A hand planer fresh out of the box isn’t perfect. While sharpening the blade is a given, many overlook the importance of flattening the sole. This step is crucial for achieving the best results in your woodworking projects.
Relying on the manufacturer’s claim of flatness isn’t enough, as factors like temperature can cause the sole to flex.
In this article, we’ll explain why flattening the sole is essential, how and when to do it, and share a game-changing tip for better planing. Ready to take your woodworking to the next level? Let’s dive in!
Key Takeaways
– Importance of Sole Flatness: Flattening the sole of a hand planer is crucial for achieving optimal results, as it ensures the planer operates smoothly and accurately.
– Regular Maintenance: Regularly check and flatten the sole of your hand planer, especially after purchase and periodically during use, to account for pressure and temperature changes that can warp the sole.
– Simple Flattening Process: Flattening the sole involves using a flat surface like glass and progressively finer sandpaper, starting with 80-grit and moving to 220-grit for a smooth finish.
– Feathering Edges: Feathering the edges of the planer sole prevents it from getting stuck on uneven surfaces, enhancing the planer’s performance.
– Proper Storage and Care: Maintain the flatness of the sole by storing the planer in a climate-controlled environment and greasing the sole with non-stick WD40 to prevent corrosion.
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Do You Need to Flatten the Sole of a Hand planer? a Clear answer
Your Path Through My Website
Take your time with this guide. When you’re ready to explore more, you can check out my subcategory Woodworking Tips for even more context and connections, or explore my category Woodworking Tools, Materials & Tips for an overview of everything in this area. But for now, let’s get started with the topic at hand!
Table of Contents
Why do you need to flatten the sole of a hand plane?
Different manufacturers and qualities of hand planes are available. More expensive hand planes will be of higher quality, and the sole flatness will be much better than cheaper models. But don’t rely entirely on it. More expensive models may also have a non-flat sole, which is not always the fault of the manufacturer.
Hand plane bodies are made of steel, and steel can change due to heat and cold exchange or exposure to extreme temperatures. This temperature change may occur during transport, resulting in a hand planer with a twisted sole.
However, the sole can also flex as a result of use. Did you know that you can easily bend most metal molded surfaces by bending the handles by applying pressure during use? This will alter the shape of the sole and eventually destroy it.
How do you check the flatness of a hand planer sole?
Before investing the time and effort to flatten, make sure the surface is flat. Start by setting up the hand planer on a level surface; I’ll explain which is best later in this piece. There are two methods for determining sole flatness.
The first and most trustworthy method is to use a feeler gauge. Pushing it under the sole in different places will allow you to see where the sole makes contact with the ground and where it doesn’t. If the gap is too wide, it needs to be smoothed out.
If you don’t have a feeler gauge, you can use a piece of paper as an alternative. Printed paper is about 0.1016 mm (0,004 inches)
When do you need to flatten the sole of a hand planer?
It is best completed when you get a new hand planer. To ensure that the hand planer is correctly set and that you get the best results, flatten the sole of a hand planer before you begin using it.
To ensure flatness, you should repeat the flattening procedure from time to time. Keep in mind that pressure applied to the hand planer while working, as well as temperature variations in your workplace, might cause steel to bend.
The aforementioned elements will determine how much the sole has to be updated. How well-made is your hand planer? How much pressure do you use when working? What kind of climate do you have in your workshop? So check the sole regularly to make sure it is flat.
How do you flatten the sole of a hand planer?
How to flatten the sole of a hand plane – Step by step
Flattening the sole of a hand plane seems complicated, but it is actually very simple. What you need for this is a flat surface, which I mentioned earlier in this article. It is best to use a piece of glass for this. Glass is a material that you can say with 100% certainty that it is perfectly flat. I hear others use materials like granite for this, but I like to stick to glass. Before you start, it is best to remove all the dirt with a glass cleaner. This ensures that no small irregularities can arise that cause deeper scratches in the sole.
After that, you can place a piece of sandpaper on the glass. I always start with 80-grit sandpaper.
Before taking any further steps, it is best to lift the blade into the hand planer. Lift it as high as possible so that it cannot come into contact with the sandpaper. I would not recommend removing the blade. The blade is always held in place by the lever cap, using great pressure. This creates stress on the steel that ultimately determines the shape of the sole. When you remove the blade, the stress on the steel is different during sharpening and can deform again when the blade is put back, causing the sole to bend.
To figure out how much metal to remove and where the sole is flat, I employ a straightforward approach. With a sharpie, create a grid on the bottom of your palm. With the sandpaper, you may now sand the hand plane. Checking in frequently is what you must do until the grid is entirely gone.
Please be aware that you will need to spend some time here if you have severely malformed soles. The initial smoothing of a hand planer sole might take several hours. But don’t let this discourage you because a flat sole will offer you a lot of benefits.
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Once you are sure the sole is flat you can switch to 120 grit sandpaper and make about 20 strokes. After that, you can do the same again on 220 grit sandpaper.
Feathering the edges for better transition over the surfaces
The sole of your hand planer is now perfectly flat, but there is one more thing you can do to make the sole even better. That’s feathering out the edges.
When planing on uneven surfaces, the edge of the sole can sometimes cause your hand planer to get stuck. That’s why it’s good to feather out the edges. You do this by placing a thin piece of metal, such as a ruler, on the sandpaper.
Place your hand plane on top with the edge just over the ruler and start moving the hand plane back and forth. Make about 30 turns, and you will see that the edges are gone. Repeat on the other side, but also on the nose and heel of the hand plane.
Then you can further touch up the sharp edges with a file and finish by oiling against rust.
How to maintain the sole of a hand planer?
You’ll want to keep your flat sole for as long as possible once you’ve achieved that. That’s why I have two simple tips to help you achieve this.
Store the hand planer in a specially designated place. Other tools that could come into contact with the planer and cause damage should be avoided. Provide a climate-neutral environment to prevent the soles from bending. Keep your workshop at a constant temperature and keep the hand planer away from extreme heat sources such as fire, gas burners, welding machines, etc.
Grease the sole of the hand planer and other parts to prevent corrosion. I always use WD40 for this, just like I do after sharpening my planer blades. My article, How I Sharpen a Plane Blade Until It Is Razor Sharp – Quick Guide, covers everything you need to know. You will notice that I use non-stick WD40 instead of regular WD40.
Don’t Stop Now! Explore This Next:
Now that you have read this article, enhance your woodworking precision by learning how to achieve razor-sharp edges on your chisels. Discover the essential techniques and tips in my quick guide to sharpening chisels. Elevate your craftsmanship by visiting our detailed guide today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I flatten the sole of my hand planer?
It’s best to flatten the sole when you first purchase the hand planer and periodically during use. Factors such as the amount of pressure applied during work and temperature variations in your workspace can cause the sole to bend, so regular checks and flattening are advisable.
What materials can I use for flattening the sole of my hand planer?
The most recommended material is glass due to its guaranteed flatness. You can also use granite, but glass is preferred by many for its precision. Ensure to use progressively finer grit sandpapers, starting with 80-grit and moving to 220-grit.
Why is feathering the edges of the hand planer sole important?
Feathering the edges helps prevent the planer from getting stuck on uneven surfaces, providing a smoother and more efficient planing experience. This technique enhances the planer’s performance by allowing better transitions over the wood surfaces.
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