I was just curious what some of your philosophies are on this subject, pointedly the care of the blade while not in use. I was cleaning my shop a couple days ago, and I was moving my handplanes off of one flat surface where I keep them on to another so I could blow that surface off and clean that general area. While doing so I remembered a debate going on regarding setting the sole down flat on a surface. I have always done this, and this is how I store my planes when not in use as well. I even leave the blades extended out at the ready so I don't need to go through the step of adjusting the cutting depth. They are resting on a wood surface, and I feel that as long as they are sole down, there is less risk of blade contact with metal object.

While working with my hand planes, between cuts I'll set the plane sole down as well on my bench.

What say you all, what are your personal preferences?

 

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

John

I retract the blades on mine. Setup is not that hard or time consuming. I remember reading someplace this was the way to do it so I did. Of course when I get a new plane I tear it down and bring it to specs. Sharpen the irons and then put it to use. I will interested in hearing other opinions on this as well.

 

 

---

Wayne Mahler
God bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.

Thanks Wayne, good points, I guess I get a little lazy on the blade thing, it's not a big deal, just couple turns of the forefinger and the blade is safely up in the body, I might adapt that technique. When I get to cut fine shavings, I just hate to loose that. But like you said, it takes only a few seconds to get them back.


Wayne Mahler said:

John

I retract the blades on mine. Setup is not that hard or time consuming. I remember reading someplace this was the way to do it so I did. Of course when I get a new plane I tear it down and bring it to specs. Sharpen the irons and then put it to use. I will interested in hearing other opinions on this as well.

 

 

---

Wayne Mahler
God bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.

 

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

I was taught from multiple sources that hand planes with the blade extended should only be set down on their side or retract the blade. The sharpened blade edge is fine and can be easily damaged (dulled) from being set down on a hard surface and rolling over the edge. If it will be set down for an extended period of time then the blade should be completely retracted or set with the blade lifted above the flat surface on a narrow piece of wood causing the front of the plane to be lifted up about 1/4" like a jack stand for your car when you change oil.

 

---

Allen Worsham
Corona, CA

allenworsham@earthlink.net

http://www.awcreationsandwoodcrafts.com

'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee

Great tips Allen! That is what I want to do when I get around to building my tool cabinet, I am going to have it so the sole is canted out at an angle and off the surface.


Allen Worsham said:

I was taught from multiple sources that hand planes with the blade extended should only be set down on their side or retract the blade. The sharpened blade edge is fine and can be easily damaged (dulled) from being set down on a hard surface and rolling over the edge. If it will be set down for an extended period of time then the blade should be completely retracted or set with the blade lifted above the flat surface on a narrow piece of wood causing the front of the plane to be lifted up about 1/4" like a jack stand for your car when you change oil.

 

---

Allen Worsham
Corona, CA

allenworsham@earthlink.net

http://www.awcreationsandwoodcrafts.com

'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee

 

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

I remember "Smitty" over on Wood Forums had posted photos a few years back of storage cabinet for his hand planes. They were set on an upright 60 degree angle flat shelf with a ledge at the bottom for the base of the plate to stand against and then a narrow cross piece about 1/4"x1/4" x3"-4" depending on the size of plane so that the plane would lay in there with the blade extended and ready for use.


John Morris said:

Great tips Allen! That is what I want to do when I get around to building my tool cabinet, I am going to have it so the sole is canted out at an angle and off the surface.

Allen Worsham said:

 

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

That's exactly what I had in mind. Thanks Allen, now if we can just get ol Smitty back over here!


Allen Worsham said:

I remember "Smitty" over on Wood Forums had posted photos a few years back of storage cabinet for his hand planes. They were set on an upright 60 degree angle flat shelf with a ledge at the bottom for the base of the plate to stand against and then a narrow cross piece about 1/4"x1/4" x3"-4" depending on the size of plane so that the plane would lay in there with the blade extended and ready for use.

John Morris said:

 

---

Allen Worsham
Corona, CA

allenworsham@earthlink.net

http://www.awcreationsandwoodcrafts.com

'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee

 

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

John,

Here is a link to Smitty's website and his shop. Click on thel ink and then scroll down a bit and you will see his hand tool storage. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

 

http://www.firstdesignwoodworking.com/id1.html

 

On looking at it he is storing his planes pointed down as opposed to up, so I may be mistaken about the cross piece and they may be stored with the blades retracted. But regardless it is a cool set up.

 

 

 

---

Allen Worsham
Corona, CA



allenworsham@earthlink.net



http://www.awcreationsandwoodcrafts.com



'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee

My Goodness that is beautiful.

Allen Worsham said:

John,

Here is a link to Smitty's website and his shop. Click on thel ink and then scroll down a bit and you will see his hand tool storage. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

 

http://www.firstdesignwoodworking.com/id1.html

 

 

---

Allen Worsham
Corona, CA



allenworsham@earthlink.net



http://www.awcreationsandwoodcrafts.com



'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee

 

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

That is a cool tool cabinet. Thanks for the link. When I'm not using my planes on a project I retract the blades. During a project the shelf under my bench has a ledge that holds them off the blade. When there on the bench it's a toss up. Sometimes there on there side unless I think the blade could get dinged and other times there are enough shavings to float them. I think the only damage has been to my bench top when they are blade down and I push them without enough care and they dig into the top a bit.

 Free lesson here. I was talking with a guy at the Woodsmith store the other day about it and he has some scuffed knuckles from laying a plane on its side with the blade towards him. Nice of him to figure that out so I didn't have to. 

 

 

---

Good, Better, Best never let it rest
Till your Good is Better and your Better is Best.

Great tips Mark, specially the knuckle tip! I do the exact same, while working with my planes, I'll set it down on the bed of shavings that was produced. I really need to reconfigure my workbench and a wall in my shop to accommodate my gaining interest in hand tools over the last three years. My shop needs to catch up with my woodworking style for sure. 

 

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

I was taught to lay hand planes on their sides, but in all honesty, I worked for Lie Nielsen and know what a plane blade goes through and how hard they really are, so I think it is a moot point. I am not saying anyone is silly for doing so, I just think if you want to lay them down...go for if, if not, that is fine too...the blade is pretty tough.

 

As for my tools, the longer I do woodworking, the more and more I have come to love hand tools. The best thing is, my father, who is actually just starting out in woodworking, is learning from me that hand tools are great. (Plus the fact that he just blew the tip of his finger off from using a dull chop saw that snapped his fragile piece of miter trim and drove it clean through his finger. I gave him one of my spare miter boxes so that won't happen again).

 

Yikes!!!! Hope Dad is feeling better Travis. What did you do for LN when you worked there? Appears we have somewhat of a celebrity in our midst! Your full of surprises buddy!


Travis Johnson said:

I was taught to lay hand planes on their sides, but in all honesty, I worked for Lie Nielsen and know what a plane blade goes through and how hard they really are, so I think it is a moot point. I am not saying anyone is silly for doing so, I just think if you want to lay them down...go for if, if not, that is fine too...the blade is pretty tough.

 

As for my tools, the longer I do woodworking, the more and more I have come to love hand tools. The best thing is, my father, who is actually just starting out in woodworking, is learning from me that hand tools are great. (Plus the fact that he just blew the tip of his finger off from using a dull chop saw that snapped his fragile piece of miter trim and drove it clean through his finger. I gave him one of my spare miter boxes so that won't happen again).

 

 

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

Thanks for the exposure Allen and John as for the discussion of the placement of planes in a storage cabinet, it's been a common question and discussion for many years. I really believe it's up to the individual as to which he prefers. Like Travis mentioned Plane blades are very durable and it takes a lot to abuse one to the point of a needed sharpening.My original plan on my cabinet was to line the bottoms of the plane sections with Cork but after further research for most of what I read and discussed. laying flat on their soles was more common with no ill affects.

As far as that goes,if a blade is not to my liking,  I can have the blade out of a plane and touch it up, and back to shavings in less than 5 mins.

Thanks for your feedback Reid. I haven't had a problem leaving my blades extended out during storage, not yet anyway!


Reid Smith said:

Thanks for the exposure Allen and John as for the discussion of the placement of planes in a storage cabinet, it's been a common question and discussion for many years. I really believe it's up to the individual as to which he prefers. Like Travis mentioned Plane blades are very durable and it takes a lot to abuse one to the point of a needed sharpening.My original plan on my cabinet was to line the bottoms of the plane sections with Cork but after further research for most of what I read and discussed. laying flat on their soles was more common with no ill affects.

As far as that goes,if a blade is not to my liking,  I can have the blade out of a plane and touch it up, and back to shavings in less than 5 mins.

 

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

I was a Machinist in the Block Plane Dept...but I did not work there long. I still have some family that works there though as well as many of my friends in the community, so keep buying those tools, even if it was not the right type of employment for me. :-)

 

(I build boats not planes...pun intended...as I left there to go to a boat building company. (Lyman Morse Yachts). I am a Machinist by trade, but my new job, a shipfitter of a major Navy Contractor was hiring welders, so I went there recently as I could rejoin my old Union, The International Association of Machinists, get good pay and benefits, then eventually when a spot opens up, make a lateral move back into the Machinist trade, but stay at the Shipyard building US Navy ships. That is the plan, but maybe God has other ideas...)

 

 

 

Very nice Travis. I'll certainly try to do my part in contributing to LN's success when I can. I have several of their planes and just love them.


Travis Johnson said:

I was a Machinist in the Block Plane Dept...but I did not work there long. I still have some family that works there though as well as many of my friends in the community, so keep buying those tools, even if it was not the right type of employment for me. :-)

 

(I build boats not planes...pun intended...as I left there to go to a boat building company. (Lyman Morse Yachts). I am a Machinist by trade, but my new job, a shipfitter of a major Navy Contractor was hiring welders, so I went there recently as I could rejoin my old Union, The International Association of Machinists, get good pay and benefits, then eventually when a spot opens up, make a lateral move back into the Machinist trade, but stay at the Shipyard building US Navy ships. That is the plan, but maybe God has other ideas...)

 

 

 

 

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker