Popular Woodworking 2007-06 № 162, страница 48

HANDPLANES

for Beginners

Handplanes are the king of woodworking tools in that they are the most versatile tool in a shop. They do so many varied jobs, that the more you know how to use planes, the more planes you own. The converse is true. If you own just one, there is a good chance you do not know how to use it.

If you do not know how to use a plane, you are not alone. In fact, when history judges those of us who teach and write about woodworking, it will be harsh. We bear responsibility for the loss of knowledge of hand-planes. For thousands of years these tools have been the mainstay of every woodworking shop, and in a matter of decades we permitted this knowledge to almost disappear. These days, the handplane is used more frequently as a logo on woodworkers' business cards than in their shops.

I experience this lack of knowledge directly in every class I teach. Our tool list specifies a handplane, ""either smooth or jack, such as a Stanley No. 4 or No. 5." Students putting their tools together frequently call and ask for clarification. One recently repeated what I have heard many times: "I'm a professional woodworker and I don't know what a 'smooth' or a 'jack' is."

Students frequently ask us to show them how to adjust the plane they brought. When they go to work, we frequently observe them struggling with their planes. It is not uncommon for us to find the blade upside down, or even the chipbreaker mistaken for the blade. The purpose of this article is to describe the basics of handplanes starting at the most nitty-gritty level. Until you understand these basics, handplanes will remain a mystery.

A History Lesson

The basic handplane we recognize is referred to as a "bench plane." The quest to develop cast iron bench planes began in the 1800s. Prior to that, most planes were made of wood. Cast iron planes were deemed more desirable, because they could be easily mass produced, and would hold up longer. Although a lot of people had tried making cast iron planes, Leonard Bailey of Boston, Mass., made a technological breakthrough by inventing the removable frog. This device allowed for more easy and accurate adjustment. In 1869, Bailey sold

Lever cap

Chipbreaker or cap iron

Frog mounting screws

Toe

Front knob

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Popular Woodworking June 2007