MAKING MAS WOO P........~.-.- David Finck • STERLING PUBLISHING CO. INC., N W YORK Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Oat" Finck, David. 1961­ Making and mastering wood planes / David Finck p. em ISBN 0-8069-5163-5 1. Planes (Hand lOOIS) ') Woodwork I. Tille TT186. F54!t 2000 684' 082-dr21 10 9 8 7 G 5 4 3 2 Published by Sterling PuOllshlng Company. Inc 38/ Park Avenue South. New York, N Y. 10016 @> 2000 by David FInck D,stributed in Canada by Sterling Publishing clo canadian Manda Group. One Atlantic Avenue, Suite: 105 Toronto, Ontano, Canada M6K 3E7 Distributed In Great Britain and Europe by Cassell PLC Wellington House. 125 Strand, London WaR OBB. England DIstributed In Australla by Glpncorn Lnk (Australia) PLy Ltd PO Box 6651 Baulkham Hills. Business Centre. NSW 2153. Australia Manufactured In th~ United Scates of America AI! fights rese{l/ed Sterling ISBN 0-8069-51 53-5 ChriS SWlmofr Design • Editor- MIChael Cea ACKNOWLEDGMENTS here would be no l)ook witlloUt James career, Also to my sisters Amy and Tina, partners Krenov. The planes described and HillS­ in childhood arts and nafts ac1ventLlr~s, who ahvaYR trateu in the following pages were in­ set the bar way over my head. pired by him. To him and all the teachers and More thanks for the invaluable fforts of those dent in the College of the Rcd,voods Fine who reviewed my manuscript: good friends David ~oodworking Program, my profoundest thanks. Esposito and Bojan Fetek, Tina Casey (my sister), _ ost of what I know about planes and wooel­ James Krenov, Marie Hoepfl (my ~vife), and espe­ "orking v.ras learned there, I hope I've done cially Henry Finck (my father). Through tfleir -. ticc to the subject of planes and Jim's spirit efforts this book was much improved. -Jward woodworking. Ib my wife, Marie, and two young daughters \Iter leading numerous workshops on plane­ Ledah and Willa: It has been a long and rather . king over the years, it is clear that I am deep1s' lonely road. I have missed you! As [ write these debted to my students. I thank them all for t1 e words, I look forward to more time spent with all of .1ght lhal come from questioning the "obvious" you and less time in front of a computer. .nd dflmanding greater clarity of presentation, Finally, I dedicate this book to my father, Henry L'd like ro express my gratitude and love for Finck. He has taught by example from my earliest . le grandfather J never knew, my namesake He years that a job worth doing is worth doing well. He itarted my father working with ",'ood-and it is bas been a limitless source of knowledge and sup­ . father who hen inspired me. And to Paula, port, and an inspiration in so many ways. It is a y mother, who nurtured the artist in all her chil­ debt that cannot be repaid. J can Ollly hope to pass oren, and then, as a business partner, nurtured my the gift along. Contents . " Acknowledgments 3 Foreword by James Kreno\T 7 Introduction 9 CHAPTER 0 E CHAPTE THREE ThaIs and Nlaterials Sharpening 'Techniques <> 43 for Nlaking a Plane 13 Presharpenino Procedures: Thols 13 Preparing the Grinder, Honing StOI1f'i-i/ and \Vorkstation 43 Safety Equipm(~nt 14 Making a Plane Blank 14 Making a Toof Rest 45 Tru/l7g JIg 47 Band-Sow Pomter, i 8 Makmg a SlOne Cradle 49 Rip-Sowmg with 0 Band Sow 20 'Run-Qui" 22 Sharpening Plane Trans 51 The Logic of Truing Boards Using a GTinding and Honing Guidelines 55 Jomter and Planer )4 Sharpening Straight Chi cls 67 Cabinetmaker's Triangle 25 Sharpening Spokeshave Irons 69 Sharpening Knives 69 Plane Irons 27 Chip Breakers 28 Making 0 Corvlfig/Markmg Kmfe 70 CHAPTER T 0 APTER FO . Tuning and Using Hand Thols 35 !\1aking a Plane • 73 Combination Square 35 Tools and Supplies Needed 73 Straightedge 37 Preparing the Glue Surfaces 74 Block Plane 37 Laying Out and Sawing Spol<eshave 41 the Front and Back Blocks 74 6 () Contents Cleaning Up the Cuts 76 Polishing Surfaces 143 The Throat Opening 83 Squaring End Grain 145 Locating the Cross-Pin 87 Profiling 146 Cap Screw' Clearance Slot 89 Finishing Hand-Planed Surfaces 147 Making a Slotting Templote 90 CHAPTER SIX H.outing th(~ Ramp Slot 91 Planing Aids and Special Makil1g the Cross-Pin 92 Techniques ~ 151 Gluing Up the Plane Blank 97 Shooting Boards 1Sl Opening the Throat 100 Planing Thin and/or Small Stock 158 Making on Adjusting Hammer 102 Planing Edges of Large Boards and Surfaces 15H Making the Final Wedge 107 Fitting Carcass Components Precisely ] 61 Setting Up the Plane III Planing Curved Edges 163 Testing and Adjusting the Plane 112 Troubleshooting Techniques Il3 CHAPTER SEVEN Shaping the Plane 114 Scraping 'Techniques • 167 Sales and Inserts Il7 Basic Cabinet Scraper 167 Improving a Throat Opening 119 Smoothing Surfaces with the No. 80 Additional Planes I:W Pattern Scraper 175 The Scraper Plane 177 F' Sanding After Scraping 178 CHAPTE V E • Planing Techniques • 125 Preparing to Plane 126 Metric Equ ivalents Chart 18] Edgf.-Joi ning Techniques 130 Glossary 183 Flattening and Truing Surfaces 139 Index 187 Foreword by James Krenov l1e way that some of us work includes our invenr anything. r just changed the shape and size emotions, our hopes, all the feelings that we of a plane that was already made, used a shorter have. In cabinetmaking, there are different iron, and made the whole tbing very comfortable \-ays of leaving one's spirit-or one's feeling about and very vnrsati e. You could hold it with two -he material-in the completed object All these hands, you could hold it with one, you could do u'ocesses involve an intimacy-a closeness to the large-scale work, and yOll could do very fine details. ··."ood, a closeness to the tools-and an awareness of I think it's VelY important that you be patient and -<;"hat you're doing, of the possihilitics and the liJni· thorough. Lel the fust plane you make be a reasonable rations of the tools, and of your skills. success. wh n ~\!e make something and we do not uc­ Certain tools tllat VvC use are classics: they have ceed, then we're not very likely to continue to make a " een around as long as woodworking second and a third. It's like making a -the chisel, the spokeshave, and guitar tllat has no tone, or a very !:ertainly the plane are some. A bad tone. You put it up on a wall and ong time ago, when I went to you say, "'Well, I made a guitar but -chool we had the classic Euro­ it's not worth playing, so 1 don't " an hand plane, which was made think 1'lJ make any more guitars; I'll t peanvood with a jjgnum vitae buy one inStead." Well, these very - k It bad a long iron, a big, tall personal hal1d planes, as r~1T as I mob in the back, and a hom in tbe know, can't be bought, and you -ront. NO'v, it v,,'as a good plane, and proba1J1y houlc!n't tI You should "eople around me were using it and there was enjoy the makLng of them, and let some: of that fmjoy­ "othing that they found wrong with it. Certainly, if ment give you energy to us them properly, and make -ell cared for and properly used, they were, are, a second and a third. Different sizes, different shapes. .md will continue to be fine tools, just as a vcry Really, my simple message is that if you're going "~ne-tuned metal plane can be. But I found the clas­ to approw'h woodworking with sensitivity and ",cal knob and horn plane very limiting, because maybe refinement, planes are a goodway to begin. ou <.ould only comfortably hold it in one way, and They'f(~ a start to improving the rest of your tools " wasn't very good for small work. So, just out of that need improving. After all, the hand plane is uriosity I made this small plane. That was about the first part of the woodworker's aria. And what l'd .--_ years ago. Many readers and people working like to sec happen, through this book that David has 'ith wood are familiar 1Nith it; it son of assumed written, is for you to make a plane or planes tllat y name, which is all wrong, because I didn't will, in turn, make fine music. 7 Introduction nuno lle distinctions between an object that is yet to even lift a plane or turn a plank. Your merel "crafted" a.lld one tha is "finely paints images of a lone craftsman planing heaps of crafted" become app,uent S01118 tirnc after gossamer-thin sbavings, at one ~with the wood.. Hold c hum of the pO,,"ler tools has faded away'- Think on to that vision, for it is surprisingl r aece, sible. .-power tools as apprentices that handle the drudg­ Dut, likely as not, you have tried your hand at _ that would otherwise sap the energies required planing, and the romance has (lwindled. Instead of ~r more refined work. For example, the' excel at shavings, frustrations have piled one atop another. .JTIing rougl, lumber into dime~lsionec1 stock, The You find sharpening plane irons to be tricky and gic happens at the wmkbencll, tillle~col1suI11ing, and are unccrtain if - ,ough, ,,<lith the use of hand tools, the blade is sharp enough. Setting . comcs down to \-"anting to go the depth of cut is a tedious pro~ yond the: ordinary. Among all cedure tha[ often produces inac­ ~ d tools, fev; r,an take one far ­ curate and unpredictable results, er than a good plane, and the deptl1 of cut is often wift strokes from a ha.nd plane altef(~d when you can least afford nsform a machined surface to it. It seems that the plane will - y smoothness. Planes can make only thick shavings or amlessly join hoards and £latte], nonc at all. Surfaces meant to be •. size surface. They polish end smooth have digs and ridges, and _ ain quickly and beautifully, squaring an edge is all bur impos­ -m hoards to width and length, sible. The plane feels heavy and d can be used to fit the Gompo­ clumsy. And then, when every­ nt, ill various joints, drawers, thing is adjusted properly, the Author David Finck _on;, and lids-,l11 with a higbly sat.­ blade becomes dull after a few - ing level of accuracy. Of GOurse, power tools are mlTlIltes' work. This means the entire procedure mmonly used for all these ordinary tasks, bnt bas to be started over again, Evr,ntually the plane is ;:h predictabl ordinary results. Hand planes can placed back on the wall rack, where it collects dust t:\'ate your efforts to a new level of craftsmanship. with cruel irony. There is another compelling side to hand planes. But using hand planes docs not have to be so ~ lllfmy, woodworking is not about rushing to get frustrating. Shop-made wooden hand planes can mgs done. Perl,aps you are dTawn by the revive that romantic vision, Few metal, factory­ ancc of working with wood. Mayhe you have made planes can rival the performance of those 9 10 0 Incroduetion made out ofwood in your own shop. Wooden planes ing skills are discussed in Chapters 2 and 3. You can accommodate extra-thick blades ofsuperior tool also need to know when to use specific planes, steel that simplify sharpening and stay sharp longer. and should have an arsenal of techniques to meet The blade is adjusted with a wedge-and-hammer the various challenges that typically arise. system that is slop-free, extremely precise, and Don't expect to master it all overnight-it takes holds the setting tenaciously. The plane can have practice. It's like learning the guitar: at first it's a the smallest possible throat opening (the gap where mystery and your fingertips ache trom pressing shavings enter the body of the plane), greatly the strings, but soon you learn a few chords and enhancing itS performance on figured woods like your fingertips toughen. Woody Guthrie said he curly or bird's-eye maple. could play any song using jUSI three chords. Additionally, these shop-made wooden planes Planing is like that too: learn the basics and you are shaped for the comfort of your own hands. will be amazed by how much can be accomplished. These simple shapes can be held several ways­ Odd as it may seem, a book on hand planes ''''hich is very helpful for dlfferent planing tasks. is incomplete if cabinet scrapers are neglected, In all, planing with a well-made wooden plane is Scrapers, which are discussed in Chapter 7, are a very pleasant experience. part of the plane family. Although overshadowed With the information supplied in Chapter 4, it by the hand plane, they have their own unique should take you a day and a half to make your first and important qualitieS. Chief among these is plane. V'lith some practice, making a plane will take their ability to quickly smooth nearly any wood, only a few hours. In short order, you can create a no matter ho,v wild the f1gUTe, Scrapers can take collection of planes impossible to du plicate with tissue-thin shavings and leave a surface ready for factory planes, 011 the basis of performance or cost. sanding \,'jth finest-grit sandpaper. Stock is Specialized planes Gan also be made that expand removed more quickly than by hand-sanding, and your capability for work beyond ordinary tasks. with considerably less dust and more accuracy than With the plane in hand, the obvious next step is when a portable sander is used. Thus, whether you learning to use it accurately and efficiently. are confronted by an entire tabletop of impossible­ Chapter 5 discusses proper techniques. HO'wever:, to-plane wood, or merely need to repair a small experience also plays an important role. You will blemished area, Scrapers are the solution to the develop sensitivities which amount to an ongoing problem. conversation bet\·veen you, the plane, and the In wrHing tills book 1 offer up the information material being planed by monitoring the shavings gleaned from my teachers, from my own endeav­ .Hawing from the plane, listening for telltale ors, and from working with students, in as richly sounds, and lightly brushing fingertips over the detailed a form as I can muster. [ hope that surface. It soon becomes second nature to respond makes the difference between things working out to these cues. Sometimes this will mean simply or not, or between things working very well or tapping with the hammer to produce lacy shavings merely working. But there is a danger of over­ that will shoot tbrough the plane. There are sub­ burdening the reader with information to the tleties to attend to along the Ivay: when to sharpen point of distraction. i suggest that the differem the blade iron and when to stop sharpening it; how chapters be studied one at a time. Reread the sec­ much to arc the blade for polish-planing; setting tions you are unfamiliar with, try the techniques lhe blade precisely; and what to listen for when or procedLlres, and then read the text again to tightening the wedge, These tuning and sharpen­ verify that everything has been done properly. Introdu([/on I 1 _hour an experienced observer looking OVSf My sincerest hope is that the information that shoulder.. you must be your own observer­ follows will be it bridge to a way of working t113t i'i1cult task. gives you great satisfaction, whil(~ positively influ­ have k~pt assumptions that the reader has an encing the quality of the work. 'Nith increased ~anced knowledge 0 plane to a minimum, to reliance au planes, yOLl will also enjoy a quieter, cn:-ure the success ofthose with limited expe­ safer, and cleaner shop. I do not mean to say that ~ce, In fact, the process of plane-making serves this approach is for ever 'one, but nearly anyon_ an elegant framework tor teaching many of willing 0 try can have great success making and fundame11tal of nne woodworking. It is also a using plal1es. I hope to leave yon brimming with 'de for illuminatilg many 0 the little "tricks" the confidence to handle the numerous tasks lhat ~ help yield clean and accurate work. To pre­ planes excel at and to get you Sti.ntr.d on amassing ,. e the flow of the process, and prevent the more a collection of the finest planes availahle the erienced among you from being boggrd down, ones you make yourself! 't of the ancillary information appears in boxes arate from the main text. David Finck Ledall, age 3 112, planing Q cherry tabletop.