Category Archives: Handplanes

‘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

Are Winding Sticks Necessary?

Posted on September 13, 2012 by

Editor’s note: Today we have a guest blog from John Leko, a furniture maker in Huntsville, Ala. Visit his web site at jleko.com. When I’m milling rough boards into lumber, I have never employed winding sticks. Instead I have a … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes | 30 Comments

A Shooting Board for a Simpleton

Posted on September 5, 2012 by

For many years I tried to design a shooting board (and bench hook) that would be worthy of publishing in Popular Woodworking Magazine. I tinkered with adjustable fences to dial in a perfect 90° cut, grippy working surfaces and fences … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes, Personal Favorites | 22 Comments

Those Aren’t Shavings – They are Micro-adjusters

Posted on August 29, 2012 by

Anytime a woodworker starts tossing gossamer handplane shavings into the air that float around like some visible fairy flatulence, we both know what will happen next. Some grumpy wag will say something like: “Bah, who cares about the shavings? All … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes | 13 Comments

Holy Cow, You People Confuse Me

Posted on August 22, 2012 by

So I went to dinner with some friends tonight, including Megan Fitzpatrick at Popular Woodworking Magazine. And she mentioned that there had been a ruckus at WoodCental about my review of Veritas’s new steel. I wandered over there tonight and … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes | 55 Comments

Introducing Lost Art Press Love Wax

Posted on August 17, 2012 by

If you have a tool that generates heat – and who doesn’t? – then you know the power of regular lubrication. But with lubrication comes the loss of your source of lubrication. How many times have you said the following … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes, Personal Favorites | 32 Comments

I Like to Wipe

Posted on August 4, 2012 by

The first time I met Frank Klausz we were both demonstrating at a woodworking show outside Philadelphia. I was flattening boards by hand with a panel plane when Frank walked up, snatched the plane off my bench and walked away. … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes, Personal Favorites, Saws | 37 Comments

Wayne Anderson Planes After 8 Years

Posted on June 30, 2012 by

Anyone who has been to my shop knows that I have a deep affection for the handplanes made by Wayne Anderson. His planes perform as well as any I have ever used – no matter the price – and his … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes, Personal Favorites | 4 Comments

New: ‘Mastering Hand Tools: Basic Skills for Balanced Woodworking’

Posted on April 1, 2012 by

If you read this blog, you probably are are interested in hand tools. And if you are at the beginning of your journey, this blog entry is for you. Popular Woodworking Magazine commissioned me to make a series of 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes | 6 Comments

Back Bevels for Block Planes

Posted on March 17, 2012 by

Some people use back bevels on bevel-down planes to increase the cutting angle up from the standard 45°. This reduces tear-out. However, some sources recommend these back bevels for block planes only. Huh? Yesterday evening I read “Carpenters’ Tools” by … Continue reading →

Posted in Handplanes | 10 Comments