In this course, we will work together through each step of the process to bring your new plane into working order. We will cover sharpening and shaping the blade, fitting the blade to the block and profiling its sole for optimal performance. Of course, we will also spend time using your new plane, learning to work with your whole body, not just your arms. The weekend will wrap up by putting our new planes to the test in a friendly planing contest (kezurou-kai).
At the end of this weekend course, each student will take home a fully operational Japanese hand plane and have the know-how to keep it working well.
Tuition for the class includes a brand new, high quality 54mm plane.https://suzukitool.com/tools/japanese-woodworking-tools/hand-planes/yamamoto/block-plane-koganna-mamehira-ganna/laminated-chip-breaker.html
Tools we will be using:
We won’t need much more than a few chisels and a trustworthy straight edge. We’ll be using a 3/16 or narrower chisel to clean the sides of the grooves that hold the blade in. And a few wider chisels to scrape the ramp to get the fit just right – something like a 1/2”, 3/4 and 1” will work.
Also, we’ll be “tapping out” our blade (hammering the soft steel of the laminated blade to shape the hard cutting edge), so bring your lucky hammer!
And of course, we will be doing a bunch of sharpening. The school has a few sets, but it will speed things along if students had their own stones. Something like 1,000 and 4,000 and maybe 8,000 if you had it. You will also need a way to keep your stones flat (diamond lapping plate, sandpaper on glass)