I’m anxious to learn more handtool skills and incorporate more hand tools in my work. Just got a nice-looking molding plane but I’m not sure about the best way to use it. I know the spring lines reference the vertical and horizontal and the fences stop the plane at the final depth, but what I don’t know is where you start the plane on the work. Against one of the fences and then plane down (or over) until you hit the other fence? Or somewhere in the middle of the profile and work diagonally until you hit both fences?
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Start against the fence and plane downward until the depth stop prevents any further cutting. Your left hand holds the plane against the fence and maintains proper orientation. The right hand provides all the forward motion.
Thanks!
That seems to do the trick! Hard to just look at pictures and perceive the dynamics that are involved. Also important seems to be maintaining even pressure (in and down) while maintaining a consistent spring angle. I'll get the hang of it. Sure beats the noise and dust of the router table.
Excellent Question !
I only read about these molding planes once and have never used one so . . .
anyway I wanted to say some times Roy Underhill starts at the forward end of the board, planes a few strokes then lengthens the strokes to include the portions of the board on the workers end of the board. Hope my description makes some sense.
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