Techniques & Troubleshooting

Here are some helpful tips for getting the most out of your plane, as well as answers to the most common questions.

My rabbets are tilted. What am I doing wrong?

The key to getting accurate results is to keep the plane upright and the fence firmly registered against the work.

I’m getting tear-out in cross-grain cuts. How do I fix this?

This is the result of misalignment between the projecting corner of the blade and the nicker. Use a straight reference such as a rule or thin slat of wood to assess the issue and adjust the nicker or blade position accordingly.

Can my plane do things other than rabbeting?

Yes! The skew block plane is tremendously versatile. Here are some other applications:

Tenon Cutting or Fine-Tuning

When fine-tuning a tenon to fit into a mortise, remove the same amount of material from each cheek. Count the number of passes you make on the first side of the cheek, and repeat on the other side.

Bevelling and Chamfering

You can change the fence or attach a wooden wedge with double-faced tape for controlled, accurate bevelling and chamfering.

Along a similar line, the standard wooden fence can be used as a guide for planing to a square edge. Although the fence hasn’t been designed as a precision 90° reference, it’s accurate enough for many purposes.

What ongoing maintenance should I perform?

Apart from sharpening the blade, rust prevention is the biggest maintenance issue. Avoid planing wet wood, especially woods with a high tannin content (e.g., oak).

After a working session, take out the blade and use a soft brush to remove lingering shavings and dust. Periodically apply a silicone-free wax to the body to seal out moisture. Boeshield T-9 and Veritas Tool Wax both work well. Every so often, strip the plane down completely to give it a thorough cleaning and lubricate the moving parts.

If there is a risk of the tool jostling about in a toolbox, storing it in a plane sack or wrapping it in an old towel provides some protection.