Many of my classes include the instruction to “just put a bead on it.” A bead on the edge of a board protects fragile corners from breaking off, because by rounding it over into a bead, said fragile edge is gone. A bead also creates a shadowline, which helps to make a gap (say, between…
Read moreIf you’re blending hand tools and power tools in your shop, here are the planes you should own.
Read moreJack planes are the most-used tool in my hands. Hands down, hands forward and hands back. I’m on my third jack plane iron since 1996. I’ve never even come close to wearing out a plane iron for a smoothing or jointer plane. (I have eaten through some block plane blades, though I blame that on…
Read moreSure, we all know to keep our handplanes sharp, clean and lubed. But when was the last time you did maintenance on the tool’s mouth and the edges of its sole? These areas are fragile and take a heap of abuse. Yet little is written about how to regularly maintain them. Let’s start with the…
Read moreThe key to success with a spokeshave is understanding the cutting angles and how they work.
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