Tuning and Using Japanese Hand Planes - WOOD magazine

One of the great things about a Japanese style hand plane, as opposed to a Western style hand plane, is its simplicity. Learn how to set up and use this traditional hand tool to get wispy thin shavings time after time.
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[@asderven]

Thank you for the video. I just got my plane and will follow these steps. This is my first hand plane. Western ones are a bit too expensive for me to start with. Just need them to surface the faces smooth of boards.

[@patjackson1657]

Thank you! I have used Japanese style saws for some years. The planes are intriguing.

[@charliereina7933]

Thanks a lot. Yours is the first KZbin video I’ve seen that continues beyond the instructions to explain WHY we should take each step. I just bought my first Japanese plane and was dismayed to find that I couldn’t seat the iron into cutting position. I was actually considering sending the plane back for a refund or replacement. Now I’m looking forward to setting it up step by step.

[@jameshuntley428]

Fantastic video. I'm new to japanese hand planes and appreciate the thoroughness of the video/lesson.

[@jaguen123]

Congrats to all involved in this video. All is well done, clearly explained and presented,

[@markgkenny2264]

You are a Master Teacher ! Well done !

[@user-bb7wr3wv8g]

Very useful material, detailed and accessible. I learned some nuances of the plane settings.Thank you, health and well-being.

[@myRefuge3710]

Best video. Thoroughly educative. Thank you sir.

[@karthiksc47]

Thank you, Sir. I was struggling with the Japanese versions of tuning the planes as they dont go over the nuances like you do. Much appreciated

[@siamaklighvani3951]

I have the Japanese style planer , and the magic is that the sharp blade is from ATo Z , so if the jack plane is having the sharp blade , it is good as well .

[@samspade4634]

Great video. I have a lot to learn, but this video was a great start!

[@terrybodenhorn3508]

Very well done video. Thank you.

[@thesouthslab7566]

The dai is made from wood so it won't damage the surface of lumber. In Japan, softwood with plane-finish is considered as the best, and the surface has to be buttery smooth. Carpenters say it's quicker and easier to just tap the plane, as opposed to turn the screws for adjustment.

[@HdtvTh]

It's not easier, and it's definitively not quicker, the amount of tunning and constant fiddling is a pain, they tend to skip and chatter a lot if not perfectly fitted, plus they are only good for smoothers, they suck at material removal, if you want a wooden plane just get a wooden foreplane maybe a jointer, there's no need to screw around with wooden smoothers when a good metal one will last 100 years and perform perfectly without any fiddling.

[@eliseveldt]

​@@HdtvTh or you just suck at using it. its said skilled craftsmen can use it alot easier than western planes

[@HdtvTh]

@@eliseveldt Or they suck at using western planes, goes both ways, but no, I'm pretty sure western planes are just more intuitive, easier to use and easier to manipulate in order to get a dead flat surface.

[@amezcuaist]

Even steel planes will respond to a tap with a hammer at the front or back. The adjustment is far finer than turning any adjusters . Tapping works for all wooden and steel planes .

[@antoninhoromerinho1632]

Very good. Congratulations.

[@mikemccollum4521]

Thank you.👍

[@spencerbass7142]

Very interesting.

[@cactuarizard]

The chip breaker was introduced when the shokunin (master craftsmen) were selected for their skills amidst war. When the apprentices realized they had not developed the proper skills quickly enough and couldn’t without the teachings of their master, blacksmiths invented the chip breaker. I only bring this up to maintain the integrity and credit of Japanese carpentry as it is a trade that been cultivated and refined for so long, no wonder it comes with measurable pride

[@daw162]

This is a campy story, but the reality is a user uses the chipbreaker, they get more work done. the same thing happened in the west. Economically, you can do a better job and faster with the chipbreaker - it's a better design and someone not using it would go out of business in a competitive environment.

[@dima3401]

Legit. Time to learn

[@robohippy]

Well, still learning..... Anyway, for side adjustments, I have seen some who tap the side of their planes, and trying to figure that one out. You can tap the top side of the blade to correct for the blade not being square. Some times I think the blade is all the way to the side and hitting wood, and have wondered if tapping the side of the plane body scoots the blade sideways so you get some clearance and you can adjust the blade more if needed, for squaring up the blade. Also I have wondered if you can adjust the blade forward the same way you adjust it backwards, or maybe the opposite.... If you strike the front of the plane body, doesn't that do the same thing for adjusting for a slightly deeper cut?

[@renemaduro1071]

Magnifico

[@_P0tat07_]

Damn. The Japanese be looking for machinist tolerances with wood. Impressive 😂

[@Bassic1234]

Thank you captain Birdseye

[@robohippy]

I am wondering if the 2 hollows on the sole of this style of plane has been applied to the Euro style wood hand planes. Also, wondering if this helps make for a long straight cut which seems to be impossible with the metal planes since they don't have an outfeed table like the power planers....

[@ColocasiaCorm]

Every tool needs 15 more tools I’ll only use once

[@troyjustinguitar]

No u need tools to sharpen and true stock measurement tools for every project you do 😊

[@luisarashirovideo]

I want a western plane with Japanese blades

[@ColocasiaCorm]

Where are the Chinese planes and chisels and saws

[@rtsiii5404]

I mean, I understand orientalism and the fascination with Japanese steel….but, this seems like a downgrade Also, when flattening or lapping stones, start with the finest stone and work down to the coarsest. YOU might be the best lapping stone cleaner in the world, but most people will transfer coarse grits to their finer stones if they do it the other way round…which causes problems.

[@zmartkooky244]

Thank you. I will stick to the western plane. This guy requires too much maintenance and has lower functionality.

[@juliachild9377]

You leave out and gloss over way too much for this video to be useful for beginners. You don't even include information on uradashi, which is incredibly important for those whose blades aren't flat.

[@whittysworkshop982]

Thats because the hammering technique is not suited well for beginners, they could make the blade worse, or even break it...... and it will need this adjustment more times throughout its life. He ground it flat, that is enough for a beginner :)

[@samspade4634]

Hey Julia Child, where is your class or video? You don't have one? Interesting