I was wondering if anyone can help… I am starting to get into using hand tools and I am trying to four-square a board with hand planes. During the process of tuning my jointer (older Stanley No. 7, but I am not sure how old) I noticed that if I have the cap iron very close to the cutting edge (~1/32″) I can’t run the blade down far enough to expose it on the bottom of the plane. I imagine that I can back the cap iron off a bit in order to expose more of the blade but then I am afraid that having the cap iron farther back will affect plane performance. Am I missing something?
Thanks,
Greg Patterson
Replies
Greg,
I'm assuming that you are using the original blade and not one of the aftermarket replacements (e.g. Hock or LN).
First of all you can set the cap iron back a little more than you have it. An eighth of an inch will not make a noticeable difference. It also sounds like the mouth is set too tight for this class of plane. Try loosening the frog and sliding it back a little to open the mouth a little. I set the mouth on my jointers tighter than a jack plane, but nowhere near as tight as a smoother. Especially when 4Sing stock.
Don't be afraid to experiment with different settings.
Regards,
-Chuck
I'm starting to think more and more that plane tuning is really a waste of time. I have a wide variety of planes in different states of tune in my shop. I find the plane with the sharpest blade works best.
I recommend choosing a modest set up; leave the frog set back so its flush with the bed and put the cap iron wherever (I'm not convinced these things do much). If you find you need more performance, just sharpen your iron better.
Adam
"I'm starting to think more and more that plane tuning is really a waste of time...."
Ahhh, now I understand your affection for your hatchet.
Greg:
David Charlesworth wrote a great article for Fine Woodworking on tuning up a Bailey style plane, here is the link.
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuidePDF.aspx?id=2933
In terms of setting up the plane, I get the best results by setting the frog flush with the rear of the mouth so that the iron is continuously supported. If you set the frog back from the mouth opening the iron must flex to be fully seated which could account for what you are experiencing. I use the thin Stanley iron & chipbreaker that came with the plane for doing rougher work and use either a Hock or Lie-Nielsen iron & chipbreaker for finer work. Because the Hock or Lie-Nielsen irons are thicker than the Stanley, using either results in a tighter mouth without moving the frog.
What a great link! That ought to be mentioned every time someone has trouble with a new handplane. Thanks,
Mike D
Going out on a limb here but by chance is the blade mounted bevel up? Should be bevel down. I did it the first time I fettled a bevel down plane, DUH on me.
Could also be that the frog is out of adjustment like Chuck said.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 3/24/2008 11:58 am ET by KiddervilleAcres
Thanks for all of your advice. I will give it a shot this weekend when I get back out to the shop!
Greg
Although I defer to Adam's experience in this area—I'm not ready to say tuning up an old plane is a complete waste of time—it's definitely true that a freshly sharpened blade makes all the difference in the world. Once I start dimensioning a board with hand planes, I have the pig-headed habit of slogging along no matter what. Just this past weekend I was taking a 4/4 piece of hard maple down to about 3/4" and cursing that it was taking so darn long. Finally, I stopped for about 20 minutes to sharpen the blades for three planes. I then returned to the board with the freshened-up jack and had the board thicknessed in no time flat. I have to keep reminding myself that the 20 minutes away from the work for a sharpening break will save me an hour when I return to it.
Norman
I know what you mean, now... I have been doing what I call "tuning" for about a month and a half now on my grandfather's No. 5 and a No. 7 that I bought on-line (with two kids under 6, I only get a couple of hours each weekend to play). I am gathering that the problem with my first tuning is that I have no idea what a well tuned plane feels like so I was not totally sure where I was headed. I pulled a great article from the archives about hand plane tuning (by David Charlesworth) and followed it. Both planes really sang after that. Now I understand. I can see why taking some time to sharpen can yield much better results.
making a plane sing is like driving a ball 300 yards down the middle of the fairway.
Mike,
Then pitching it in for an eagle on a par 4? Gotta love it!
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
yes!.... golf league start Thursday night...been a long winter.... need to go out to the range to get my swing back first.
What's "golf"?
Something middle aged white guys do to relieve stress at work and home only to find more of it by the third hole.
Mike,
Here's a good one for ya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKcBTaTed0Q
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
HA.. that's kinda how my Dad got his hole-in-one except he hit the edge of ruff by the bunker then bounced onto the green and into the hole.
Ah, I thought it was something like that. As I recall I tried it once. It was sort of like an exercise in violating the ten commandments. Let me see, there was anger, egoism, profanity, violence, drunkenness, zeal, lying and cheating. And then, when went out on the course, it went downhill from there. <g>
That's why I ride a Harley. Like they say, "You never see a Harley parked outside a psychiatrist's office."
Edited 4/1/2008 10:40 am ET by blewcrowe
You never see a Harley parked outside a psychiatrist's office
That's true.. never thought of that
Well, the cagers are out to kill us as they speed, tailgate, talk on the cells, eat their breakfast, read newspapers and scream at the kids after the soccer game. So, if you're riding right (in the zone), your concentration level is so intense that you forget about your problems (which are all related to either yesterday or tomorrow) and you live in the moment. Here and now, in your face. It's the best therapy I've ever encountered.
I can imagine.. never rode myself but I get the same escape when i'm on the golf course.... to be honest, the reason i post on this board during the day is too escape the stress of my job... gives me a chance to clear my head and think about something else for a few minutes then get back to the grind when i'm done.
Hey Mike,
same escape when i'm on the golf course....
Interesting. I used to play golf for the same reason. Never could figure out why so many folks got all buzzed out cause a duffed a shot. Not playing the Masters for cryin out loud! I always thopught it was to have a good time..................
I liked the walk, no carts for moir, the fresh air, playin in the sand and water sometimes and the occasional good shot down the middle! A bit of camaraderie with the guys and a pop or three at the 19th hole.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 4/1/2008 2:19 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres
I prefer walking too but everyone on the league rides a cart so i get in one. This is where i play on Thursdays.. pretty nice course http://www.stonelickhills.com/home.htm
Nice course.
I play this course about 6 times a year during the summer. Since we got the summer cottage haven't had much time lately though.
http://www.thebalsams.com/golf.aspx
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Looks beautiful..... i'm sure your area has some really nice courses with all the hills around.
The Balsams is about the best within 40 miles of me. The short season is what keeps them mean and lean around here I think. Plus we're in a very sparsely populated area (which is nice I think) so the draw isn't as great.
This is a resort that also has skiing in the winter so they're open most of the year. They close down in late fall and early spring for renovations and maintenance for a few months. It's also where the first in the nation voting takes place.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
An excuse to drink beer (as if one is really needed)."WISH IN ONE HAND, S--T IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"
It could be that the cap iron you have isn't the one that came with the plane, or perhaps the cap iron has itself been ground back too much.
-Steve
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