How to Adjust a Block Plane

When it comes to wood working projects around the house, you'll find that the Block Plane is your really good friend. It's a plane that harbors a blade cut on an angle, which will remove a curl of wood one swipe at a time. It provides the intermediary step between cutting and sanding, when sculpting a piece of furniture.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Block plane
• Blade
• Screwdriver

1. Ensure that the angle of your blade is between 25 and 30 degrees before placing it in the Block Plane. To do this you can hold a protractor next to the blade and take a reading. Or to eye-ball it, hold something perpendicular to your blade so that it forms a 90 degree angle. If it looks to be about 1/3, then you are in good shape. If not, cease and have the blade sharpened.

2. Unscrew the cap to the Block Plane so that the base is exposed.

3. Insert the blade into the Block Plane. Make sure that the bevel sticking up fits through the blade. (This should be quite obvious.)

4. Replace the top of the Block Plane and screw down on the knob until the blade is held in place.

5. Adjust the iron, or blade, of the Block Plane. Now that the blade is secure, you want to make sure that the tip of the blade is just peeking out of the hole on the underside. Adjust this with your fingertips. (Just be careful of the sharp blade. The angle of the blade should not cause it to cut you.)

6. Tighten the blade into its proper position by using a screwdriver on the top of the Block Plane. Usually you just need to tighten a single flat-head screw to complete the adjustment.