How to Maintain a Planer

There are several types of hand planers, but they all have one thing in common: they shape wood. Regardless of the type of plane that you are using, good maintenance will make the difference in whether you get the job done or not. Here's how to keep your planer in tiptop shape.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wood scraps
• Scrap leather
• Powdered aluminum oxide

Maintain the Body

1. Retract the blade just so it doesn't extend out of the mouth. Using a 100-grit belt on power sander, begin to lap it until it is smooth and there are no grinding marks, just sanding scratches.

2. Check it frequently and rest periodically if it gets too hot. Since you're grinding metal, keep the dust collector off.

3. Look for scratch marks. When you only see the scratch marks of the 100-grit belt, lap it with a 180-grit belt to smooth these out and then use a 320 belt to finish.

4. Rock the plane on the 320 belt to remove sharp edges on the sides. Attach a piece of 320-grit sandpaper to a block of wood to round the front and back.

Maintain the Blade

5. Start lapping the blade. Turn off the sander and you can use the 320-grit belt on the sander to save time.

6. Begin by lapping the back of the blade by rubbing it in circles on the belt. Make certain that you are concentrating on the area that is about 1 inch from the cutting edge.

7. Hone the blade by pushing it across the belt maintaining the sharpened surface angle. You will need to push it at an angle on the belt, with the sander still off, so that the belt remains in position. You can use a honing guide as you move it across the belt a few times.

8. Finish by raising the blade about 10 degrees and push it across the belt one more time for a double bevel.

9. Remove any wire edge by turning it over and lapping it one more time.

Polish the Blade

10. Make a polishing block from a piece of scrap leather and scrap wood. Glue the leather to a piece of wood larger than the plane. Attach it at the side with brass escutcheon pins. Add a handle block of wood so that you can hold the polisher in a vise.

11. Coat the leather surface with white powder of aluminum oxide and rub it in with your thumb.

12. Pull, not push, the blade across the leather several times. Flip the blade over and do the other side.

Tips & Warnings

• Polishing the blade will make a significant improvement in its performance.
• Make certain that the machine is turned off when you lap the blade. It's extremely dangerous not to do this.