Fine Woodworking

Fine Woodworking Project Guides

Handplanes

Guide Home

Member-Only

Sign in or become a member to access this story

Handplane Fundamentals: Prepping Furniture Parts

How to use a variety of hand tools to fit joinery, refine furniture parts, and smooth surfaces.

By Michael Pekovich Dec 06, 2016

Start your 14-day FREE trial to watch this video

Plus, access more than 500 video workshop episodes when you become a member

Start Your Free Trial

Nothing exemplifies the quality of an accomplished and experienced woodworker better than the full command of handplanes. In this online video class, teacher and furniture maker Mike Pekovich leads you on the journey toward a mastery of handplanes.

In this video Mike shows you how to put together everything he’s shown you about handplanes and use them in a real world scenario. You’ll discover great methods for fitting joinery, refining parts, and smoothing surfaces in preparation for a finish.

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest techniques and how-to from Fine Woodworking, plus special offers.

Videos in the Series

Handplane Fundamentals: Why You Need Handplanes

October 4, 2016

Learn about the different types of planes and why you need them.
Handplane Fundamentals: Grain, Tearout, and Blade Angle

October 4, 2016

To prevent tearout, you must understand what causes it.
Handplane Fundamentals: Sharpening

October 11, 2016

You'll never get a handplane to perform the way you want it to until you get the blade truly sharp.
Handplane Fundamentals: The Block Plane

October 18, 2016

Whether for edge treatments or end grain, the block plane will be one of your most used handplanes.
Handplane Fundamentals: Shoulder and Smoothing Planes

October 25, 2016

How to set up and use a shoulder plane and smoothing plane.
Handplane Fundamentals: The Jack Plane

November 1, 2016

The last to fill out Mike's essential plane kit is the jack plane. With its longer sole, it is perfect for flattening stock quickly. You'll reach for it often.
Handplane Fundamentals: Special-Purpose Planes

November 8, 2016

The bevel up smoother and spokeshave are two tools you'll want to make room for in your tool cabinet. Mike Pekovich shows you why.
Handplane Fundamentals: The Card Scraper

November 15, 2016

The card scraper is your first tool to grab to clean up any plane tracks or minor tearout left behind by your planes.
Securing Work on the Bench

November 29, 2016

Mike Pekovich shows you the features he looks for in his workbenches and reviews some work-holding accessories that help him get the most out of his planes.
Handplane Fundamentals: Prepping Furniture Parts

December 6, 2016

How to use a variety of hand tools to fit joinery, refine furniture parts, and smooth surfaces.
Handplane Fundamentals: Flat and Smooth

December 13, 2016

Learn to add delicate chamfers to parts and to prep surfaces for a finish.
Recommended resources: Fundamentals of Handplanes

June 18, 2020

Check out our collection of articles specifically picked to help with this series.

X

X

Previous: Tips and Tricks for Handplaning Next: Handplane Fundamentals: Flat and Smooth

Comments

TurboRoy | Dec 07, 2016 06:32am | #1
Very helpful, thanks, I learned a lot from this series, especially what I was doing wrong with sharpening & the simple bench accessories for holding the work.
Mattatthegranary | Dec 30, 2016 02:06pm | #2
Great video,very helpfull for getting planes ect really.What I don't understand is setting the planes down on the bench, face down,surely there is a great chance you will damage the edge laying it straight on the bench.I was always told,golden rule always lay a plane on its side.
jimweber | Apr 14, 2017 08:16am | #3
Very well done. It really explained the basics well.
Tipper74 | Feb 01, 2018 12:45pm | #4
Great series Mike, very well explained. I've got quite a bit of experience but still picked up some tips that will help me along.
Thanks a lot!

Log in or become a member to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Handplanes

Handplanes

All you need to know about choosing and using these versatile, must-have hand tools.

View Project Guide

View All Project Guides »

Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the Handplanes Project Guide.

Start Free Trial

All About Handplanes

Planes for Surfacing and Smoothing

Planes for Joinery and Shaping

Block Planes

Scrapers and Scratch Stocks

UNLIMITED membership - Get access to it all

Start Free Trial Upgrade Membership