Clearly explained and demonstrated, as ever! Planing, when you get it right, is one of the most satisfying areas of woodworking and thus guitar building. That first time, your plane is set up correctly, the blade sharp and you take that whisper thin pass on the workpiece, is simply magical! Cheers Sean! 🥰🥰🍷🍷🎸🎸
I couldn't agree more! At some stage the whole concept just clicks and it's the best feeling. There are days I just want to plane and plane until there is no wood left
Thank you for an excellent tutorial... I've been moving more to hand planing (as I don't have space for that sort of machinery). These techniques will be invaluable on my next build - from a raw plank of black walnut 😉
Great video. I would just add - make sure to check the flatness of a sole of a plane. The longer the plane more flat it has to be. So be ready to flatten it now and then on a flat surface (thick piece of float glass for example).
Float glass is not usually flat enough for the job. Also, sticking wet and dry to a flat surface and rubbing the plane on it tends to produce a convex sole. The best method is to smear a flat surface with micrometer blue and place the plane on it. Applying pressure only to the middle, move the plane. The high spots will be marked. Remove the high spots with a file and repeat adnousium.
Sole flatness is one of those topics that I see ruffling feathers all the time in hand tools groups. Realistcally the sole only really needs to be flat around the mouth and at either end for it to work well. Personally, I do prefer a flatter sole because it makes me feel better, but I don't notice a performance difference after getting the mouth and like an inch either end flat. I use a precision granite block for my levelling
What about orienting the grain as seen from the ends of the board? Should they oppose each other ? Also, is there a reason you wouldn't you use your bench vise and dogs to clamp it?
I like to use the table saw to get complimentary angled surfaces on each board. Basically you fold them like a book and then run the edges through the saw blade. It doesn't matter if you saw is exactly at 90 degrees and you get a perfect joint.
I find a hand plane will always give a superior gluing surface than any machine can, simply due to the subtlety of the blade and the "resolution" of the shaving. Saying that, there is absolutely a point of diminishing returns. Our thickness planer gives an almost perfect finish too, well within the realm of "good enough" but the handplane can elevate it just that hair more.
As someone looking to eventually move from kit builds into scratch builds, I'm loving this content! Thank you
Glad you enjoy it! Best of luck with your builds when you start them
Clearly explained and demonstrated, as ever!
Planing, when you get it right, is one of the most satisfying areas of woodworking and thus guitar building. That first time, your plane is set up correctly, the blade sharp and you take that whisper thin pass on the workpiece, is simply magical! Cheers Sean! 🥰🥰🍷🍷🎸🎸
I couldn't agree more! At some stage the whole concept just clicks and it's the best feeling. There are days I just want to plane and plane until there is no wood left
Thank you for an excellent tutorial... I've been moving more to hand planing (as I don't have space for that sort of machinery). These techniques will be invaluable on my next build - from a raw plank of black walnut 😉
Can't go wrong with black walnut!
I'm glad the video helped
Oh thank fuck, this is exactly what I needed. Cheers Sean! Having a beer right now watching the entirety of this.
Glad to be the knight in shining armour, as it were!
Very useful, seems obvious, but I never thought the way you showed to check if the blade is centered, thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Another cracking video Sean. I do have a question though; as satisfying as planing is, wouldn't it be easier to joint it on a router table?
Thanks for the information on the use of a joiner.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video. I would just add - make sure to check the flatness of a sole of a plane. The longer the plane more flat it has to be.
So be ready to flatten it now and then on a flat surface (thick piece of float glass for example).
Float glass is not usually flat enough for the job. Also, sticking wet and dry to a flat surface and rubbing the plane on it tends to produce a convex sole. The best method is to smear a flat surface with micrometer blue and place the plane on it. Applying pressure only to the middle, move the plane. The high spots will be marked. Remove the high spots with a file and repeat adnousium.
Sole flatness is one of those topics that I see ruffling feathers all the time in hand tools groups. Realistcally the sole only really needs to be flat around the mouth and at either end for it to work well.
Personally, I do prefer a flatter sole because it makes me feel better, but I don't notice a performance difference after getting the mouth and like an inch either end flat. I use a precision granite block for my levelling
Super tutorial. Look forward to more like these.
Thanks for watching
What about orienting the grain as seen from the ends of the board? Should they oppose each other ?
Also, is there a reason you wouldn't you use your bench vise and dogs to clamp it?
I like to use the table saw to get complimentary angled surfaces on each board. Basically you fold them like a book and then run the edges through the saw blade. It doesn't matter if you saw is exactly at 90 degrees and you get a perfect joint.
I find a hand plane will always give a superior gluing surface than any machine can, simply due to the subtlety of the blade and the "resolution" of the shaving. Saying that, there is absolutely a point of diminishing returns. Our thickness planer gives an almost perfect finish too, well within the realm of "good enough" but the handplane can elevate it just that hair more.
@@AwenLutherieCustomGuitars Fair enough. I am not as skilled with my hand planes and always struggle to get the edges square to the faces.
Thanks for sharing this info - it helped clear up a few things.
You're welcome! Glad to help
Very good tutorial. Thank you so much for sharing it.
You're very welcome!
Can you show us how to get perfect square planks without the jointer - only hand plane?
I'll add that to my list of videos to do. Great idea, thanks!
Nice refresher and validation that I do this properly. Of course I learned this from you so go figure😅 Thank You Sean✌️🤍
Fantastic! It's always nice to be validated, too
Super tutorial. Look forward to more like these.
Glad you like it!