Reply To: Lessons learned
Here’s my contribution to this topic. I feel absolutely silly, but lesson learned.
Short version: When initializing a plane, whether new or new to you, be sure to check the sole for flatness from toe to heel. Not just side to side. Seems obvious, but some times the obvious is overlooked.
Long Version: I have never been a “crafter/craftsperson/craftsman” take your pick on the label. But, after discovering Paul’s channel a few years ago and watching how he made it look so effortless. The way he explains and simplifies complex ideas…well, I was hooked. Fast forward a few months, I bought my first Stanley No 4 and No 5 direct from Stanley. I sat and watched Paul’s videos on initializing, sharpening, and setting up a new plane. I did everything correctly, or so I thought. However the No 4 would never give a good result. The shavings in the middle of the stock would be light and feathery, but at the front end of the board the shaving would become progressively thicker as the cut became progressively heavier. When landing the plane on the back end the iron would dig in tearing the board or skitter and create chatter marks. No matter how I adjusted my technique or how sharp the iron was I could never acheive perfectly straight and true stock. The front end of the boards would slope downward like an Olympic Ski Jump and the back ends looked like they’d been planed with a hammer drill. I finally gave up on using the No 4 because I was getting better results with the No 5. But using such a large plane on smaller stock isn’t feasible. Several months later, I added a Stanley No 3 to my growing aresenal of hand tools which gave significantly better results, it just would take longer to plane larger pieces. Then, two nights ago, I was surfing the WWMC forum and I came across a post describing similar difficulties that I was experiencing with a No 4. In one of the replies, a user suggested the OP check to ensure the sole of their plane was flat from toe to heel. That’s when it registered, I had never checked the sole for flatness from toe to heal! I was only checking from side to side. I sprang up from the couch, pulled out a straight edge and that cursed No 4 and there it was, a ~1/64-1/32 inch (1-2mm) belly starting ~3/4 inch (19mm) before the throat and gradually disappearing just before the heel. How could I have missed such a basic step? While being a novice at woodworking, I’m pretty smart and intuitive individual. How could I have missed such a basic and obvious check?! Today, I got out some 150 and 220 grit sandpaper and went to town. Now, my stock no longer nose dives at the front and the plane enters the rear of the board smooth and perfect.
Lesson Learned
