To see a beginner friendly guide on how to sharpen a plane, visit our sister site Common Woodworking: commonwoodworking.com/sharpening-a-plane/ For more information on Paul Sellers, see paulsellers.com or woodworkingmasterclasses.com for more project videos
Looking for advice in setting the frog on a no 4, that has no frog adjustment screw (not missing, the plane was designed without one). Is there any concerns or tricks to keeping the frog from being twisted in relation to the mouth? Is this even a concern?
A lifelong dream of mine was to do woodworking in retirement. Now that I am here, I have discovered these priceless videos from Paul. Through his incredible teaching and insights, I am able to enjoying woodworking with hand tools within the constraints of my budget. Amazing what you can do with a Stanley plane and a Stanley chisel that is properly sharpened and adjusted. Thanks Paul.
Paul sellers is a MF beast, no gizmos no gadgets no bulls**t just exactly what you need to know to get the task done and get back to work. Paul is one of those rare gems you find in the stinky pile of how-to videos that is RU-vid
Every once in a while a real master comes along. He uses just enough words to get the point across and establishes how a person might consider thinking and feeling about a subject. He's brief but he has an easy conversational style. Great job!!!!!
Today I cleaned up a very old rusty Stanley plane that I was given, I then sharpened it and set it up. I've just taken it for a test run on a piece of material, and at the end of it I was smiling from ear to ear, as it worked perfectly! I'm so thrilled as this was the first time since my school days, which ended in 1969, that I have actually used a plane. Thanks Paul for all your brilliant videos, they are not only instructive, but very motivating.
I was a boatbuilder for 40+ years....... Paul is a wonder..... I learn every time I watch his video. I would have loved to have him teach apprentices (and experienced builders) in my shop.
I'm watching them over and over! I just over paid, I mean bought, my first plane from an antique shop the other day, so here we go! I say over paid because I keep seeing RU-vidrs say you shouldn't pay more than $15 for an old Stanley lol, nope! I paid a bit more. Have a good one, cheers!
This person doesn't have any fancy tools and/or gadgets and does better than many of the woodworkers out there with thousands of dollars worth of equipment and gizmos. This is the type of woodworker every one should be aiming to be....
Paul, I practically watch your videos everyday. Sometimes I watch a video a couple times until I get it. Thank you for taking the time to produce these educational videos in so much detail. I've gone from power tools to hand tools and it's so much more fun learning the traditional way. It's a lot of work to accomplish but I feel the job is so much more worth it. Thanks, Corey
You're such a natural teacher - thank you for taking the time to produce these videos! I've recently bought my father your book and he was very pleased with it indeed!
Thank you so much for the time to make this video. I am still on the edge of my seat waiting for the tool box that you were going to make and putting all the skill in one box one could say.
Paul, I've learned so much from your youtube videos and now your Masterclasses. This is the first time I ran across this one. So simple to set a plane blade to be perfectly level.
Thank you for all of your teachings I learn so much from your videos. I can't wait to receive your latest books and DVDs I already ordered them and I'm looking forward to reading and learning more and more
Thank you, Mr. Sellers. Your videos are entertaining, educational, and inspirational. I've been sorting out what to do with the corners of my cutting edge and that part of your video was particularly helpful.
Probably one of the best explanations on the process i've seen/heard. Usually it's so thick with unnecessary details that one needs to learn on his own. This one was perfect.
I picked up a used #4 and this video is exactly what I needed to see. Paul, your explanation and demonstration are thorough and clear. I love how informative and enjoyable your videos are. Thank you!
What a lesson! I've been slaving away on the flat surface, more than on the bevel, just I was told to do so many years ago. It feels like saying "abandon the parachute, let's just fly", but I feel very well advised by Paul, so myself and several cohorts will do just as we are shown. Thank you. The green abrasive stick is the only item we miss, ours being white, but this will also come into our shop practice. Laying planes on their side is another misguided practice I am happy to dismiss, because it's true about knocking the knife askew that way.
paul, thanks a bunch. you are so full of great tips and no nonsense-straight forward wisdom. a person could get lost listening to other so-called masters. thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks for this clear teaching, Paul! Putting a cambered bevel instead of a straight one has really decreased the stress of sharpening for me. Got my diamond stone(Sharpal 6x2.5" double sided) the other week, followed your method and got a sharp plane iron that could shave arm hair and left the surface of the wood silky smooth! Really appreciate it!
Thanks Paul for the video. I've had trouble setting my Record Plane. This has given me a better understanding on had to sharpen and set the blade in the plane body. Thank you!
Awesome video with a great tips and Thank You for passing on some of your knowledge! Thanks to you I was finally able to figure out what was wrong with my very old 14" Stanley No.5 Bailey plane. It works great now.
Very instructive video, Paul. The video came at just the right time, namely'm just doing my Stanley planer to revise (surface grinding planer base and sharpening planer knives and polish).
I keep coming back to these older videos just as a refresher ... they are brilliant!! No fuss, no mess, no blah - easy peasey and back to work. Thanks Mr. Sellers, this method is the polar opposite of how I learned to sharpen and works so much better than the faffy techniques I was taught originally.
Thank you! I've been watching your videos, reading the articles, and reading your blog.... I have successfully refurbished my grandfather's (maybe older) No 3 Stanley Bailey and using it on my first workbench. Too bad he didn't have a No. 4 at least, or a No 5 for prepping the stock :D Work with what you have..... I appreciate all you do to inspire and teach.
I stumbled across your videos while researching bench top ideas. Watched your series on building a bench, and was impressed by the presentation and skill, but awed by the use of the simplest of tools to create such quality. Thank you so much for sharing your know-how, and doing so in such an enjoyable manner. You have earned yet another subscriber, Sir.
Paul, thanks to your videos I flattened, sharpened and set up my first hand plane, a #5 Millers Falls, this week. I own others, but have never used them. I made my first shavings with it, and was able to dial it down to translucent shavings on cherry. Thank you for the motivation and guidance. I've been a corded tool user for years but am working to move into hand tooling for things other than ripping and thickness planing. Next up: my block plane! Keep up the good work!
As someone who has been around Planers most of my life, I have to say that is a heck of wall covered in Hand Planes. Truely impressive. Thanks for posting.
its an amazing demonstration by Paul sir. Precise, easy to understand and it really got me motivated to do things in a calm and accurate manner. Respect.
I just set up my first hand plane, a No 4 Stanley, and watched this video a few times. Made my first shavings and they are translucent and perfect. Thanks Paul 🙏
Thank you for this video. I enjoy the wisdom of a lifetime of work in any certain area. I am a beginner and have two restored bench planes from an antique store. As I was watching sharpening videos I was intimidated by the cost of the stones, guides, strops, pastes that were presented by others. This video has once again taught me frugality is still possible in woodworking. Again, thank you.
Another brilliant tutorial.I have been using a plane that I restored watching one of your other videos and I have just completed my first project using my restored and brilliantly sharp plane thanks ever so much Paul its made my life and work so much better.
Paul, I'm a very recent new subscriber. Every time I watch one of your videos I thoroughly enjoy it and appreciate how well you explain each detail of the process at hand! You sir are a fine instructor. I have and will continue to refer others to your channel. Thank you very much for posting the videos! Paul Nicholas
nice video paul, im a electrician but also love woodworking as a hobby and the planer i love using. i often keep refering to this technique of prepering my irwin record planer. keep up the good work all the best
Amazing! Planes, unraveled in the simplest way possible! I can't wait to get out and get my planes and chisels razor sharp and ready to go. Thanks Paul!
Since watching your videos, I have been collecting reprints of early 1900's books. The Practical Woodworker (4 vol.) by Bernard E. Jones (1920's) , and Modern Practical Joinery By George Ellis (1902). For those of us buying ancient planes, cleaning and sharpening them to Paul Sellers excellent specifications, yet we still find our planes choking after a few strokes of paper-fine shavings. I highly recommend following the directions in Modern Practical Joinery pages 50-51. Thank you Paul for introducing me to this worthy art.
Please don't ever stop making videos. Each and every one are just amazing and show your passion for woodworking. And I can't speak for anyone else but you have a very interested subscriber here! THANK YOU
Paul's method works wonders. I have been struggling with a Hock A2 Cryo blade for a week. I spent hours sharpening with the Veritas Mk II honing guide and a modified Eclipse style guide. The blade would get sharp, but the edge was ragged, almost like it was too brittle. I spent literally 5 minutes with Paul's method and got a perfect edge. 300 grit diamond stone, 500, 1000 and 4000 Shapton stones followed by 30 strokes on the stropping leather. Since this was the first time establishing the cambered bevel I spent 45-60s at each stone. Future sharpening's should be about 15-30s per stone.
Great descriptive vocabulary for each component's needed service. Hand motion shows much experience sharpening and setting. Easy to follow presentation.
Thanks much Paul- I was sent here by Cody from Wranglerstar, I will be watching many more here. I finally have some decent planes, old, not ancient, Stanley No 4 (X2), and a small 9 1/4. I will now be able to correctly adjust my blades after a proper sharpening. I didn't know how much the corners were holding me back, wondered what I was doing wrong. Thanks again- Paul A, Stateside
I bet most people never notice with all of Mr Sellers video he includes the imperial units even though I’m assuming Paul is from metric England system. I’m also from a metric system and to convert units into imperial with ease like Mr Sellers is hard. And I see myself fairly adequate with maths and general intelligence. Thank you for your time Mr Sellers. Immeasurable free knowledge gained. I’ll go have a look if you have a patreon account.
I had problems with my plane irons and chisels not being sharp enough until I saw your sharpening technique, Paul! Ever since, my tools have been sharp enough to shave the hairs off the back of my arm after being stropped. It's so enjoyable to use a super sharp tool! Thanks for these videos!
Well Done as usual Paul. I have adopted your sharpening method and have had excellent results. Simple,fast and super sharp plane blades and chisels make all the difference in the world. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge.
