Almost everyone will agree that the hand plane is possibly
the most fun woodworking tool. A plane is simply a chisel enclosed a metal or
wooden base to make it easier to use both hands and work a lot more quickly,
lifting off at each stroke a very thin wood shaving. While using a plane, you
can actually start to feel the pleasure of carpentry; the aroma of wood rising
towards your nostrils; beautiful curled shavings come up from the blade; the
area behind the plane (as long as you're planing along the grain, as you should
be) is smoothened and slick.
When about to use the plane, check the blade before
adjusting it. You'll find that by taking out the lever cap, the blade may be
removed easily. A cap iron is screwed on the blade which rests slightly in back
from the sharp edge on the un-beveled side. The cap iron serves as a planing
deflector. The cap iron's sharp edge and the little flat surface that is set
next to the cutter must lie tightly along the full width of the blade since
they are screwed together. This prevents shavings from going between them. When placing the blade back in the plane, be
sure to place the cap iron topmost on the unbeveled side of the blade. Replace
the lever cap, locking it with the little cam at the top.
More about hand planes: Tips on Using the Hand Plane
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