Jim in Burlington Ont.

Re: Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

Jim in Burlington Ontario

>Medium pressure is all that's needed. If the blade is chattering usually it's not seated properly or your trying to take to much off. If you go on any courses like Rob Cosman's handplaning see how tight his is set.

Re: Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

#7

Re: Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>I have found that the adjuster has to be on the "extend" part of the travel. Back off the cutter and then sneak it out until it cuts as you would like. The adjuster yoke takes the strain of the blades rearward inertia not the clamping pressure of the levercap. If done this way all of the slack is removed from the linkages and the blade holds the adjustment. JR

Re: Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

#8

Re: Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

Richard Gillespie

>Thanks everyone!

Based on the excellent replies, I was using my planes yesterday on some red oak drawer faces. Not having to release the lever cap every time you make an adjustment has made planning even more enjoyable.

Re: Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

#9

Re: Lever Cap Pressure Setting.

Frank Mutchler in Colorado Springs

>Thanks, Joe...that's a great tip.

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