What should I do first?

Disassemble the plane by removing the fence and guide rods. Clean all machined surfaces with a rag dampened in solvent/degreaser. The rust preventative you’ve removed should be replaced with a silicone-free surface treatment such as Boeshield T-9 or Veritas Tool Wax. Put some on the guide rods to ensure the components slide smoothly. Use a light machine oil on the adjuster.

How do I sharpen the blades?

Begin by polishing the back, working your way up to your finest stone. Often, this is enough to get going, especially in softwoods. For square-edged blades, we recommend a honing guide because of the consistency it provides, and it makes working such short blades much easier. Beading blades are trickier; use a progression of slip stones, diamond hones, or dowels/paddles with lapping film. Keep a light touch to avoid altering the blade’s shape.

To install a blade, back off on the blade guide knob and install the blade bevel down on the bed. Ensure the slot at its top is engaged with the depth adjustment knob; gently tighten the blade guide knob, which ensures the blade side is registered against the machined side of the bed. Tighten the lever cap screw. Finger-tight is sufficient.

For better control and a smooth finished surface, always set the blade for light cuts.

How do I set the depth stop?

For plowing grooves or rabbeting, you’ll need to set the depth stop to a specific measurement. You can use a ruler, but it’s much easier if you have something with a stop that registers on the skate, such as a combination square.

How do I set the fence?

To ensure the fence is parallel, measure the distance from the fence to the skate at both ends of the plane.

Checking the Fence Position

To check if a cutter is set to cut centered on an edge, use scrap to do a visual test. Make a light cut from one face, then the other; an offset indicates the cutter is not centered.

While the plane can be used with the metal fence alone, you can add a wooden auxiliary fence to better register the plane on the work and improve control. Some woodworkers add a rabbet to the lower edge of the fence to provide a place for their fingers.

Now it’s time to put your plane to work. In our next tutorial, we’ll cover the body mechanics and techniques for making clean, accurate cuts.