Veritas Skew Rabbet Plane – Getting Started

What should I do first?

The plane should be completely disassembled. Clean the adjuster and all machined surfaces (don’t forget the area under the toe piece) with a rag dampened in solvent/degreaser. Old toothbrushes are also handy for this work. To help protect against rust, apply a silicone-free surface treatment such as Boeshield T-9 or Veritas Tool Wax. Use a light machine oil on the adjuster. The plane can now be reassembled; be sure not to overtighten any screws by torquing them down too hard.

How should I sharpen the blade?

First, polish the back of the blade. All that is required is to refine the area immediately behind the edge, working your way up to the finest grit of your sharpening medium. The back has been lapped flat, so you are simply polishing this surface to the same level that you will be honing the bevel.

The next step is to hone the bevel. We recommend using a honing guide because it quickly provides accurate, repeatable results. The accessory skew registration jig is a great help for correctly installing the blade in the guide.

Create a consistent burr from corner to corner and remove it with a couple of lapping strokes on the back.

Once the blade is sharp, you can reinstall it in the plane. Backing off the fence will provide more clearance and make it easier to carefully insert the blade.

Now it’s time to put your new plane to work. In the next section, we’ll offer some guidance for setting the plane.