Hand planes 101

I have a blog topic that has a bunch of reference materials for planes. There are sections for web, books, and videos. \\http://lumberjocks.com/WayneC/blog/series/43

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Chunk,

The special purpose plane that will widen a dado is a side rabbet plane. If you’re working across the grain, one of the metal ones has a good cutting geometry. These include the Stanley 79, Stanley’s 98 & 99 pair or any of the British copies of the Preston side rabbet. For working with the grain a wooden side rabbet has a better cutting geometry.

When it comes to “hand planes 101” I don’t think you can beat the information Richard Neve published in his Builder’s Dictionary way back in 1736. Since Stanley came along more than a hundred years later, Neve’s information doesn’t include Stanley’s numbering system but Neve’s descriptions give a very good indication of what planes do what jobs. Neve’s list is also probably the most concise list of a collection of planes that enable a woodworker to make just about anything he/she can dream up. Here’s Neve’s list:

I got this for Xmas last year work great. Veritas® Side Rabbet Plane

-- Mike

Here is a link to a book I just picked up on hand planes. It seems quite informative, haven’t read the whole book yet.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=63912&cat=1,46096,46107&ap=1

There are lots of other books and articles online about hand planes.

-- Mike

I highly recommend Garrett Hack’s classic ‘The Handplane Book” http://www.amazon.com/Handplane-Book-Garrett-Hack/dp/1561587125/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257785242&sr=1-1
Chris Schwartz’s ‘Handplane Essentials’ (referenced above) is a close second.

-- The best thing online is a fish

Another good place to visit:
http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan0a.html

-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.

Great question Chuck. Thanks for asking.

Bothus

-- Professional kitchen designer, amature woodworker.