I’d like to get into planing some of my work but really don’t know much about planes. I’ve got a small block plane that I’ve fiddled around with and managed to learn a little from. What I’m really looking for is a good book that give an introduction to working with planes, how to tune them, set them up, etc. and discusses which planes are better for different types of work. Any suggestions?
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Replies
The Handplane Book, by Garrett Hack. Slainte.
Richard,
It appears you have gotten yourself "reconnected" after crossing the pond. Hope all is well on the other side!
RR
Yep, Rookie, I'm reconnected on the right side of the pond, and things are going pretty well. At least the the cooler weather is a major improvement on Hellston's, ha, ha (sic.)
I remain (as ever) cantankerous and opinionated for the general amusement of all. Slainte.Website
I will second that suggestion, Handplane Book by Garrett Hack
I'll third that! (Third???) Suggest however that you wear a bib before you actually begin to read or even peruse Hack's book; damned thing makes me drool like Pavlov's dog. To help get you started with the plane you already have, check out this video on the FWW site. http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/wvt072.asp
Tuning a plane is a great way to learn how they work and what you need to do to get the most out of them. (You'll find that even an inexpensive plane can do a more than adequate job with enough tweaking and a sharp blade.) Go ahead and tune up the one you have and just play with it.
Jeff
Edited 9/29/2003 6:44:00 PM ET by Jeff K
Coleman,
I agree that Garrett Hack's book is terrific - I highly recommend it. Additionally, you may want to pick up a good book on sharpening (like Leonard Lee's). Lord knows how many folks have thrown up their hands and given up on hand planes because they tried to use them without first knowing how to properly sharpen them; few things are more frustrating than trying to use a tool that isn't sufficiently adjusted or sharpened.
BTW, you might also want to check out Lie-Nielsen's website.
Good luck,
Paul
"BTW, you might also want to check out Lie-Nielsen's website."
No. No. Are you married?
Ed,
My late wife was very understanding of my woodworking addiction - during the twenty years we were in our last home, there was never a car in the garage: it was a dedicated full-time workshop.
If you're a lucky fellow, your wife will understand the need for a high-quality Tormek sharpening system with which you can hollow grind the irons of the numerous hand planes you'll be buying (AND USING!). And, if she's wise, she'll understand the folly of investing hard earned money in low quality tools.
Now, go out to your workshop and make something nice for her!
All the best,Paul
LOL, I'm a more than very lucky husband. My forum code name for my favorite bride is SWMTMH (I should make you guess, but that would be cruel - She Who Mostly Tolerates My Hobbies). I also didn't write the follow up line to "Are you married?". The next sentance, delivered after an appropriately pregnant pause, "Do you love your wife?" ;-)
Oh, I spent too many hours painting for SWMTMH today, so my account balance is still OK. (I think, as one can never be too certain about these things.)
The previous responses have about nailed the advice down. Can't do much better than Hacks book on planes and Lees book on sharpening. And Lee-Nielsen makes some of the best. Those two books will give you 90 plus percent of everything you need to know. And Lee's video on sharpening is excellent.
Alan -- planesaw
One suggestion, start planning the space needed for your collection of planes now. They seem to multiply like rabbits, and there is always one more that would be handy. I'll 7th(?) Garrett Hacks book. If you get bitten by the collecting bug, there are a few really good reference books out there too. Enjoy!
Agree with everyone else on the Hand-Plane Book. I bought it several months ago and it is extremely informative. I strayed from hand-work for quite a while and got re-interested.
Warning: If you get the book, you will see your checking account balance dwindle considerably. Once you really get the feel for hand-planes, you are addicted. ha..ha..
sarge..jt
If you want a book that shows the nuts and bolts of building furniture with hand planes then get Plane Basics by Sam Allen. It's out-of-print but you can find it on Amazon. Sam treats sharpening and tuning but doesn't take up an inordinate amount of space doing it. He still gives you plenty of 'how to use' stuff. You get good, clear illustrations too.
Hack's book is good - really a coffee table book that doesn't come close to Allen's book in terms of information that you can use. Hack always seems to be on the brink of advocating ownership of an extensive array of handtools just for ownership's sake. It's a little disappointing to come to grips with the reality that he owns a collection of hand tools that surely represent a significant six-figure investment yet he has an equally impressive group of power tools. I think the power tools get far more of a workout. I'm sure that I'm the odd man out in my view, however. I've followed Hack over the years and in my opinion he is the quintessential tool hound (and I do mean that pejoratively). His output, or at least what we see in his books and articles, is decidedly unimpressive given the investment he has in shop.
Sam Allen presents hand tool usage not as a quaint post Industrial Age oddity, but as a natural consequence of somebody who has spent money to own them. In other words, he advocates using them to build something. He does it without a lot of hoopla and swooning over old tools. Sam's book is a little outdated in terms of tools that are or are not in current production. He wrote the book during a period before what I (and others) call the renaissance of hand tool production (I purposely avoided the word 'usage', for I fear most sit on shelves severely underutilised and overpolished). Accordingly, ignore his comments about something being "out of production" and rely instead on a collection of mail order catalogs to keep you abreast of what you can actually buy.
There's a place in your library for Hack's books. I just wouldn't make them my first purchase.
Edited 9/30/2003 8:10:27 PM ET by BossCrunk
Boss, that's an interesting point. I don't think I've seen any furniture produced by Garrett Hack, but I presume he does work with his planes. I'd rather assumed he is more of a tool freak and collector than a user in any case. Some people are more interested in the process than the result, whereas I'm the opposite. My planes are a rather ratty looking bunch, but they all work effectively, and that's all that matters to me.
I haven't seen the books by Sam Allen, nor the Andy Rae book mentioned by Larry after you, so even though I'd heard of them I couldn't recommend them. Both authors have a solid reputation and because of that, if for no other reason, a novice plane user probably ought to give them a look over at least . Slainte.Website
Welcome back Richard! Good to have your color here again. If you're interested in seeing some of Hack's work, check the links I posted to BossCrunk.
An unrelated question for you, what do you consider to be the premier UK based woodworking magazine? Best of luck in your new ventures,aka Steve
Steve, of the UK magazines catering for the craft level, serious amateur, and small professional, etc., I'd say Furniture & Cabinetmaking aims at the most sophisticated reader.
I must declare an interest because my verbal diaerrheoa(sp?) appears in that magazine from time to time, so my judgement might be slanted, ha, ha.
Thanks for the good wishes. Slainte.Website
Sgain
Do I have to catch your act in F & C which I subscribe to now, or do we get the pleasure of you still "hanging out" with the guys and gals here. Actually I already know the answer to that. But it's my way of saying welcome back and hope all is well with you, the job and family in "Merry Ole England".
Just one question, when you line up on the rugby field there with your new chums, do you still have the Marlboro; or have we had to switch to a local brand to hide your refugee status from Houston? ha.. ha..
Best wishes for your new venture...
sarge..jt
Thanks, Sarge. It's still Marlboro. Time to kick that habit. They're nearly £5 a pack here, about $8. Slainte.Website
Sgain
Geez!! I agree about quitting at that price. Me thinks I might consider "cigarette and tool" smuggling to GB. Looks as both might be lucrative from some of the post I've read. Is the food good in the English jails? Just in case. ha..ha..
Let us know how the teaching is going...
sarge..jt
If you like carbohydrates and stodgy, I'm led to believe the food is excellent in British jails, Sarge. The reputation for general buggery and the need to seek protection from unknown assailants by becoming someones 'wife' may not be to your taste though, ha, ha.
The teaching seems to be going pretty well. I'm enjoying it. It's causing me to drag up long lost memories of my early training, but from the other end of the learning curve. Slainte.Website
Sgain
I can handle the carbs and stodgy, as long as they don't add curry. I am not picky with food. Quite the contrary, but curry does not agree from the first I ate "down-under" till the last I ate at a wedding dinner several years ago when someone ordered for me.
As to becoming someone's wife for protection, I have always fared pretty well at protecting myself. It probably wouldn't even be a good idea for someone to ask me, even politely. I'm a fun natured person till someone pi**'es me off. That would probably activate that particular button. ha..ha..
Glad you are enjoying the teaching. I understand the reversal of the learning curve. That will require a bit of patience on your part. Manipulating the craft to an art and teaching the craft are two entirely different animals from what I hear from those that have encounted that situation. You have nailed one end of that scenario. If you can nail the other end, you will have become a master indeed IMO.
Have a drink on me and forward the bill... It might just help you tolerate the students better. < G >
sarge..jt
Ha, ha, Sarge. Slainte.Website
His output, or at least what we see in his books and articles, is decidedly unimpressive given the investment he has in shop.
WOW!!! Aren't we all talking about one of the most respected woodworkers and woodworking instructors in the country? I suppose if one really wants to "inspect" Mr. Hack's "output", one would need to visit one of his clients for whom he produces pieces on a custom built basis, or visit one of the museums which display his furniture.
I too prefer to see a tool used rather than collected, but the last time I checked, collecting them was not a crime, nor was having a beautiful shop, nor was failing to use his articles as free advertising for his wares. Jeesh!
I assume that the articles that have featured his work over the last several years would be representative of what comes out of his shop.
Sorry, but I'm not that impressed, especially given the exposure and the hype.
Edited 9/30/2003 8:14:53 PM ET by BossCrunk
Uh Boss? We talking about the same guy? Check out these links to see a few examples of his work. I'm impressed, he could sure teach me a thing or two.
http://www.rosewoodstudio.com/woodworking_facgallery/woodworking_hack.htm
http://www.schoolofwoodworking.com/instructors/garret_hack/index.shtml
IMHO those are some of the most beautiful pieces I've seen. aka Steve
Super, you have your opinion and I have mine.
I see stuff I like a lot more every month in the Gallery section of the magazine - a lot of it built by serious hobbyists and not professionals.
And yes, I've seen those five or so pieces more than once. They crop up in a lot of places.
Rob Millard, who posts on this forum regularly, easily works wood at a level beyond GH and I imagine does so with a fractional investment in tooling when compared to Hack.
Edited 10/1/2003 8:39:54 AM ET by BossCrunk
Boss,
I'm finding this discussion interesting. While I don't want to take anything away from Rob or anyone else, your comments about Garrett Hack leave me questioning some of my approach to things.
I disagree with a little of what was written in Garrett's The Handplane Book and believe a couple of the details and history presented are wrong. Yet, I know the book is still one of the best publications on the subject. He deserves credit for the book and plenty of it. I've also read quite a number of articles by Garrett and found them excellent. I've talked to him a couple times on the phone and I can assure you there's plenty of knowledge behind the name.
While one can judge the overall design of Garrett's pieces from the linked photos, I can't tell much about the execution from them. When I look at his work I see very good design based on a knowledge of classical proportions and traditional techniques that appear based on a solid background. From what I know of him, I would certainly expect excellence in his execution as well.
I know people who've taken classes from Garrett Hack. I haven't heard anything negative from those who shelled out the money. In fact, it's been the opposite. Everyone I've talked to felt they got good value for the money invested and came away very pleased with the experience. Teaching is different from wood working and takes additional skills.
So let's see, here's what I know about Garrett Hack: He's a pretty good designer. He has the technical knowledge and background to do excellent work. His articles and books are good and offer a lot of knowledge. He does a great job of conducting workshops and is a good teacher. I've learned some things from his writing. Another thing I'm learning is that teaching and writing take a lot of time. Time I'd rather have in the shop producing things but I think teaching and writing are worth while.
So you like Rob's work better. Okay. I'd like to see more of his work as well, but I'm not familiar with it. It's probably my own shortcoming. Still, I don't think the abilities of either Rob or Garrett are exclusive or take anything away from the other. Wood working is a big field and I think there's plenty of room for us all.
One thing this tread has done is caused me to question some of my own decisions. When I show my own portfolio of work, I sure don't show everything I've done. Instead it's a small collection of some of my favorite projects. Some of them were done long ago. I wonder if people might be thinking these few projects are the extent of my work.
Another thing I'm questioning is a decision about a presentation I have to give. I'm teaching a wood working class at a school where classes in various media happen at the same time. It's a short presentation to all the students working in all the different media. I had decided to look at 250 years of wood working through an obscure wood working trade that I bet we all have examples of, yet I've never seen it mentioned on this forum. There will be five slides of 12 items. I haven't included a single photo of my own work. Will the audience think this is an indication of a lack of production on my own part? Is this approach a mistake? Should I instead use the opportunity to justify my being selected to teach at the school and show a bunch of slides of my own work?
Edited 10/1/2003 12:15:57 PM ET by Larry Williams
I think your concerns are essentially moot, since neither you (or Rob) are overexposed and overhyped. But, if you've got ten to fifteen really outstanding pieces to show, then that beats five or six any day. In my opinion, breadth and depth is more important in the decorative arts than it is the fine arts. Five pieces get interest, ten pieces establish professionalism, fifteen to twenty pieces get you the profit you need to make a living. Overwhelm your audience. Make sure when they leave that there is NO DOUBT you are the real deal, you are the go-to guy (If you're not then why the hell are you there in the first place? Again, leave no doubt). You should show your own work unless you objectively know it to be inferior in some way. The situation that you have described sounds like a time to put away humbleness.
Getting back... my opinion is based on the work (of his) that I've seen. If GH has a broad portfolio of breathtakingly original work then it is beyond comprehension that we've not seen at least a little of it through some sort of Taunton publication. Don't think for a minute that I'm suggesting he's making a living as a furniture maker with a repertoire of six pieces. I'd be much more willing to accept him as a modern day master if I saw, well, a few masterpieces that he'd done. The sideboards, tables, and chairs that I've seen are all well within the range of a serious amateur/advanced intermediate woodworker and represent only a minor deviation from well-established forms. I would almost rather see the result of him tackling an exact reproduction of a Federal piece than his take on Federal design because I think he leaves out some of the more difficult elements. Maybe he's done it. It's astonishing that I haven't seen it in FW. Maybe my memory has failed me and somebody can dig up a reference for us. I'd be more than happy to stand corrected. I am not opining on the man's ultimate capabilities, ONLY ON THE WORK THAT I HAVE SEEN.
I like Garrett Hack's books. I said so in my original post. However, I recommended another author whose book I thought was more appropriate for a beginner (who wanted more how-to and less esoterica). I own every book Garrett Hack has ever written, and I believe that I've read every article he's ever published in FW. I've paid for my right to criticize. Criticism is part of the arts. Exposure is a double-edged sword.
I am as well-read a woodworker as you'd ever want to meet. Probably too much so. I actually use his simple varnish formulation of 1/3 spar to 1/3 linseed to 1/3 turps all the time in my work. I think he published that article several years ago.
If GH has some balls-to-the-wall masterpieces lurking out there, I sure wish Taunton would publish some pics.
FWIW, there's a thread over on WoodCentral with ongoing pics of a bloke whose building a Bombe' chest and this is the real deal. The sides are not coopered and the drawers are curved to fit the case, sides carved from thick stock, the whole kit-n-caboodle.
Edited 10/1/2003 3:40:13 PM ET by BossCrunk
Boss, might I ask what the correct tool to produced furniture ratio is?
I guess a guy could spend $70,000 on a Therwood cabinet machine, then build a million dollars of cabinets, would that qualify?
My point is, easily viewable output is not the yardstick that we should judge a woodworkers talent with. There are very many superb woodworkers who never even get noticed. Mr. Millard does excellent work, and so do some others here.
I'm guessing that if you called Mr. Hack with the intent of commissioning a piece, he could provide a more extensive portfolio.
Regards, aka Steve
Coleman,
The Hand Plane book is marvelous and provides the information you requested in your post. It is a bit short on the 'how to' especially as it relates to a project...which, if not now, will be your next question. I borrowed the Hand Plane book from the library and throughly enjoyed it...may buy it someday..but for now I want books that tellme 'how to' in a 'rightful way'. good luck
Thanks to all for the suggestions. Hopefully they'll have both books at the library and I'll get to sample each. And thanks for the link to the video- very helpful.
I thought I'd add a couple other suggestions. Graham Blackburn's Traditional Woodworking Handtools and Andy Rae's Choosing and Using Hand Tools are good books that can add a lot of information to what's in Hack's book but don't concentrate so much on the tool-drool aspect of hand planes.
Also check out "Planecraft" by C.W. Hampton and E. Clifford, published in 1911. Reprint is available from Woodcraft for $10.99 (Product no. 20P61).
This was going to be my answer. I got some good info out of this book.
Mike
I'll add to the list by tossing in David Charlesworth's books, "Cabinetmaking Techniques" parts one and two. Both are excellent reads, practicaland highly informative, dealing with sharpening, tuning and use.
Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
I bought 3 books, in the following order: Hack's, Blackburn's and Charlesworth's (both volumes). Hack's is beautiful and comprehensive, with enough theory to make sense of the subject and enough eye candy to hook you pretty well. Blackburn's book on traditional woodworking handtools adds immensely to an understanding of what and how to use all hand tools. I never got the results I now do, reliably and with confidence, until reading and following Charlesworth's instructions. Very practical, very relevant to today's makers and very clearly explained. Oh, and I listen to and respect anything Larry Williams has to say on the subject.
Cheers,
Greg
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