Category Archives: Handplanes

Sharpening a Plane

Posted on May 18, 2013 by

A GREAT MANY men who use as common a tool as a plane cannot do a good job in keeping the tool in order. It is quite a knack to sharpen a plane in good shape, especially to set an … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes, Historical Images | 10 Comments

This Unrighteous System

Posted on May 16, 2013 by

New-York, February 12th, 1842. Sir – I have the honor of being in the receipt of your circular requesting information in relation to the effect which the introduction of the manufacturing of planes, in the prisons at Auburn and Sing-Sing, … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes, Historical Images | 13 Comments

Wood Bench Planes

Posted on May 15, 2013 by

Many of the best mechanics prefer the Wood Bench Planes to the Iron and combination iron and wood planes, but have been compelled to use the latter, owing to the poor quality of the wood bench planes commonly sold. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes, Historical Images | 10 Comments

An Unusual Rebate Plane Worth Investigating

Posted on March 27, 2013 by

  While conducting a plane-tuning seminar on Wednesday with toolmaker extraordinaire Chris Vesper, I got the opportunity to pick through his tool collection. I had no idea he was a tool collector. He is. And he has devoted about one-third … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes, Personal Favorites | 14 Comments

Mailbag: How to Dress a Tabletop

Posted on January 14, 2013 by

I am asked the following question a lot – that usually means I should answer it. Question: I am building a trestle table based on the one you built. I have a dumb question. I was lucky enough to find … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes, Techniques | 24 Comments

New Products at Woodcraft Show a Change

Posted on December 31, 2012 by

Woodcraft Supply LLC caught a rash of criticism in recent years for introducing tools that were Chinese-made copies of current American-made tools. First Woodcraft started carrying hammers that were obvious copies of the Glen-Drake hammers. Then the company introduced its … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes | 71 Comments

How to (Really) Set up a Premium Handplane

Posted on December 8, 2012 by

In the last month I’ve received a lot of e-mails about an article and video from Fine Woodworking magazine about how to set up a new handplane. The e-mails all had the same question: Is this true? Should I really … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes | 55 Comments

The Winner of Our Haiku Contest

Posted on November 26, 2012 by

Thanks to Megan Fitzpatrick at Popular Woodworking Magazine, we have a winner of our Lost Art Press haiku contest. I had to call upon Megan to judge the entries because all the haikus I liked had to do with “poo.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes | 21 Comments

Win My Souped-up &%$#%^&* Handplane — a Haiku contest

Posted on November 15, 2012 by

When I first dove into handwork, I could barely afford diapers, wipes and formula – never mind a nice Bed Rock or infill handplane (this was before we had premium bench planes). So I bought all my planes at antique … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes | 210 Comments

‘Do you want me to deprioritize my current reports until you advise me of a status upgrade?’

Posted on September 26, 2012 by

Here are some short updates on projects in the works at Lost Art Press. 1. “Grandpa’s Workshop” is in its final stages at the printer and should be on its way to us in the next week. Free shipping for … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in Print, Grandpa's Workshop, Handplanes, Mouldings in Practice | 50 Comments