Tuning Japanese Planes at Zenwoods

[Studley 2436]

Seeing I had just got all these Japanese planes it was time to get some instruction. I got my mate Minoru who is a company director thesedays but worked with his Dad in the time honoured way for 9 years while he was finishing high school Uni and then doing his Masters!!!

Main pics here are Minoru flattening the sole very carefully. The Japanese planes are run flat infront of the mouth and then flat behind but with a step down to the area behind the blade. This is because the blade can push the sole out meaning there is no contact between the sole and the job infront of the mouth.

He also showed us the flattening of the chipbreaker and then tuning it to the blade so it sits dead flat on the blades edge. Minoru said to set the chipbreaker 0.2mm back from the blade edge. Zen tried this with his Lie Nielsen and was impressed by the improvement in the action.

You might notice that Minoru is using the chipbreaker as a scraper to flatten the sole. He then did the flattening and sharpening of the chipbreaker. Then sharpened the blade.

On fitting the blade it must fit snugly in the track. For Adjustment Minoru used some paper and also wood shavings for packing. This meant the blade could be struck it into position the chipbreaker is tapped in and you start planing.

We had a good look at the laminations too. There is a big advantage here as you get a hard sharp edge but the soft steel at the back gives you the toughness you need in a blade. Clever way of combining properties.

Another thing I noticed is that Minoru really lashed into his planing and scraping too. Wasn't any holding him back. You can see the way the shavings fly off. In the blurry photo of him planing the plane has actually gone past the end of the job and the shaving is still coming clear of the plane. Was tough photography but result wasn't too bad.

There is a picture of the scraping up close where it is easy to see that he is not scraping the area in front of the mouth. This part was worn and so the rest had to be taken down. Like any plane that area infront of the mouth is crucial.

Hope you enjoy this series of pics. Those blades are something sensational I have to say. Western Planes have advantages in their easy adjustability but the blades on the Japanese ones are their own advantage.

Studley

[Studley 2436]

Remaining photos. You get to suffer my face there too in the middle of Drew's shed and my messy pile of planes

[Stuart]

Hope you had the video camera rolling

[Studley 2436]

Sorry Stuart I am a still photographer

Studley

[AlexS]

Thanks for that set of pics - very instructive. Those shavings are really flying!

[zenwood]

Thanks for posting the pics, Studley. It was great to see master Minoru at work. He really knew his planes, and how to sharpen blades freehand, going by feel and sound to get it right. He also prompted me to experiment with the distance between the edge of the blade and the chipbreaker. I had been using about 1-2 mm, but he suggested 0.2 mm would work better. He also gave a tip on how to plane across the top of a knot: make sure it points away from the direction of planing. Now why didn't I think of that?

[Ikkyu]

This is cool thanks for sharing nothing like good fluffy shavings

Ikkyu

[Harry72]

Hey Studley thats a very sinister look on your face... looks like the jap tools are getting to you.

[Studley 2436]

Be nice Harry. You don't want me giving you payback next month

Studley

[zenwood]

Harry: if only you knew the power of the Dark Side!

[Stuart]

Hey - that's my line

[zenwood]

OK Stu: here's a free pass for 1 use of the following:

Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.

[Stuart]

think I'll hold onto that one - I'm sure to need it

[Harry72]

Be nice Harry. You don't want me giving you payback next month

Studley