Hello wealth of information,
I am new to this passion and I am beginning to collect a small selection of hand tools to understand the idea behind the building of furniture. I have collected a couple of hand planes and have found the videos that have been posted by FWW very informative.
The one question that has not been answered as of yet is how to correctly set up a plane for use. There are so many choices and areas of adjustment where do you know where to begin. I believe that this would be a great addition to the video where the 3 handplanes to own is given.
You have the following adjustments
Frog adjustment, blade adjustment, blade lateral adjustment, chip breaker location
Why and what are these adjustments used for. What are the goals for each of theses adjustments/ When to use each a certain adjustment over another (adjust frog setting over changing blade depth)
Thanks
Chris Powell
Replies
Dear Chris,
My first recommendation would be to buy Garrett Hack's "The Handplane Book." I've owned it for years (bought it before I began working at Taunton), and find it to be one of the best reference books around. Here's a link to our store, where you can read more about the book:
http://store.taunton.com/onlinestore/item/070659.html
End of shameless commercial plug.
The basic answer to your questions, I believe, is this: The adjustments on a handplane control the depth of cut, the angle of cut, support the blade, and control the opening in front of the blade so that shavings have somewhere to go. You need to keep all the adjustments in mind when setting up a plane; however, you don't have to adjust everything every time you use a plane. The blade depth is something always to consider and tweak; you also want to be sure that the blade isn't set at an angle, so that it cuts straight. Adjusting the frog will open or close the space before the blade; and adjusting the chipbreaker helps support the blade and provide a lever to lift chips up and away from the wood.
When you sharpen the blade, or when you begin planing a new piece of wood, you'll want to check the adjustments to be sure the plane performs properly. First, depth of cut and blade angle. Next, if the plane seems to be clogging with shavings, check the frog. Then, if it's not doing what you want, check the chipbreaker.
Hope this helps.
David Heim
Managing Editor
FineWoodworking.com
Crispy,
You might also try some of the articles on this site. Here are few that address some of your questions:
Handplane Tune-Up
by David Charlesworth
Video: Setting a Handplane Blade
with Philip C. Lowe
For all articles and videos on handplanes go here...
Matt Berger
Fine Woodworking
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