I have tuned up all of my handplanes to the best of my ability. The blades are razor sharp, the soles are flat, there is no chatter and the throats are all closed pretty tight. I use Veritas metal planes of all sizes. Despite my best efforts I still get a bit more tearout that I think I should when using a wood like cherry. I notice this more often in the quartersawn stock that I have. I would think it would be less prone to tearout, not more. I am self-taught and have never been around many other woodworkers using the same tools that I do, so it may be common to have a few spots of tearout, I don;t know. I am getting rather frustrated though. Is this normal? Do you have to be “that” specific in picking through your lumber to find boards that will plane out smooth? I am using around a 45 degree angle on most of my planes. Should I try and back bevel my #4 smoother to get a higher angle of attack?
Thanks
Clay Crocker
Replies
Dear Clay,
Your description sounds like your are getting average results, especially in a wood like cherry. Nothing will leave as good a finish as a really sharp hand plane with the caveat that you are planing downhill on the grain. I like to think of it as petting the dog in the right direction. Most boards have some area of reverse grain and there is the rub (in the wrong direction). I would say that quartersawn stock is more prone to this problem, especially if it is figured. Curly structure occurs when grain undulates in the radial plane and quartersawing best exposes this. Try planing at about a 65 degree angle across the grain ans see if you get a smooth surface. I bet you will.
With best regards,
Ernie Conover
Thank you very much, will do. I forgot to mention in my post earlier that I was following all of the guidelines for planing with the grain. There are occasions that I will look at the end grian, plain wihh the peaks as I am supposed to do and still run into grain going the wrong direction. I guess that's just part of the fun.
Clay
Clay—
Ernie's advice is excellent, and is worth following. One important note to add, and one you didn't mention in your handplaning repetoire, is to take a light cut. Cherry is especially prone to tearout, and a super-thin shaving is sometimes the only way to deal with it. Back off the blade, and give it a try. Your shavings should be translucent. After that, if you still get some tearout, tune up your card scraper and have it.
—Andy Rae
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled