105
THE PRO'S
ADVICE
MAKE YOUR PLANESWORK HARDER
JOHN DAVIES
CARPENTER
HOW TO USE A BENCH PLANE
STEP 1
Fix the wood securely either against a bench stop on the bench
top or in the bench vice.
STEP 2
For right handed person adopt a firm base with your left foot
well forward and your right foot and right hip as close to the line of cut
as possible. If you are right handed, hold the front knob in your left hand
finger tips and grasp the rear handle with the right hand with the index
finger resting on the shoulder of the cutter; this helps maintain consistent
direction, particularly important when squaring edges.
STEP 3
Place the toe (the base of the plane in front of the mouth) on the
near end of the wood and apply light downward pressure to maintain
even contact with the wood. Push the plane forward with your right hand
and transfer your body weight from right foot onto the left foot as the
plane progresses. When the toe approaches the far end of the wood
reduce the downward pressure with the left hand and increase the
pressure with the right hand until the mouth and cutter are clear of the
wood. This is a very important skill to acquire as the consequence of
rocking the plane at the start and finish of the stroke will be a rounded
surface.
HOW TO USE A BLOCK PLANE
When planing end grain always work to a cut line, which is extended
around all four faces to minimise fraying. Remember that if you attempt
to plane a full width of end grain you are very likely to split a piece off
the far edge of the wood, to eliminate this risk plane in from both ends.
HOW TO USE A DUPLEX
REBATE PLANE
STEP 1
Set the width of the rebate and set the depth of the required cut.
STEP 2
Start planing from the far end of the rebate and progressively
work back to the near end. As you push the plane forward apply pressure
on the heel with the right hand this will reduce the tendency for the
cutter to ‘dig in’.
TIP 1
It often helps to place the fingers of the left hand on the outer
edge of the fence to help keep the plane in a perfectly upright position.
For best result aim to produce a thin shaving as the absence of a cap iron
to control the shaving demands more care from the user to produce a
good result.
TIP 2
If you need to clean up a stopped rebate move the cutter and lever
cap to the forward bull nosed position. Depth adjustment will have to be
done by hand as the lever function is not available in the forward
position.
STEP 4
At the end of each stroke it is better to lift the plane and return
to the starting position rather than drawing it back over the wood, which
could possibly dull the cutting edge prematurely.
