Choosing the Right Block Plane

Every woodworker needs a block plane. Take a look at the many varieties that have been made over the years and keep an eye out for at least one of these indispensabe handtools.
Visit: www.blackburnbooks.com to view books. To order, call 845-430-3417 or email [e-mail]
Call 845-430-3417 or email [e-mail] to enquire about and sign up for individual and small group lessons in Woodstock NY.

[@thomashverring9484]

You are building an invaluable library of videos, Graham. It's such a treat to all woodworkers that you've decided to continue your tireless work of spreading the good word of woodworking. I quite honestly feel lucky that you are making this resource which should be available for many, many years to come (hopefully indefinitely, but who knows how KZbin and the internet works in the future). I haven't missed a single of these videos! And reading your books too makes it even better! So thank you!

[@gjbmunc]

Good to hear!

[@patrickbaum5053]

Last week I ordered and received all five volumes of Mr. Blackburn’s woodworking books, which are as delightful and educational as the man himself. Highly recommended. Thank you for these treasures, Mr. Blackburn!

[@brhino1017]

Where did you order them from? I only have one of his books, "Woodworking Hand tools." Fantastic book!

[@gjbmunc]

Wow, thank you!

[@GreenSaxon]

Very interesting watch. Thank you

[@raccoons_stole_my_account]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, sir!

[@gjbmunc]

My pleasure!

[@rocquemotta]

Another great video, down to the ground, and straight to the point. Congratulations from Brazil.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks!

[@MCsCreations]

Fantastic as always, Graham! Thanks a lot for another lesson! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks, you too!

[@OORAH659]

Thanks for your information on traditional tools and how to use them. Since I was younger my family where woodworkers, but I was not introduced to the art. I picked it up from people like you. ... OORAH!! 🔰

[@gjbmunc]

Glad it was helpful!

[@chrisu5090]

Thank you for another interesting video. The best parts of these are the little tips such as why to keep the mouth opening as narrow as possible to avoid tear out.

[@gjbmunc]

You are so welcome!

[@nickmastro9287]

I always look forward to watching your videos. Very good presentation on block planes.

[@gjbmunc]

Glad you like them!

[@user-io9ln1or7c]

Thank you Sir.🎉

[@gjbmunc]

Most welcome

[@michaelmcdermott2178]

Wonderful, down to earth presentation. Thank you!

[@gjbmunc]

You're very welcome!

[@deansimpson3231]

Thanks, your knowledge and willingness to share is very helpful. So many times it is assumed that concepts of woodworking are common knowledge. You don’t make any assumptions. I really appreciate your approach!

[@gjbmunc]

Glad it was helpful!

[@richardwilliamswilliams]

Good afternoon from Copperhill Tn.

[@gjbmunc]

Hello there!

[@LightraysPhotography]

Thank you

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome

[@cybodog]

Thanks Graham. I have enjoyed your videos and your books.

[@gjbmunc]

Glad you like them!

[@slomkaadas9603]

Again, thank you Sir for your knowledge

[@gjbmunc]

Always welcome

[@nobuckle40]

Thank you Mr. Blackburn.

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome!

[@pettere8429]

A request for the audio editing: would it be possible to boost the volume of Graham's voice? It is rather low compared to the tool noises and the commercials.

[@gjbmunc]

Yep, I keep working on this. Hopefully a better mmike will help.

[@pettere8429]

@@gjbmunc or placing your current mike closer to your mouth could be a good start. Top edge of the apron or the strap(?) that holds the apron.

[@johnford7847]

Thank you very much. As usual, interesting and informative.

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome!

[@RYwoodview]

Wonderful presentation. Thank you, Graham! I just saw that I have 4 block planes, for no known reason, each one different. Now I'll understand the differences.

[@gjbmunc]

Great. Have fun!

[@CandidZulu]

Thank you Sir, this clears things up! I have noticed that in German these are called Hirnholzhobel, meaning "end grain plane". In Swedish they are called Stöthyvel. Stöt means to push, and is the equivalent word for "shooting" in this instance. A shooting board is called a stötlåda, meaning "push-box". So I assumed block planes were sort of a pair to this device.

[@gjbmunc]

I'll remember this the next time I go to Sweden. BTW I lived in Germany for a while and know all about Stirnholz for example!

[@WillyBemis]

Thank you!!

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome!

[@roman_le]

Thank you Graham! These small planes are handy for small jobs like chamfering.

[@gjbmunc]

Exactly!

[@adevwco7013]

Excellent, thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@gjbmunc]

My pleasure!

[@pitsnipe5559]

Great lesson on my favorite plane. Have a very basic Stanley block plane I bought at a hardware store 40 years ago, still a great tool.

[@gjbmunc]

Good to hear!

[@dpmeyer4867]

thanks

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome!

[@onehandedmaker]

I love my block plane!! A joy to watch your videos. Your workshop makes a great backdrop in the videos as well. Always inspiring and I admire your imagination to keep coming up with great ideas. Well done. One Handed Maker - Australia

[@gjbmunc]

Many thanks!

[@Unownerdead]

I always struggled to use a shooting board on end grain with a 4 or even a 5 plane, mostly because it's so uncomfortable to hold, but it also just didn't cut well. I also never used my block plane much, because I figured my 4 would always work better. But when I finally tried the block plane on my shooting board, I saw the light! Cuts better and is much more comfortable to hold! You lose some width on your cuts, but it still works for most boards. I'd highly recommend it!

[@gjbmunc]

Great!

[@Festus171]

Excellent as usual! I never knew why they were called Block Planes; what an interesting source of name. I have an old Stanley Sweet 16 block plane, and I struggle with getting it set so that the palm/lever cap doesn't pop off at inopportune times, even with that annoying attribute it works amazingly well in all situations.

[@gjbmunc]

Right on

[@HeavyOpera1]

Hi Graham. Thank you for the videos. They are invaluable. I enjoy the way you present the information and appreciate the depth of content. I ALWAYS want to drop what I’m doing and go to my bench after watching…. One request: could you do a video about planing very thin stock? Or working with thin stock in general? I find it very frustrating, and have a difficult time getting stock a consistent thickness. Mainly, this is a question of how best to hold it all down. Very grateful if you would address it. Thank you

[@gjbmunc]

Interesting question. I guess it depends on how thin is thin. One thought , if it's very thin, might be to use a scraper (or a scraper plane).

[@user-ly4so3yg7l]

👍

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks.

[@slushpuppy6991]

Hi Mr Graham. I just happened across your channel recently and enjoy it immensely! I wanted to ask if you had any videos regarding tear out, especially on more figured wood or wood grain direction changing. I usually just fall back on my scrapering cards when this happens however when building a large table top and flattening I ran into quite the tear out problem. Thanks for the great content!

[@gjbmunc]

Yes I have.Check out episode five.

[@bakerzermatt]

What do you think of the argument, that block planes are more for carpentry, for conveniently having a plane in your pocket (say for trimming a drawer on a jobsite). Thanks for the great video!

[@gjbmunc]

Good point, but I still find mine useful for furnituremaking.

[@JasonEdwardsPhotography]

I've been wondering what the lever was on the front off my vintage stanley 9.5. It's like the first plane you showed. In fact I was going to ask you in the comments. Thanks.

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome!

[@LightraysPhotography]

thank you that was very useful. I've been given two planes and had the blade sharpened but I notice the feet on both are not flat. How do I flatten them?

[@gjbmunc]

retract the blade, and lap the sole on coarse emery cloth stuck to a piece of plate glass untill you see scratches on the entire sole.

[@pfswalter]

Good afternoon Graham just watch this video on block planes I have an assortment of planes from steel to wood and transitional just wondering if you had a transitional block plane to show. Thanks

[@gjbmunc]

Actually never did have or come across a transitional block plane. I'll keep looking.

[@estevecostamasmitja6465]

Hola i gràcies per les classes mestre. Els seus llibres estan traduits a l'espanyol? Gràcies

[@gjbmunc]

Lo siento. Tal vez un día.

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

It is NOT perfectly square. Ever. Nothing is. Everything has tolerances. (Perfect is a Platonic ideal). When talking about blade angle, it is quite important to note that most block planes are bevel up. It is the cutting angle that matters, rather than the iron angle. Perhaps you should have covered this?

[@gjbmunc]

Of course. It's hard to get everything in - and indeed nothing is perfect!

[@ga5743]

Thank you

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome