How To Sharpen and Tune Up a Hand Plane
Got a hand plane that's not performing well? It could be dull, need tuning up, or both. Let us show you how.
Introduction
A hand plane is a wonderful, classic tool that forms wood into a desired shape by shaving away thin strips, A mainstay for serious woodworkers everywhere, hand planes haven't really changed much since the mid-1800s. That's because they work so well! At least, properly tuned and sharpened hand planes do.
Every new hand plane needs some tuning up. Sharpening the blade and tweaking the geometry are important steps to long-term planing success. The hand plane shown here is made by one of my favorite hand plane manufacturers, Busy Bee. Even high-end hand planes like these need to be sharpened and tuned up, and it's even more important for less expensive hand planes.
Tools Required
Materials Required
- 3-in-1 oil
- 80-grit. 120-grit. 220-grit. 400-grit. and 1000-grit discs for electric sharpener
- 90x and 180x lapping grit
- Block of scrap hardwood
- Buffing compound
- Shop towels
