65 - Our Best Bench Yet, страница 32
Far from being obsoletey hand planes deserve a , place in every wood* working shop. Block Plane #5 Jack Plane Low-Angle Block Plane. A low-angle block plane is a good choice for cutting end grain, like the pins on this dovetail joint. WWfi ■ i - here's nothing quite like using Ms a sharp, well-tuned hand plane. All you hear is the "schwoop" of the plane as it slides over the wood, peeling off thin, wispy shavings and leaving behind a glass-smooth surface that you just can't get by sanding. Hand planing is truly one of the most enjoyable experiences in woodworking. If you think hand planes are old-fashioned and outdated, you might want to re-consider. Power tools may have replaced hand planes for a lot of the grunt work of thicknessing and dimensioning stock, but there are still places where a hand plane is quicker and easier to use. That's why in my shop I use hand planes right alongside with my power tools. But where do you start? In the past, there were dozens of different types of hand planes, each designed for a special purpose. Today, the choice is a bit more limited, but it's still easy to be confused by the assortment available. Why are there so many sizes, and more importantly, which ones do you need? Block Planes - If you're only going to own one hand plane, a block plane is the one to get. In fact, I would go so far as to say this is one plane that every woodworker should own. My block plane gets used on just about every project I build. It's called into service for all kinds of routine tasks such as chamfering, trimming edging, or flushing up a rail and stile joint, see photo below. It fits comfortably in one hand, and it slips nicely into the pocket of my shop apron when I'm done. Block planes are available in two versions — a standard-angle and a low-angle. The difference is in the angle at which the blade is set or "bedded." On the standard-angle plane, the blade is usually bedded at a 20° angle. On the low-angle plane, the bed is at al2°angle. I use both types of block planes in my shop, and they each have their place. The low-angle plane excels at cutting end grain, see margin photo at left. The low angle of the blade allows it to slice through the wood easier. But it doesn't do so well when cutting long grain. (It tends to lift and tear the grain.) So if I could have only one of these planes, it would be the standard-angle block plane. It's the one I use most, and it's better suit^L for general, all-around work. But^P truth is that I wouldn't want to be without either one. Bench Planes - After block planes, bench planes are probably the most commonly used hand planes. Bench planes are numbered from #1 to #8 according to their size. In addition to the numbers, bench planes are also named for the job they do. The smaller sizes are known as A Block Plane. A block plane can quic trim a rail so it's flush with a stile, either before or after the pieces are assembled. 32 & ShopNotes No. 65 |
