Book needed, new to using hand planes

[1Spirit]

I could use a recommendation for a book hand planes for a beginner. All my experience has been with power tools and I am SADLY lacking in hand tool use.

[MattP]

I have "The New Best of Fine Woodworking Working with Handplanes," © 2005, Taunton Press, and I think it is a fine introductory book, which is exactly where I am in skill level, too. It's a collection of articles they've published on the subject, rather than a purpose-built book, but I actually think that's a good thing on this subject.

Definitely recommend.

I also have a book called something like "making and working with hand planes." It's out in the garage and I don't recommend it nearly as highly as the other one, so no details. But it wasn't bad, and if you're interested in making the kind of wooden handplanes where you cut a lblock apart and then glue it back together--are those the krenov type?--it'd be good for that, anyway. I may do that eventually.

[Steve N]

The absolute best book or movie is really going to be the one in your head when you have a block plane in hand, and just keep using it, over and over. Nothing teaches better than doing.

Sometimes a movie is better than a book for showing as they tell you how that they are free movies doesn't hurt either. Everything from boiling an egg, to being a midwife fully illustrated on you tube

Enjoy the journey, it can be what they call a slippery slope

[Axehandle]

Might as well get one on sharpening too.

Or you can start a thread on it. It should only garner a couple of posts but they will be very clear and concise on which method you should use and why.

Really though, seek some kind of guidance to get started sharpening. A handplane book will cover it pretty well but a specific sharpening book will open it up a little further.

[blackhat]

Garrett Hack's " The Handplane Book" is excellent.

[MichaelMouse]

Start cheap.

http://www.amgron.clara.net/

http://homepages.sover.net/~nichael/nlc-.../caop.html

You tube has more thousands of words in videos that you will ever need. As always, don't suspend skepticism because of the poster's aura of authority.

[1Spirit]

Thanks everyone, I will check these out!

[Admiral]

Books are great, but nothing beats seeing someone who knows how to use a plane demonstrate it for you and then critique your use; same with sharpening. Youtube goes only so far. Try and find a local woodnetter close to you; or attend a ww show where either LN or LV is showing up as they have demonstrators.

[Guest]

Learn how to sharpen, if you don't already know. All the plane technique in the world won't make up for a dull iron, and your whole learning experience will be an exercise in frustration. Wilbur Pan has a sign on his workshop wall that sets out the steps for getting a plane to work properly:

"If your plane is not performing satisfactorily, take the following steps:
STEP1- Sharpen the iron.
STEP2 - Make a test cut. If the plane continues to perform unsatisfactorily, REPEAT STEP 1"
(paraphrase)

[Steve N]

Hank Knight in SC said:

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Learn how to sharpen, if you don't already know. All the plane technique in the world won't make up for a dull iron, and your whole learning experience will be an exercise in frustration. Wilbur Pan has a sign on his workshop wall that sets out the steps for getting a plane to work properly:

"If your plane is not performing satisfactorily, take the following steps:
STEP1- Sharpen the iron.
STEP2 - Make a test cut. If the plane continues to perform unsatisfactorily, REPEAT STEP 1"
(paraphrase)

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Shhhhh, you'll scare him off if you start with all the "other" stuff, wait till he's sliding down the slope, and say, oh BTW