165
THE PRO’S
ADVICE
MAKE YOUR PLANES WORK HARDER
JOHN DAVIES
CARPET FITTER
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 pres-
sure 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 posi-
tion. 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.
HOW TO USE A BENCH PLANE
HOW TO USE A BLOCK 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.
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.
When planing end grain always work to a cut line, which is extended
around all four faces to minimise fraying. Remember that if you at-
tempt 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.
