The week my hand plane turned a pile of oak into a real mess

I decided to build a simple bookshelf from some rough cut oak I got from a local mill, thinking it would be a nice two day project. After three days, I had a pile of tear-out and frustration because I couldn't get the blade set right. My friend came over, took one look and said, 'You're pushing it like you're mad at it.' He showed me how to adjust the cap iron to just a hair's width from the edge, and suddenly the shavings came off in perfect, thin curls. That one tiny change, which took maybe 30 seconds, saved the whole piece of wood and my sanity. I finished the shelf last Friday, and it's the only thing in my house I stop to look at every time I walk by. Has anyone else had a tool tip that seemed small but fixed a huge problem?

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3 Comments

the_michael6mo ago

Try a lighter touch on the plane.

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elliot_patel6mo ago

Tell that to the pilot.

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michael_coleman106mo ago

Yeah, @the_michael is right, a lighter grip on the yoke helps a lot with smoother landings.

1