Flattening Boards By Hand When prepping everything by hand, the start of a project can seem like a bit of a workout. I usually break up the task by planing up what I need as and when I need it, rather than all at once. The real key though is to make sure you're not...
Woodworking Techniques
The techniques I use to make woodworking by hand efficient and fun.
How Often Do You Regrind?
I don’t normally regrind. It's something I've always reserved for when setting up old tools or re-setting knackered edges. But since moving to water stones for my sharpening (I'm still on with that water stone experiment), my usual methods have somewhat let me down. I...
Bandsaw Alternative
Despite writing my sensual spiel about the whys of the bandsaw, I haven't actually used it since closing the workbench business. That's because I discovered the frame saw (that thing that the savages use). Prior to four months ago, the most experience I had with one...
Dictates. And I Like it.
I've wittered quite a bit before about about my troubles with goblin hands and small knobs. In particular, plane handles. Normally anything that trys to be a handle makes a rubbish handle, and as a rule the most un-restrictive handles make for the best. A wooden...
Not Rough… Essential (With Video)
Hand planing wood by hand requires us to choose a technique that's suitable for the specific job at hand, and doing this requires us to understand the wood, the tools and the project in question. New To Hand Planing? Learn About The Different Types Of Hand Planes...
Cap Iron Fatigue
Since ranting about using the cap iron for dealing with tear out, the question 'why do you only use it when smoothing?' comes up a lot. This question is best answered by me asking you to go and do something. Go and set your hand plane up to take a shaving with the cap...
Meeting Rosie
I'd seen a picture of this plane a while back and I was looking forward to seeing if she'd be taken along to the European Woodworking Show last weekend - I was in luck! The old and unassuming little plane has been named Rosie (there's a story behind that) and it's one...
How To Use A Fillister Plane
Anyone used to using machines or power tools can be surprised at just how quickly a joint can be banged out by hand. There might not be any motors, but there are many tasks which can be completed well before you would have had time to find the bits and set up a...
Learning To Set Wooden Planes
When I decided to start woodworking I chose do it with wooden planes. Perhaps this was heavily influenced by what Richard felt would be a good route to take, but also because I've always felt a great attraction towards them. Setting up a wooden hand plane is...
Real World Hand Prepping
For someone who hand planes everything when building furniture, I find that I traverse (or plane across the grain) very little. I avoid it deliberately as I find the action suits neither our workbenches nor our bodies particularly well. The reason that I thickness by...
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Flattening A Big Old Board – The Start Of A Build
Today we've made a start on our Coffee Table build - if you've joined us already then you can Login Here to watch Chapter One. Or find more details HERE I set about this build without a clear direction on what the table would become. I’d had this rough old...
Second Hand Jointers – Hand Plane Buying Tips
I’m always going on about how much I love a minimal tool kit, but in this post I’m going to rant on a bit, and give you a few pointers if you feel limited by the length of your hand plane. A Number 5, or Jack plane, will comfortably see you through most jobs, but as...
The Fix For An Out Of Square Mortice & Tenon – VIDEO
https://youtu.be/XhtD14Qn5pM References: Build A Hall Table Video Series | SIGN UP to watch the Free Hand Plane Build [Watch the video version above]. If you're cutting a mortice and tenon by hand then it's likely things aren't going to be perfect at the...