Comments on: Hand Plane Starter Kit: 4 Planes for Hybrid Woodworking

By: Alben

Alben — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 04:25:07 +0000

Got hooked on Veritas planes. In the last 6 months I purchase about a dozen planes and sharpening stones from Lee Valley. Some of the most fanciest planes I’ve seen. Building a new work bench and installing assortment of vises also. The planes will help me flatten, rabbits, dados and more. I’m retired and for an intermediate woodworker and a hobbiest, I’m looking forward to the challenge.

By: Catherine Robertson

Catherine Robertson — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 07:46:48 +0000

In reply to Drew. Learn how to sharpen? Drew you are 3,000,000% correct. Not only is a dull tool a pain in the ass but it is also dangerous because you have to push harder to get anything done. I am 70 this year and I’ve been working wood for over 50 years. Pretty much before anything else, learn to sharpen properly. I am up in Alberta and run a school called the School of Quiet Woodworking. I teach more than one class based completely on sharpening. They are all well attended.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 04:33:25 +0000

I;ve been a carpenter most of my life. I got into flipping houses. I bought a house that was built 1922. The kitchen cabinet was built by a cabinet maker.
sometimes I imagine the hand tools that them guys carried, especially planes, chisels set and ect. are they any pictures of what they may have carried.

By: Drew

Drew — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 23:48:09 +0000

I was interested in hand planes, so I bought a copy of Christopher Schwartz’s “Handplane Essentials.” (And now I’m on my 4th re-reading). I started by lapping and sharpening an old Craftsman plane using a glass plate and sandpaper. I found I could get it really, really sharp and working fairly well. I was hooked. I purchased a Lie-Nielsen block plane and fell promptly in love. Next came a Lie-Nielsen low-angle jack plane. So versatile, especially with multiple blades of different grinds. I learned that I could use it to dimension lumber or, with a different blade, smooth contrary mahogany. Next was a small L-N shoulder plane; then a L-N No. 4 with a 50 degree frog. (See Christopher Schwartz on the ecstasy of the No. 4.) I treated myself after that to a L-N chisel plane. (I had a good day at the casino). When Lie-Nielsen comes back on line, I’ll buy a medium shoulder plane. That should keep me happy for a while, at least. In short: using hand planes is addictive. Yes, it is an expensive habit– which I justify by telling myself that, at age 72, a 2 hour session using a series of planes is good for me. I second the recommendation: buy the best planes you can afford. Above all, take the time to learn how to sharpen. Nothing is more frustrating and takes more joy out of hard work than a dull blade.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 08:03:02 +0000

In reply to MICHAEL. I have one that has Bailey on it. I think it’s a #4 or #5. I haven’t seen any comments on them. I’m wondering where it comes in on the quality scale?

By: Tom Compton

Tom Compton — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 04:59:38 +0000

When my father in law passed, I was tasked with cleaning out his garage. In a dark corner there was a hunk of rusted something that almost went in the scrap barrel. Out in the light I realized it was a plane. Filthy and heavily rusted, I took it home anyway. It was a complete, I damaged (very rusty) Stanley Bedrock #4-1/2. It cleaned up beautifully. I honed the original iron to a razor, scary sharp edge, and it’s now one of my favorite tools. Then I got hooked. I saw an ad on FB Marketplace for a hand plane, also badly rusted. Next town over, I took a ride. Guy wanted $20 so I offered him $15. He was happy and so was I. It was a Stanley Bailey #3. It also cleaned up beautifully and according to the patent numbers it is at least 100 years old! I use them both frequently.

By: Bill Hoeft

Bill Hoeft — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 02:34:04 +0000

In reply to paul mayer. Hand panes are very addictive! I have restored four Stanley's that I purchased from a guy who found them on the floor of a barn, obviously occupied by animals! A thrill taking them apart, cleaning them up, working on the plane body, reassemble, and use. They work great and bring great satisfaction in using them. I have found I can plane a board I am jointing and get as good a mate with my #8 Stanley as with my table saw.

By: MICHAEL

MICHAEL — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 13:08:03 +0000

I just purchased the Woodriver plane set consisting of the #3,4,5,6 planes. Still have to wipe em down, flatten them and hone them to try em out. They seem like an awesome set

By: Customer Service

Customer Service — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 16:31:51 +0000

In reply to tcairo.

Hello. A lot of this comes down to understanding the anatomy of a hand plane, and how things are supposed to be set up in order to work properly. The depth of cut, size of throat opening, flatness of the back of the blade, and of course sharpness are all critical. Here is a video that might help you get yours working properly:
https://www.wwgoa.com/video/setting-hand-plane/
Thanks
Paul-Woodworkers Guild of America

By: tcairo

tcairo — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 11:55:46 +0000

Bought the plane and used it and loved but I had to try to adjust it and now cant get it to work anymore. Could you help with the tuning of a hand plane. Have a stanely 60