How To Use and Tune Up a Hand Plane

In this latest episode of Fine WOodworking magazine's video series Getting Started in Woodworking we go in depth on the subject of hand planes. Find out how they work and how to tune one up. Visit www.FineWoodwor... for more woodworking technique videos.

[@jeffreyhopkins424]

Thanks so much for this vid. I picked up an inexpensive block plane a couple weeks ago, and tried it out. I had no idea how to set it up properly. And now, even without having sharpened it, it was SO easy to smooth some edges, strip off the outer stained layers of some faces, and do a really nice chamfer. Appreciate you guys sharing all this expertise!

[@BEEBEE159]

Great video. The last guy explaining how to tune the plane did a wonderful job. Now I know how to tune a plane. I was somewhat confused until I watched this video. Thank you very much.

[@noonedude101]

That guy's voice is freaking hypnotizing. I came here looking for something totally different. I don't even work with wood that often. And I kept watching. And adding it to favorites.

[@edmateaux]

this is going to help me set a higher standard of looking after and maintaining my tools. I bought a Stanley block plane years ago and it did not work, the blade would never contact surfaces....mainely timber surfaces lol, and now i know why. Tthis was very usefull to me, your videos on you tube are helping chippys even all the way in little new zealand, cheers matey!

[@monkeyxx]

impressive attention to detail! I had no idea this could be so precise

[@TheZeldaGuy905]

This video is a W. Thanks!

[@saurios]

Excelente. Acabo de adquirir uno exactamente igual a ese. Seguiré tus consejos para dejarlo en mejor condicion

[@738polarbear]

Excellent tutorial for novices .It doesnt get any better than this.

[@alangilbert-voss7379]

Really helpful video which I have followed to set up my Faithfull block planes.

[@sirgreggins8824]

Do you ever use honing oil or water while lapping, or keep it dry?

[@christianbrotherspaintingi6821]

Thank you sooo much! Just getting started in this awesome hobby, and really looking forward to tuning my plane!!!!

[@greyhall1]

Excellent video! Thank you for offering it to us.

[@Rstan4]

Nice video, woodworking is so fun. I'll keep my tools really tight now.

[@patbassman8251]

Hi do you have any tips on how i might sort a problem of the mouth being too big on my new block plane , I bought a thinker iron but still its too large .

[@zonkozonko]

@stewartx5 I am a woodworker so I am not sure of the technique but is there not a way of which you coat two surfaces with "Engineers Blue" and rub them together?

[@larissaking7754]

This is how you make something simple of what would seem to be hard. Remembers me about Hyezmar’s woodworking plan which can be found online, have a good one!

[@elleogdenleon3406]

What kind (brand/strength) of spray adhesive did they use?

[@kateomalley8645]

Great demonstration

[@Lemev]

What kind of wax did he use in the end? Thanks.

[@synapse131]

@zonkozonko Oh yes it does. My old plane ('80s Craftsman #4) that I inherited was scooped out and scratched at the nose and behind the throat through the center section of the plane body from previous years of planing. Every stroke takes microscopic amounts of iron off the plane body and over time, it adds up. Of course it depends on how much one uses the plane but it can happen quicker than you think.

[@jromhek2070]

Great explanation , Thanks a lot .

[@AMMW77]

can a hand planer be used on cedar wood?

[@bgraham111]

@TheSmackerlacker Check out Techshop. They did that already. Also, an alternative are all the hackerspaces that are out there. They have some cool tools. Expensive however.

[@sirgreggins8824]

i did this same process for my smoothing plane and sharpened the blade but i'm getting crazy chatter. Any thoughts?

[@manolostern1779]

Muy muy interesante, aplicare una rectificación similar a mí block plane... Gracias.

[@GlitchGarage]

Great Video

[@marangov3]

what a great video

[@johncannata4703]

So I just crazy glued all my 60 grit sand paper to my granite kitchen counter top..... I forgot the next step... any tips???

[@apatientspider]

Something else about deflection. Even if the granite or glass plate is flat, sheet abrasives can give slightly due to their soft paper or cloth backing. This can leave the sole of the plane slightly curved side to side. Files and scrapers are a better way to flatten.

[@snakefinger]

NICE !

[@FLORINOID]

@KrokFryedRyce IS IT STANLEY BAILEY HAND PLANE A GOOD PLANE?

[@dawg1157]

@Lemev He used the term "paste wax" but he's using bees wax. Probably natural beeswax wood finish. He also mentions parafin wax which I guess could work too.

[@nilsjevivderilsje]

Something with a motor is certainly faster and probably more accurate, but it's not as fun. For me, anyway. I love hand tools and I love nothing more than going outside on a nice cool breezy day and going at small wood projects outside with hand tools. More relaxing than lounging in a hammock.

[@dawg1157]

@DYINGDAZED Two problems I have with your reply. First off, I went over that whole section of the vid and nowhere on the container does it specificly say "Johnson Paste Wax" in fact, Johnson Paste Wax is packaged in a giant yellow container...Second, he actually says in the vid "This is beeswax im using"...unless he himself is wrong about the wax he's using.

[@XaBadMojoX]

Pardon please for being way off topic. I just purchased, on Ebay for $57, an old USA made Stanley #4 with the number 465 on it. I know nothing about planes, so I would like to know if this is a good buy. Thanks in Advance. Ken.

[@darren314]

good info

[@hammerofharpel]

Great tips thank you.

[@StealthWoodworks]

Make sure the bevel of the blade is up/down for the proper direction of your plane(they can be either way). Considering you're getting chatter you should probably flip it.

[@daveyJ213]

I have an old Stanley No. 4 SB. It has two thumb screws and raise and lower the blade, but it does not seem to have a chip breaker. Am I missing a part? The chatter is unbearable and unless the blade is almost fully retracted I can't get it to shave off a nice slide. Am I doing something wrong? Please advise. Thanks.

[@FineWoodworking]

Sounds like you're missing a chip breaker. Send us an email with pictures to shoptalk (at) taunton.com

[@daveyJ213]

Tried to send picture, but the link provided does not work. Any other email I could use?

[@FineWoodworking]

That was an email... replace the (at) with @ (just a method of keeping spam scubbers from stealing the email address.

[@daveyJ213]

Sorry; as much as I use the computer I should have known that. I will send the picture now.

[@FineWoodworking]

After seeing the picture it looks a lot like what Harbour Freight is selling these days. The best you can do is get it as sharp as you possibly can and tighten that cap iron down as much as possible. If this is your first/only plane you're working up hill. Someone who really knows handplanes might be able to sing but it certainly isn't a good place to learn technique. -Ben

[@labbore]

good video I feel like I leran a lot

[@apatientspider]

The cast iron tables of woodworking machines are seldom flat enough for lapping a plane. A piece of granite or glass may be, but even so it may deflect from pressure if it is not thick enough in relation to its length. It also has to be evenly supported. Lastly don't even attempt this sort of work without a reliable straight edge to check the flatness of the lapping plate and the work. Buy a quality machinest straight edge or combination square from a machinest supply house - that's key.

[@terryyouth]

this was stanley??!! and it needed all this work. i was thinking of buying a plane but the work needed to be done was much much less than effort spent on this preparing. ofcourse next time not needed. that is, if there is a next time. might feel a bity itchy with this plane in hand and may want to straighten a few things out then

[@jasincolegrove6651]

you can always pay $2200 dollars for one with all the work already done.

[@terryyouth]

hahahaha!! for that money I may buy the finished product rather than making it myself.

[@MrJeffangel]

terryyouth It's in the true woodworker's nature to build RATHER than buy; even if it's more costly and tuning tools is very simply a part of the reward and satisfaction.

[@terryyouth]

ofcourse!! but that reward and satisfaction should also be shared by the better half finance-wise. Anyway, I bought one and even returned it as could not get it working. I got around it though, but dont remember what it was for!!

[@DYINGDAZED]

@dawg1157 The container he's taking it from says "Johnson paste wax".

[@markharris5771]

I know he said "besides honing the blade" but the back of the blade needs flattening as well, which isn’t part of the honing.

[@supersesqui]

Nice vid. The guy sounds just like Jimmy Stewart the actor !

[@FLORINOID]

that was useful.thanks!

[@22KingRancher]

i almost pooped myself when they glued paper to the table saw. hello? what are you doing crazy man

[@b.n.4765]

So ridiculous I almost thought it was a joke. One of the most irresponsible things I have ever seen on KZbin. If anyone has ever mimicked this behavior they would have good cause to beat the shit out of that guy.

[@heyifixit]

@KrokFryedRyce yes the first thing your taught is to always lay a plane on its side.

[@DYINGDAZED]

@dawg1157 No problem whatsoever. You perhaps should have specifically went over the section between 1:28 and 1:59 where the container clearly says, Johnson paste wax. Maybe you should also listen again at 1:40. The host of this video can be heard saying PASTE WAX. Thank you kindly.

[@hier0phant336]

Excellent. Thanks for this. John 3:16

[@icespeckledhens]

I am surprised at the amount of work this plane needed to prepare it for work. Surely you would expect the sole to be flat on a brand new plane

[@UsernameFECKLE]

Even $300 Lie-Nielsen or Veritas planes need to be tuned before use. Mostly just sharpening, but that is tuning, too.

[@87_North]

+icespeckledhens That's like buying a guitar without needing to replace strings, or get it set up...

[@UsernameFECKLE]

Jordan Rago Yup...the only tools that don't need tuning when bought are hammers and screw drivers. Even screw drivers need to have their heads re-done every few years.

[@markharris5771]

UsernameFECKLE I have tuned a small ball peen, I rounded the edge of the face a little bit so it wouldn’t leave harsh circles in my work.

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

Thanks

[@troytarter]

I would be lost without my block plane!!

[@lordmcted]

too true that, bro, too true.

[@mohammedishaq3354]

بہت خوب ہے ل0

[@gamiwv]

the plane I see been tuned is just a piece of cast iron. A garbage which a buyed just yesterday for 29 Euros. Is unable to cut anything. The blade is tuching the front of the mouth even when the mooving base iron is the front end of his traveling

[@howardhagadorn9443]

I've got 3 old Stanley block planes in the basement and a craftsman I'll let ya have bro! Save the 45 bux. ANY plane that comes with a sole that concave is a piece of junk from the get go. I guess Stanley has gone the way of a lot of brand names that used to mean quality

[@histell7568]

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[@histell7568]

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[@paulcookies]

Woodworkers Arsenal? Holy shit!

[@CNDTDI]

I use to work for veritas making all of planners and seeing the sandpaper to the sole of the plane almost made me cry, just go find a machinist with a surface grinder please.

[@TheZeldaGuy905]

w graphics

[@GetYaShitTogetha]

45 dollars for that thing! Maybe its because Im 27 years old and "lazy", and I never walked to school in 3 feet of snow, uphill BOTHWAYS, but if I pay 45 dollars, I want a tool with a motor!

[@1too3fore]

Everything, even high quality things require routine maintenance. All tools benefit from an initial review and set up, surely someone with as much experience as yourself know this to be true. So are you saying the highest quality car in the world does not require an oil change, ever? I highly doubt that.

[@XuGuYi]

Except with diamond files! :D

[@howmuchbsisthis]

I nearly screamed when they glued the sand paper to the cast iron surface of the TS stupid thing to do

[@johncannata4703]

I just glued my 60 grit sandpaper to the top of my DEWALT DW735X planer...... so now what do I do next??

[@gravityisweak]

I would hope that an expensive, new, high quality tool wouldn't require you to deburr and level it.

[@synapse131]

@edmateaux There's a lot more good info on YT. Check out Renaissance Woodworker (RWW,) The Wood Whisperer, and askwoodman for many of the best videos (my op anyways.) They're all pretty detailed and have lots of good info, tips, etc. (askwoodman is extremely detailed and has many of his own, unique techniques for doing things while RWW is all hand tools and the Wood Whisperer uses a hybrid of hand and power tools.)

[@Choscura]

This is a great video, but to properly use a file, you push only. if you push and pull while applying pressure you'll dull the teeth and the file will be ruined.

[@zonkozonko]

Where are you buying your Stanley and Record planes from? China I have never known a craftsman in England need to true a Sheffield made plane until its forty years old! Wood does not normally wear steel, However in your country Aluminium destroys steel so who knows?

[@Garciamrcool]

jimmy stewart

[@joeymaximus8146]

The guy in Utah seems really nice, but it's hard to concentrate on a lesson when someone says uh and um so much. I imagine it could be nerves in front of the camera. It might be beneficial for him to have a couple of practice runs before recording. This probably will sound mean, but that's not my intention. I truly hope he's able to get the "uh's and um's" under control. All the best.

[@FineWoodworking]

Well, that's because Chris is a woodworker, not an actor, not a pro-video creator. There's going to be some trade off sometimes, but we prefer to get the best information out there and not necessarily worry about polish.

[@SAHBfan]

Well... sort of, but unfortunately a lot of the well known companies have gone belly up - the brand names have been bought by big international distributors and they buy Chinese made goods, stick the old brand names on them that they own and sell stuff you could buy from china for $10, but for $45... so neither the name or the price is always a reliable indicator these days. Besides, some of the Chinese stuff is getting better. Once upon a time Japanese goods were thought to be always inferior.

[@dennisoshea4906]

Thar's all well and good but if you can't sharpen you have nothing but a pretty plane that does nothing

[@GetYaShitTogetha]

Your right! And at that rate, I can take it to the bank 44 more times where I will have 44 more dollars waiting on me!

[@VisinskiRadoviBeograd]

Like making it all from the beginning. Why then should I pay for this imperfections? Stanley should pay me for remaking it.

[@GMAN420BC]

My eyebrows raised when you said “any sandpaper “, I stopped the video when you spray glued the table saw top. I’m a newbie woodworker but not that new. No one puts adhesive on a table saw top.

[@FineWoodworking]

Are you serious? Lots of people do. Just use some solvent to remove any residue left over after taking it off.

[@GMAN420BC]

That may be true, you can remove the glue but it’s only a temp solution that you may do in a pinch. I think you would better served to recommend using a price of tile such as corian, marble, or ceramic (even a pice of glass) for the flat bottom to glue sandpaper too. That way it can stay there to be used again. Gluing to table saw now requires a new glue stain to be cleaned with solvent, every time. The hard, flat bottom of the table saw works as good as anything but in my view there are better options.

[@GMAN420BC]

Having said all that, the vid is 10 years old. Maybe do an update using many different types of sharpening techniques. I’m sure after 10 years there must be some newer techniques and sharpening equipment

[@FineWoodworking]

@@GMAN420BC Um... how often do you think you're going to flatten the sole of a handplane?

[@GMAN420BC]

It seems to me, you also sharpen the blade. The back of the blade must also be flat to sharpen. Your not “just” flattening the sole. That’s only half the job. You must sharpen the blade. Maybe chisels are beneath you. I don’t know, but I do know they must be sharpened too and you use the same method. Do you glue up the saw every time you sharpen a hand tool ?

[@Cumbriahandyman]

Thumb down to 90% of vids, this one got a thumb op.

[@mike921]

@KrokFryedRyce i got a slap when i didn't lie it on its side

[@louiscypher7090]

I watched the entire Nissan van ad. wtf

[@qigong1001]

+Louis Cypher You must be getting old.

[@louiscypher7090]

Slap Stick 26, so yes.

[@qigong1001]

Louis Cypher I keep getting stuck with the Wayfair ad (guy with small teeth). Ugh.

[@LockeF83]

I love watching videos about anal woodworks. Do you honestly think the old time cabinetmakers, who's furniture is still in use today, 100's of years after it was made, had perfectly flat plane soles? As long as it's 'close enough', that's just fine.

[@superman4ever0311]

you can't say inexpensive and $45 in the same sentence

[@marksmith2412]

Have you seen the price of a good hand plane? You'd easily pay 5X that for a Lie-Nielson or a Veritas.

[@superman4ever0311]

I have a Stanley that works just as well as that one and I bought it for 3 dollars at a garage sale

[@jacobestes]

He was right that a block plane is the first I ever picked up, but mine was $12 new.

[@87_North]

+superman4ever0311 You can't make the arguement that $45 for a new planer is "expensive" when you got lucky by finding one at a garage sale. Not everyone can come across that.

[@andreaalexander9199]

Where did you get it?

[@GetYaShitTogetha]

Oh, I know you old school guys have your reasons for the type of tools you prefer, I am just wondering why its $45? As much as I love America, the Chinese would make that for under a buck. I hate to see jobs go overseas just as much as the next guy, but the truth of the matter is that COMPETITION is at the core of Capitalism. Americans love Capitalism but hate to COMPETE with cheap Chinese labor! Its a double edged sword. Anyway, sorry for my little rant.

[@Krewtaun]

If I have to do all that crap before I can even use a tool, then I just won't get the tool

[@jasincolegrove6651]

I haven't met a tool that doesn't need work. My pockets doesn't support 2 grand for a near perfect plane

[@UsernameFECKLE]

Seriously, the only hand tool you can buy and not need to tune is a hammer.

[@illduitmyself]

UsernameFECKLE says someone that doesnt make ornate valuable items from wood

[@UsernameFECKLE]

Jesse W I could have been more specific and eliminated measuring tools, screw drivers, and wrenches, but that isn't necessary. I suppose you have never heard of hyperbole. Almost 100% of woodworking hand tools need some kind of tuning to be most effective. Whether that tuning is as simple as sharpening and cambering the iron on a plane, sharpening the teeth of a saw, burnishing a scraper, or waxing a shaft of metal, you aren't going to find many woodworking hand tools at a reasonable price that don't need some kind of tuning before they are optimal.

[@gamiwv]

after more than 6 hours of "tuning" this plane (STANLEY 1-12-60) still remains a perfectly flattened piece of BADLY CASTED piece of iron. The blade is not coming out so can't shave. As for the "patented" side adjusting the blade system..... just a cheap bended piece of metal sheet

[@cvgurau]

"it's inexpensive, this one's only 45 dollars" I'M SORRY WHAT'S IT LIKE BEING THE RICHEST PERSON ON THE PLANET

[@scottsouder6450]

I hear ya, but there are some small block planes that can go up to 500 bucks. There are larger ones that can go up to a few thousand.

[@waynecorners6]

I hope Phil Lowe doesn't see this.

[@MrMiamijohn]

what a load of bollacks, i am a cabinetmaker with 50yrs experience and if any plane wants that much attention then it is a poor quality plane. i have never had to 'tune' a plane, because i bought quality, it last a lifetime.

[@joe65968]

poor guy had to waste all that time on such a shitty plane.

[@DrHavok1]

thanks