Choosing and Sharpening Block Planes for Skin on Frame Boatbuilding

Not the most exciting video, but a very important one. In this video we take a complete tour of available low angle block plane options and sharpening systems to show you how to get razor sharp result on a reasonable budget.

[@Nomadboatbuilding]

Solid information across the board Brian. One small correction though. The Shapton glass stones have a thin ceramic stone bonded onto a glass plate. Not particles bonded to the surface as with diamond stones. And warning to anywho tries them - DO NOT SOAK THEM IN WATER! The ceramic surface will swell up and trash the stone. Getting them wet during use is fine. I found this out the hard way as I leave all my water stones soaking all the time. Happily Lee Valley replaced it for me because those glass stones ar F***n expensive! I keep my stones flat by rubbing one against the next a few times every time I sharpen and once in a while, hit them with a diamond stone for good measure. I use a somewhat different method than you but anyway you get your tools to the sharpness you need is a perfectly legit method to use. This one is probably the best for the new woodworker to wrap their head around and yield solid results. I used it for many years before drifting to a different freehand method. Great stuff Brian. Sidenote - Wet/dry paper is intended to be pre-soaked for a while before use. I have no idea if it makes any difference though.

[@capefalconkayak]

@@Nomadboatbuilding thanks for the correction about the glass stone!

[@stiniusdahl9789]

Great video Brian. I use Calibration Fluid instead of water when sharpening. No fear of rusting.

[@svpearlsailacapegeorgesail4758]

Hi Brian, I was looking for your Amazon link for the stones? Thanks for the video, sharpening my block plane was on my to do list!

[@capefalconkayak]

Looks like I totally failed on putting any of the links. I said I was going to put into the description. Liz is on vacation so I’m pretty useless as far as the technology side of things goes. if you go to our website and click on the resources tab and then go down to where it says tools list on that page you’ll find a link to the Amazon list. Thanks for supporting us!

[@jimbobgypson3006]

As a total newbie (getting ready to make a Greenland paddle) without a chop saw or any real woodworking experience, how do you recommend making the little blocks for setting the angle? Any other method for setting the angle? Thanks!