How to Set Up a Hand Plane | Rockler Skill Builders

Hand planes can be tricky to set up. We show you how to assemble and adjust a hand plane to make smooth cuts. Learn how to set up a bench plane to make perfect cuts.

[Joe]

Great short video. No wasted minutes of waffle and loud music. Straight to the point. 👌Great stuff, thanks!

[PatrickConlon]

phew thank god i found this one, nice simple and to the point, thanks man.

[TheRosstaman]

Almost a perfect explanation. I came to YouTube trying to find out whether the bevel on the blade goes against the chip breaker, or if the chip breaker is on the back of the blade. You didn't mention it, but it's apparent from the video that the chip breaker goes on the back of the blade. For reference, I'm calling the side with the beveled blade, "the front". YES, I'm new to this, so no, I don't know this stuff. Got my very first hand plane today, a #4 Stanley Bailey from ebay and the adjustment lever wasn't working. Took it apart, tightened some screws, put it back together and the lever works, but I was getting saw dust on my first passes. I figured I had set the blade wrong and my observation of this video confirms that. So ultimately... Thanks!

[squidbeach]

Thank you so much for this video. It really helped me.

[namehidden]

No-nonsense, 2:24, commonsense. Excellent!

[drmkiwi]

That's quite a different way to setting the angle, I'll give it a try next time. (Previously I've always set it up by eye and then made very slight adjustments on the work at hand.)

[Hoeech]

How tightly does the iron need to be attached to the cap iron? Should the screw be set as tightly as possible or just hand tightened?

[danielknoxupholsterymore]

Ty I didn't know how to set up properly but it's great now I had to rebuild a rusty one but it's nice now

[cochinaable]

Pardon my ignorance but where do you set the bevel edge of the blade? Facing forward is correct right?

[mmmmmmm]

Cant see orientation of blade to cap iron. Nice effort though

[Fiercefighter]

Hmm mine only has three parts. The main body, the clamping device, and the blade. How do I set this style up? I sort of manage by just looking at how far the blade sticks out but it's imprecise and the blade always slides back after awhile and I have to push it back through the slot.

[robertruzanski]

I'm having some issues. I can make this 3 times with no issues. Then next time it won't get thick. Happens every so often. Looking for tips and suggestions please.

[martintheron]

When inserting blade where is the adjusting turn knob/wheel? In the centre of thread, for adjustment clockwise or anticlockwise? I am a newbie, please

[landoncarter]

At the end you say 'it's reflecting light, so it's set up correctly'. I'm not sure what you mean by that? Wouldn't it reflect light even if it was set up incorrectly?

[harryohanson]

Personally I would hate to waist a piece of wood. Always have nose of the plane facing me, upside down and blade my way. That way I can see when the blade appears when I adjust it and also the angle of it. Same way goes with wood planes (old and Japanese style planes.

[nickbrutanna]

Need closeups of wtf you're doing. Anyone following these probably doesn't need instructions.

[Mriya]

"I'm going to set it between a sixty fourth and a thirty second from the edge"
My brother in christ, just say "one or two millimetres". It's a billion times more comprehensible to everyone else on the planet.

[tautliners]

It's pronounced leaver not Lever as in level. That mispronounced word is doing my head in.

[lawtonify]

I've spent more time trying to setup the plane and it's driving me up the wall....I'm about to go back to screwing and launch it at one of the staff at boiling point...2 days to place a door on one side...