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    Fine Woodworking Project Guides

    Handplanes

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    Chapter
    • All About Handplanes
    • Planes for Surfacing and Smoothing
    • Planes for Joinery and Shaping
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    Step-by-Step Guide to Tuning Your Block Plane

    Whether your block plane is new or vintage, follow these steps to get it running at full capacity.

    Author Headshot By Mike Korsak #289-May/June 2021 Issue
    tune up block plane
    If your block plane has an adjustable shoe, remove it and sand its rear edge smooth. Any burrs there could slow the passage of shavings through the mouth.

    Synopsis: Whether your block plane is new or vintage, follow these steps to get it running at full capacity. Make sure the sole is flat, straighten the shoe, tune up the cap iron, check the bed, ease the edges, hone the blade, and adjust the shoe and blade.


    The humble block plane, though often overlooked, is an extremely versatile tool, and I definitely wouldn’t want to work without one. If you would like to get your brand-new or decades-old block plane tuned and running at full capacity, here is a series of steps that will help.

    checking if block plane sole is flat
    Holding the plane up to a light source, check with a straightedge to see if the sole is flat. Check down the middle, at the sides, and on the diagonals as well. If you see any glint of light, mark the location.

    The first thing to do is check the flatness of the…

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    All About Handplanes
    • Handplane Basics
    • Setting Up a Plane
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    Block Planes
    • All About Block Planes
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    Scrapers and Scratch Stocks
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