{"id":18285,"date":"2017-06-06T16:29:32","date_gmt":"2017-06-06T06:29:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/?p=18285"},"modified":"2022-03-29T13:24:57","modified_gmt":"2022-03-29T03:24:57","slug":"the-complete-guide-to-the-hand-plane-from-steve-hay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/the-complete-guide-to-the-hand-plane-from-steve-hay\/","title":{"rendered":"The Complete Guide to the Humble Hand Plane from Steve Hay"},"content":{"rendered":"

All worthwhile pursuits have their gurus. Selfies? Kim Kardashian. Nonviolent civil disobedience? Gandhi. Woodworking? Steve Hay. Steve Hay\u2019s Woodworking Master Class<\/a> teaches novice and sage woodworking enthusiasts alike a lifetime of tips and tricks via his television and YouTube channels. Here, we take a look at some of his best hacks for the humble hand plane.<\/p>\n

When it comes to the hand plane, according to Steve:<\/p>\n

\u201cYou do need patience, you do need a bit of time, and you do need to really want to know how to use them. The rest is pretty easy to understand.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

How many planes do I need?<\/h2>\n

Anyone who has gazed upon Steve\u2019s workshop with awe and envy, as we have, will have noticed his vast array of tools. Not least of which, his selection of hand planes is enough to make even the most neophyte of woodworkers a little hot under the collar. While it\u2019s an impressive collection for sure, Steve is quick to point out that it\u2019s by no means a prerequisite to good woodworking.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose of you have seen a lot of my videos and my shows know that I have quite a nice selection of planes. I just want to show you how easy it is to plane, and you don\u2019t need a lot of expensive or exotic, or a range of planes like I\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Which are the best planes to start out with?<\/h2>\n

Despite Steve\u2019s collection of every hand plane under the sun, he recommends a few standard sizes which will cover you for most jobs. The size 7, 5, and 4 are the most common types of plane manufactured these days. Steve finds the number 7 most useful but says the one he uses the most is the No. 5. However, the most popular and regularly used elsewhere, according the Steve is the Stanley No. 4.<\/p>\n

Finding a good hand plane is not necessarily an expensive endeavour, as he explains:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis one\u2019s got a plastic handle, so really, collectors aren\u2019t all that interested in picking them up. And you can generally pick them up for under $30 plus postage and handling, from most of the auction sites.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

(You can read our Buyers Guide to Shopping for Vintage Tools <\/a>for more on this topic.)<\/p>\n

Steve’s tip top rule for working with any plane?<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember to keep it sharp, but keep it safe\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sharpening your blades<\/h2>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s as many ways to sharpen, as there are blades, I\u2019m sure. My particular preference is that I use an oil stone. Generally, when I\u2019m working, just to brighten my tool up, or give it a secondary bevel, I use an oil stone.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Steve has a number of useful videos for taking care of your plane, see our article How to use a Sharpening Stone<\/a> for a detailed look at these. Meanwhile, Steve\u2019s got some practical tips for any woodworker.<\/p>\n

Top tricky tip:<\/h4>\n

Add a small nail to each end of the underside of your sharpening block, and snip off the head. This will add just enough friction that it will help the block to stay put on your bench while you\u2019re using it. How very MacGyver of you, Steve!<\/p>\n

When sharpening your stone, Steve says, get into the habit of bending at the waist and using your body for the forward and reverse motion, rather than your hands. The reason for this little dance-like manoeuvre? When using your hands to push and pull the blade, you tend to roll it, and create an uneven finish.<\/p>\n

How to test if your blade is sharp enough<\/h2>\n

Once you\u2019re finished sharpening, grab a piece of paper and run your blade along it. The blade should slice through that thing like butter. Plus, it looks pretty badass, to boot.<\/p>\n

\"Steve
Image Credit: youtube.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How to hold your plane<\/h2>\n

You may have been using a hand plane for years and be very comfortable with your style. If so, move along to the next point. If you\u2019re a bit of a newbie however, Steve has some simple instructions for getting a good grip on your tool. Hold your plane by the handle with three fingers and thumb, then place index finger along the plane, in the direction you are planing. This will ensure you\u2019ve got enough leverage behind you, and keep your hands from getting too sore. At the end of the day though, Steve isn\u2019t going to beat you around the knuckles if your technique is a little different.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally it\u2019s horses for courses. Whatever you\u2019re comfortable with, will work.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Cleaning your wooden hand plane<\/h2>\n