Introduction to Hand Planes resources

Learning about hand planes can have a pretty steep learning curve. That's why its so important to get that vital, hands-on practice during class. The resources included here should provide you with a basic introduction to the parts of a plane and how they work. They will help reinforce what you learned in class and help you go a little deeper into the craft. If you have questions about anything hand plane related or are looking for some small project lumber, Please reach out by leaving a comment below. 

Old fashioned resources 

For those of you who prefer to read, the link below takes you to a Google drive page with a handful of articles from various woodworking magazines. 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3r5TYMZTxgBTjl2UVdzZXJneTA

New fashioned resources 

Videos are a powerful tool for learning. I've selected these videos based on a few factors that make it easy for a beginner to understand. If these don't quite 'speak' to you, please browse around YouTube for something else. There is no shortage of hand plane videos. 

Educational Video on “Influence of the Cap-iron on Hand Plane” from giant Cypress on Vimeo.


Other useful resources
Links to modern day plane makers

Lie Nielsen 

Veritas/Lee Valley

Wood River

The Superior Works: Patrick's Blood and Gore - Don't let the name fool you. This is the most exhaustive site on the web when it comes to information about every plane Stanely ever made.

Woodnet.net is my favorite online forum for all things woodworking. It's also a good place to find quality used tools at a fair price.

Making a saw handle

Side-car sleeper

The new kiddo is a bit bigger than his sister was! At three months he doesn't fit in the cradle I built when Eloise was born. I had to build a new sidecar sleeper so he can continue sleeping close to mom and dad.

In the "finish shop"

After a coat of boiled linseed oil

Making dang sure everything was custom fit

mattress support

Dowels to hold the two assemblies together. I felt like a lucky man when all ten of them slipped right into place.  

I used hardwood splines to reinforce the mitered corners.

Bandsaw Pulley

With the birth of a child and being a fulltime student, the old bandsaw hasn't seen much action for months.  The final piece of the tune up has been the upper pulley.  The old one had been used without a key and was all wallowed out.  I got a nice new CI pulley from Motion Industries, which has an office right down the street from my place.

I have to say that I couldn't be happier with this tool.  I've got the wood slicer blade and it walks right through anything I've thrown at it as far as resawing, which is what it'll get used for a lot.  I maxed it out on some 1x6 red oak and the motor didn't slow down whatsoever.

router bearings

Get your motor runnin'

Attention has turned to getting the motor all squared away.  That includes a cleaning, oiling, and rewiring.

Took the motor apart and now I have to figure out what I' doing.

Bandsaw work continues

The parts for the saw finally came. I got the cool blocks and tension spring installed and threw on the wood slicer resaw blade to give it a try. My God was I impressed!!! Not that i've used a ton of other people's' saws but enough to say that mine is the best one I've ever used. I started with a 3in piece of birch and the saw didn't even know it was cutting anything. Next I tried a 4.5in piece of red oak and the saw still didn't even flinch. The motor didn't slow or bog down at all. I'm so thrilled to have a bandsaw that can handle anything I can throw at it, now I just have to work on best sawing practices. 

My next priority is to get the right pulleys on the thing. I noticed that the saw pulley was wobbling quite a bit. The one on the motor fits very tight and has no wobble at all. Too bad it's not the right one. I know it should have a stepped pulley on the motor but I'm not committed to an exact replacement at this point since I'm strictly a woodworker. I guess my question is whether or not I should be looking for an original part or an aftermarket part that meets the manufacturers specs? Same goes for the pulley for the gearbox. It currently doesn't have anything on the shaft. The first pic is of the pulley off the saw, #5800. Original part or not? It doesn't have a pin (key?) that fits snugly in the slot of the shaft but I'm assuming it should. The second pic is the pulley on the motor which does have that pin and is really stuck on there. You'll notice its pushed up all the way against the motor. I thought tapping it back and forth on the shaft would loosen it up a bit or at least allow me to pull the pin but no dice. Now I'll have to track down a puller to get it off which shouldn't be a big deal. I think auto parts stores lend them out.