Q&A for How to Plane Wood

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What degree of smoothness is achieved by a planer? Can it be related to sandpaper grit?

Jimbooi

Community Answer

If you use a hand plane properly set up and with a correctly-sharpened blade and you plane with the grain of the wood, it is possible to get a very smooth result. When sandpaper is used, the smoothness of the finish is dependent on the size of the grit. Each piece of grit scratches the surface. The scratches can be so small that they are not visible with the naked eye. A plane blade has a smooth edge & cuts the fibers.

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Question

How do I plane the end grains in wood?

Community Answer

This is much the same as planing the sides of a plank. However, the things to note are; 1. you need the iron as sharp as you can get it, 2. end grain is about 3 times harder to plane, so you probably need to set the iron the a very thin shaving and 3. plane from the edges to the middle to avoid splitting the back edge of the board.

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Can I plane a round piece of wood like a section of a log?

Jimbooi

Community Answer

Yes, you can. The round piece of wood must first be fastened securely and held immobile. After that, you can use a finely set hand plane (with a sharp blade) and a slicing action across the end grain section to plane the wood.

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Do I need to plane a board that's bowed (mostly in the middle) with the bow "up?"

Community Answer

Bow up. You want the ends to touch the plates of the joiner/planer so you remove a little from the ends of each face with each pass. As you plane, the area planed gets larger until you get cutting all the way down the board, then you have a flat surface. If the bow was down, the piece will rock form side to side as you machine it, not leaving a flat face.

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Question

Can wood be too dry to plane?

Community Answer

Not really. In temperate climates, even kiln-dried boards will vary in moisture content quite markedly from winter to summer if stored in a barn. Experienced woodworkers can tell what season some items were made in based on the current time of year and the fit of a joint.

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Question

How does one plane small pieces say around 9 in long?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Using a vise is the easiest way. It's also possible to hold the piece on a work surface with one hand and carefully plane it with the other hand.

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Question

Can you plane the end of a plank?

Donagan

Top Answerer

It's almost impossible to do that. Cutting a plank with a power saw should give you a pretty good end surface. The careful use of a power sander could give you good results, too.

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Question

Does the plane iron have the bevel up or down?

Community Answer

The plane iron needs to have the bevel up.

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Question

Can I use candle wax or beeswax to make planing easier?

Donagan

Top Answerer

No, that wouldn't help much. Using a sharp plane blade and a well-anchored piece of wood is your best bet.

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How can you plane the top of a door that hits against the frame?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Planing will work fine if you can plane with the grain of the wood. If not, using a belt sander might be best. It's easiest if you remove the door and place it on sawhorses or protruding from a workbench.

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