How I Set Up My Hand Planes - Ask Matt #9 

I needed a refresher on planes. Your video was useful. Thanks for making this what seems like so long ago!

thank you. because of this I've sharpened and used a very similar hand planer that was gifted to me 12 years ago. you could say I've just used it successfully and properly for the 1st time. love the work you do. I picked up on the channel 2 years ago when you where milling large logs.

I'm by no means a master wood worker, but I've been a framer/house building carpenter for 15 plus years. I'm pretty handy with most power tools and wood working in general. I've really became interested in word work using only... Well maybe mostly hand tools (non electric). I've watch sooo many "how to" videos about hand planes.... sharpening, restoring, setting up & using them. I'm sure I could improve in all the above areas, and probably some I haven't listed. With that being said, I'm not stupid either... I have learned to get the plane iron sharp, I understand the principals of how to set up & use a plane. I've tried several planes, Stanley, Craftsman, some " no name" brands. I bought a new Kolbalt plain at the big box store. It wasn't the greatest quality, but I got it sharp, I got the soul flat ect... No matter what plane I've gotten, or how sharp I get it, or how many different things I try with the set up, my results are the same... I can never get good results. Some times I've managed to half ass barley ok results, but never good or even decent results... Any advice?

Hi Matt, I'm enjoying watching all of your videos, thanks for taking the time to share what you do. The Ash floor that you milled, installed and finished is amazing!

Hey Matt, enjoy all your productions. I am a retired Industrial Arts teacher (34 years). Always stressed to my students to turn the plane on its side when setting on the bench. This protects the micro edge from any irregularities on the bench top. We always stored them in an upright position but had a small block under the back to hold the plane iron above the surface of the storage shelf or container.

Always informative and great camera work. Thanks for the video.

Great video Matt! Nice job getting the tight angles. You really could see all the small details that are often just mentioned without really showing it... and those are the details that you have to see to understand the technique! Keep up the good work!

Thanks Matt. Very helpful as always. Congrats on your new venture.

I have used wood tools on my small lathe. They seem to work good together! Thax for showing me how to sharpen these tools.

Thanks Matt! I just bought some of those Hock plane blades for an old Bailey #5 and #7. I just need to slightly open the throat to compensate for the thicker blade and chip breaker.

Keep up the great work!

Great video Matt. I like that you are honest about your limited use of planes. There's nothing worse than someone pretending to be the referential expert on a topic when they're not. That being said, I have great respect for your craftsmanship and integrity. And I still learned a few things. Keep up the good work.

Very helpful Mat. Thank you

Great demo Matt as always and very professional looking closeups as well!

Good video. Being a beginner when it comes to sharpening you give a lot of good and helpful info here. Thanks.

Great video! Thank you for doing this!!

Great info Matt. Adjust my few planes and learning to use them correctly is def. on my to-do list.

I just used a hand plane for the first time today so this was perfect timing to watch

hey matt I learn lot of thing from your video thank you very much matt.

Great video Matt. Thanks for doing it. Makes more sense to me now

Thanks Matt. I have a few things to try out now. Appreciate you going through the setup process. Next topic, scrapers 😄

Very informative, Matt, I learned several tricks from it!

Great information Matt. Thanks.

Thanks for the video, Matt. As a hand plane novice this was really instructive.

Great job Matthew Cremona. For many hand plane beginner and hybrid woodworkers this is a solid basic information. You kept things clear, in a logical progression, and simple to understand. I don't know of many, if any, who could have done a better job my friend.

nice close up shots to show detail! very informative!

Any suggestions on what/where to look for a decent set of planes? Also where did you get your stones?

Hey Matt! I'm really happy to have come across your channel! I don't have a jointer and would be interested in what electric planer(s) you would recommend... I would rather buy once & cry once rather than getting something sub-par and need to buy several times. Thanks again! Have a stellar week!

Great video Matt. It worked well on that whacky grained white oak. I imagine it could slice through cherry and other softer woods even better.

I haven't seen all your videos at this point, but I'd like to see a how to on choosing sharpening equipment. Very nice doors on the Secretary Desk.

This was very good info. I might have to spring for one of those 4k grit stones. After watching your sharping video I bought the diamond plate to rough hone and flatten the stones. I had one of those DMT honey comb looking things but it wore out. The plate works great. Please don't forget about the how to color , and fill cracks in wood with epoxy.

Matt I enjoyed this video but I still have a question. When you were starting to plane you turned the roller at the back to run the blade in and out but which way do you turn the nob for in and out? Is this the same on all planes?

Great tips Matt! Planes are a great way to make woodworkers confetti! lol

Saw your Riobi drill press in the background would you do a review on it?

Thank you for making this video, I was just about to ask if you could do a video on your hand plane set up.

Matt, good vid. Just wondering, you mentioned Rob Cosman's camber method. He is also a proponent of David Charlesworth's ruler trick for sharpening plane blades. Have you tried it? I have and it brings the sharpening to the next higher level. Cheers

Nice video as always. I particularly like your close-ups. I used to obsess about getting the angle the same each time I sharpened, but after watching this and other videos, I'm learning to let go... :)

Haha, your video seemed adorable and modest. I'm still struggling to set up my tool, but it seems my tool may be different -- its more flat and doesn't have the angle your tool has. Wonder if it is a different kind. What tool do you recommend for trimming down the sides of a wood door? I need to take off about 3/16" on each side.

Didn't see it in the comments where did you get that jig for sharpening?

Really informative -- was never good at using planes. Good camera shots too; like the "live feed" feel.

+Jose Manuel Mayagoitia I'm in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Nice job Matt, I recently picked up a set of Shapton stones. I have a bunch of planes and chisels from my Grandfather I need to rehab. May get started on the chisels this weekend. Scott

Thanks for the info. I didn't put a micro bevel on my plane iron and It sucked

Good overview for making shavings with a Plane! Are you considering one on sharpening lathe cutters? "Thanks as always" for sharing!

Thanks for a great video Matt! Just curious what diamond stone grit you're using to true up your water stones?

Matt, glad I found your videos. I am in the middle of getting a small shop going, in my home in Montana. My last purchase is going to be a table saw. The ones that are for true woodworking shops are just too big for my area. Can I get the same results from a portable jobsite saw? I am planning on building a a small bench to catch the runout. Thanks

Matthew, I am also in the MSP area. DO you offer classes?

Great video! Reminds me I need to go out and sharpen mine. lol. Curious if you had any tips on setting up a jointer? I had someone sharpen my jointer blades, but they said they only went up to 200 grit. Way low, I know. I have a old 4in jointer just taking up space till I can get it working. I feel like most of the youtube videos on the subject are not much help. Thanks in advance for any help!

I have a hand plane like yours but mine is from Lowe's, it's a Kobalt model. On mine, the top screw comes loose when I use it. Is that from it being a $30 tool or is that normal? And after a couple of passes, the blade will go back into the hand plane.

I didn't know about camber thanks for the info

Is it possible to use sewing machines oil instead of stone oil?

good stuff! that was a little reminder for me to sharpen my planes. question: it really doesnt matter what the angle is? just as long as the tip of the blade or bevel is touching?( like u showed in the video) but what if its coming straight from the box and needs to be shined up? same process but i would start it off with the 800? thanks matt! " til the next episode"

Matt, which kind of wood do you use for demo? Because in my first intention, I believe your blade is not sharp but perhaps the wood is real hard!

Thanks, Matt!

Nice closeup. Was that a macro lens? Finally purchased a Bailey No.8c to complete the collect (I think). The rest are in storage though and I have a feeling are completely rusted. Lots of work ahead of me.

Nice demonstration...love the Macro shots. Are you you using a Canon 100mm Macro Lens?

Thats interesting, I would have thought you used them quite often

I don't own any hand planes and I need to pick up some. What would I want to look for and what sizes would be best to start collecting? My goal is to use them similar to the way you do, to do touch up work on machine milled lumber. I want to start milling my own logs from the woods.

hi matt i will start my vocational training as a Carpenter this year. could you please give me some beginner tips for woodworking?

I used to have a shop teacher in high school wood shop who would give you proper hell if you set your plane on the bench with the sole down. I learned early that when I put my plane down it was always on its side.

Matt, what is a good jack plane for under $100.? One word, koubu!

Do you camber your irons at all?

Harry was the one who told me to google Woody Hyezmar. And yes, the woodworking book is still available.

Hi Matt, Thanks for the video, Q: Do you polish the blade, using any Leather with "Green Polishing Wax / Buffing Soap Compound" ?

Nice visuals.

I like that you like to eyeball things. Too often things get out hand in terms of perfection. It's about getting work done, not getting everything set up perfectly. No one is able to see the difference anyway. Just my two cents from a (semi)professional. Cheers from Denmark!

Hey Matt, I was wondering if my suggestion a couple weeks ago that if all of us gave you 10 bucks a year you could just do this for a living had anything to do with your decision to do so? Anyways I've put my money where my mouth is and just signed up on patreon, I wish you the very best of luck with your exciting new adventure and look forward to more great content Cheers, Martin

Hello Matt...why not use diamonds for the whole process? Why the waterstones? Why not just go straight to diamonds and forget about flattening? I'm tired of using sandpaper and need to buy either water stones or diamonds. i want to simplify my plane blade sharpening. Cost is an issue for me, however.

cool

Where are you from Matt?

Thanks for the links! How would you rate the 8000 stone vs the 6000? It's such a steep increase in price

Do you have any advise or suggestions for setting up a RU-vid channel? Camera's, video length, resolution and such?

nice macro video. thanks

We can't complane about this video, mat!

Really enjoying your videos and your style. So here's an Ask Matt: how did you get your wife to smile while helping you haul and cut lumber for your workbench? :-D

You sure don't use your planes much if it is a year since you last sharpened it. I too have an A2 iron in my No. 4. In making a single drawer I probably sharpened that one 3 or four times, in adition to sharpening my No. 5 a few times (this one has a standard Stanley blade, which I find works just fine too). I really love my planes though, and I like them sharp. Also I don't have a power planer or jointer, and I really dislike power sanders, so my planes does practically all the milling and finishing.

⭐🙂👍

I don't like those blade guides. They make scratches and grooves in the stone. I like to pick up my stone and hold it in one hand hear my chest, looking down on the side of it. Then I take the blade or whatever I am sharpening and hold it against the stone. It is easy to see the angle and adjust it if necessary. I make small circles and move the blade to different parts of the stone so I get more even wear. It is quick and easy and I feel like I have more control. Dependence on those gadgets just takes up a sea of time, costs money, and does not do a better job.

I sharpen my blades up to 1000 and easily take 0.1mm which is 1/250 more than ample for woodworking .i find that people go overboard with 16k and 30k or whatever.I could take less but of what REAL practical use REALLY is that?I also think that you should really distinguish for people who do not know the difference between bedrock and Bailey planes. regarding the frog.Otherwise it was a reasonable presentation.

I'm always suspicious of practices like micro bevels and sanding my work just because it's "that time".. why do you use a micro bevel? Have you ever used a plane without one? What kind of benefits are allegedly gained? Personally, I use a single grit to work my edges and I have never had an issue with 1000. Most people will automatically decide that 1000 is too low but I have no idea why, it works really well and I rarely have to sharpen. I just recently hand planed a burled log smooth to get chainsaw trenches out and have to imagine such a fine blade wouldn't be easy or fun to keep tuned up under those circumstances.

first ! i learned a lot, bzw...

So... Just the tip? I'm surprised you microbevel your stuff.

Why change the angle of the cutting blade? Seems bad to change the angle. Seems like it would cause the plane to cut poorly. I need to be convinced why you wouldn't keep the same angle that you started with.

Not too clear what you are adjusting at times. Just a tip for next time

Aw rats, Still trying to figure out bevel up or down! LOL

Your very handsome

ewwwww. microbevels

ewwwww. microbevels