To see a beginner friendly guide on how to sharpen a plane, visit our sister site Common Woodworking: commonwoodworking.com/sharpening-a-plane/ For more information on Paul Sellers, see paulsellers.com or woodworkingmasterclasses.com for more project videos
Looking for advice in setting the frog on a no 4, that has no frog adjustment screw (not missing, the plane was designed without one). Is there any concerns or tricks to keeping the frog from being twisted in relation to the mouth? Is this even a concern?
Paul sellers is a MF beast, no gizmos no gadgets no bulls**t just exactly what you need to know to get the task done and get back to work. Paul is one of those rare gems you find in the stinky pile of how-to videos that is UA-cam
A lifelong dream of mine was to do woodworking in retirement. Now that I am here, I have discovered these priceless videos from Paul. Through his incredible teaching and insights, I am able to enjoying woodworking with hand tools within the constraints of my budget. Amazing what you can do with a Stanley plane and a Stanley chisel that is properly sharpened and adjusted. Thanks Paul.
Every once in a while a real master comes along. He uses just enough words to get the point across and establishes how a person might consider thinking and feeling about a subject. He's brief but he has an easy conversational style. Great job!!!!!
Today I cleaned up a very old rusty Stanley plane that I was given, I then sharpened it and set it up. I've just taken it for a test run on a piece of material, and at the end of it I was smiling from ear to ear, as it worked perfectly! I'm so thrilled as this was the first time since my school days, which ended in 1969, that I have actually used a plane. Thanks Paul for all your brilliant videos, they are not only instructive, but very motivating.
I love the low key no BS presentation - proves excellent results can be obtained without high expense sharpening tools or a high end plane. Makes fine woodworking accessible to anyone prepared to roll up the sleeves and learn! Thanks again for sharing.
I was a boatbuilder for 40+ years....... Paul is a wonder..... I learn every time I watch his video. I would have loved to have him teach apprentices (and experienced builders) in my shop.
Paul, I practically watch your videos everyday. Sometimes I watch a video a couple times until I get it. Thank you for taking the time to produce these educational videos in so much detail. I've gone from power tools to hand tools and it's so much more fun learning the traditional way. It's a lot of work to accomplish but I feel the job is so much more worth it. Thanks, Corey
I'm watching them over and over! I just over paid, I mean bought, my first plane from an antique shop the other day, so here we go! I say over paid because I keep seeing UA-camrs say you shouldn't pay more than $15 for an old Stanley lol, nope! I paid a bit more. Have a good one, cheers!
Thanks for this clear teaching, Paul! Putting a cambered bevel instead of a straight one has really decreased the stress of sharpening for me. Got my diamond stone(Sharpal 6x2.5" double sided) the other week, followed your method and got a sharp plane iron that could shave arm hair and left the surface of the wood silky smooth! Really appreciate it!
Paul, thanks to your videos I flattened, sharpened and set up my first hand plane, a #5 Millers Falls, this week. I own others, but have never used them. I made my first shavings with it, and was able to dial it down to translucent shavings on cherry. Thank you for the motivation and guidance. I've been a corded tool user for years but am working to move into hand tooling for things other than ripping and thickness planing. Next up: my block plane! Keep up the good work!
Please don't ever stop making videos. Each and every one are just amazing and show your passion for woodworking. And I can't speak for anyone else but you have a very interested subscriber here! THANK YOU
What a lesson! I've been slaving away on the flat surface, more than on the bevel, just I was told to do so many years ago. It feels like saying "abandon the parachute, let's just fly", but I feel very well advised by Paul, so myself and several cohorts will do just as we are shown. Thank you. The green abrasive stick is the only item we miss, ours being white, but this will also come into our shop practice. Laying planes on their side is another misguided practice I am happy to dismiss, because it's true about knocking the knife askew that way.
I bet most people never notice with all of Mr Sellers video he includes the imperial units even though I’m assuming Paul is from metric England system. I’m also from a metric system and to convert units into imperial with ease like Mr Sellers is hard. And I see myself fairly adequate with maths and general intelligence. Thank you for your time Mr Sellers. Immeasurable free knowledge gained. I’ll go have a look if you have a patreon account.
As someone who has been around Planers most of my life, I have to say that is a heck of wall covered in Hand Planes. Truely impressive. Thanks for posting.
You're such a natural teacher - thank you for taking the time to produce these videos! I've recently bought my father your book and he was very pleased with it indeed!
Amazing! Planes, unraveled in the simplest way possible! I can't wait to get out and get my planes and chisels razor sharp and ready to go. Thanks Paul!
Just recently retired. Never worked with wood. Have dads and some old chisels and planes. Going to start getting them ready for shavings. I hope I can learn take small boxes, birdhouses, drawers etc. Very relaxing using hand tools with limited power tools. Thanks Paul for the inspiration.
I keep coming back to these older videos just as a refresher ... they are brilliant!! No fuss, no mess, no blah - easy peasey and back to work. Thanks Mr. Sellers, this method is the polar opposite of how I learned to sharpen and works so much better than the faffy techniques I was taught originally.
Thanks much Paul- I was sent here by Cody from Wranglerstar, I will be watching many more here. I finally have some decent planes, old, not ancient, Stanley No 4 (X2), and a small 9 1/4. I will now be able to correctly adjust my blades after a proper sharpening. I didn't know how much the corners were holding me back, wondered what I was doing wrong. Thanks again- Paul A, Stateside
Since watching your videos, I have been collecting reprints of early 1900's books. The Practical Woodworker (4 vol.) by Bernard E. Jones (1920's) , and Modern Practical Joinery By George Ellis (1902). For those of us buying ancient planes, cleaning and sharpening them to Paul Sellers excellent specifications, yet we still find our planes choking after a few strokes of paper-fine shavings. I highly recommend following the directions in Modern Practical Joinery pages 50-51. Thank you Paul for introducing me to this worthy art.
Thank you! After a couple of years of playing about with a cheap number 4 plane from Wickes and having it dig in to the wood and only giving me small crumpled bits of a shaving, I now have one that makes the satisfying noise of producing a full shaving wafer thin.
Wow!!! My plane ended up sounding like yours! Onion peel too. I didn't think I had it in me, but you clearly extracted it. What a difference. Thank you, so so much.
For years I've messed around with honing guides and had inconsistent results. So I trawled through to find this tutorial and tried Paul's method over a weekend. After some practice on diamond stones I now find this the best sharpening method I've ever found. And it even works on the thicker irons for heavyweight planes (which incidentally work perfectly well with the old thinner irons). The secret, if I may say so, is that a substantial wire edge is created ensuring the edges have met. And better still, you don't need to regrind. Truly a "light bulb" moment - thanks to Paul.
using the thin slab for leveling the plane sole is amazing tip. I have been working with my plan for more than a year without getting the full width shave, and it was so frustrating for me. no matter how mach i was sharpening the blade. I used to leveling the iron by eye only, and my vision isn't that good, so, probably, it was always tipping to some side and I couldn't tell.today, for the first time, i got full width shave, and it feels amazing. Thank you
Yep, I like to use a piece of 3/8" scrap to level the iron using that method I can get an even 0.0015" across the entire plane mouth. Yes I'm anal enough to micrometer my shavings.
Thank you for this video. I enjoy the wisdom of a lifetime of work in any certain area. I am a beginner and have two restored bench planes from an antique store. As I was watching sharpening videos I was intimidated by the cost of the stones, guides, strops, pastes that were presented by others. This video has once again taught me frugality is still possible in woodworking. Again, thank you.
Another brilliant tutorial.I have been using a plane that I restored watching one of your other videos and I have just completed my first project using my restored and brilliantly sharp plane thanks ever so much Paul its made my life and work so much better.
I stumbled across your videos while researching bench top ideas. Watched your series on building a bench, and was impressed by the presentation and skill, but awed by the use of the simplest of tools to create such quality. Thank you so much for sharing your know-how, and doing so in such an enjoyable manner. You have earned yet another subscriber, Sir.
I just set up my first hand plane, a No 4 Stanley, and watched this video a few times. Made my first shavings and they are translucent and perfect. Thanks Paul 🙏
Well Done as usual Paul. I have adopted your sharpening method and have had excellent results. Simple,fast and super sharp plane blades and chisels make all the difference in the world. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge.
paul, thanks a bunch. you are so full of great tips and no nonsense-straight forward wisdom. a person could get lost listening to other so-called masters. thank you so much for sharing!
Probably one of the best explanations on the process i've seen/heard. Usually it's so thick with unnecessary details that one needs to learn on his own. This one was perfect.
I had been using the veritas honing guide for months when sharpening my planes and chisels. I have been practicing your method and it works even better. One thing I learned from this video was sharpen often and more often. Wow! Its awesome I get to learn from a master woodworker without being in your location or spending lots of money on classes or schools. Thanks for a great professional presentation, demonstration, and knowledgeable technique Mr. Sellers. Many thanks!
Thanks for this. I have followed your instructions albeit not exactly to the letter and was able to plane the edge of (not off) my kitchen door. Now I can close it without having to use my foot to force it home.
I had problems with my plane irons and chisels not being sharp enough until I saw your sharpening technique, Paul! Ever since, my tools have been sharp enough to shave the hairs off the back of my arm after being stropped. It's so enjoyable to use a super sharp tool! Thanks for these videos!
Paul, I've learned so much from your youtube videos and now your Masterclasses. This is the first time I ran across this one. So simple to set a plane blade to be perfectly level.
Recently had a new carpet in a bedroom, so my inherited father's Stanley no. 4 was pressed into service, she wouldn't win any beauty contest but she now takes beautiful parallel fine shavings, thankyou sir for teaching me a life skill that will serve me well.
Paul's method works wonders. I have been struggling with a Hock A2 Cryo blade for a week. I spent hours sharpening with the Veritas Mk II honing guide and a modified Eclipse style guide. The blade would get sharp, but the edge was ragged, almost like it was too brittle. I spent literally 5 minutes with Paul's method and got a perfect edge. 300 grit diamond stone, 500, 1000 and 4000 Shapton stones followed by 30 strokes on the stropping leather. Since this was the first time establishing the cambered bevel I spent 45-60s at each stone. Future sharpening's should be about 15-30s per stone.
This is the most helpful video i've seen on this subject, no non-sense and the right amount of detail. I have to say unfortunately these days only the self employed would be able to go through all that several times a day, most bosses would sack a guy for doing that more than once a week!
I picked up a used #4 and this video is exactly what I needed to see. Paul, your explanation and demonstration are thorough and clear. I love how informative and enjoyable your videos are. Thank you!
Great descriptive vocabulary for each component's needed service. Hand motion shows much experience sharpening and setting. Easy to follow presentation.
Just the maintenance and care of hand tools is an art in itself. Sharpening a hand plane or chisel is incredibly difficult and takes years of practice - believe me, I've tried and still am nowhere near Paul's ability. Great stuff Paul.
Thank you! I've been watching your videos, reading the articles, and reading your blog.... I have successfully refurbished my grandfather's (maybe older) No 3 Stanley Bailey and using it on my first workbench. Too bad he didn't have a No. 4 at least, or a No 5 for prepping the stock :D Work with what you have..... I appreciate all you do to inspire and teach.
nice video paul, im a electrician but also love woodworking as a hobby and the planer i love using. i often keep refering to this technique of prepering my irwin record planer. keep up the good work all the best
Thank you so much for the time to make this video. I am still on the edge of my seat waiting for the tool box that you were going to make and putting all the skill in one box one could say.
its an amazing demonstration by Paul sir. Precise, easy to understand and it really got me motivated to do things in a calm and accurate manner. Respect.
Thank you so much for this video. I've recently caught the woodworking bug and coming from a power-tool centric setup it's quite refreshing to do things in peace and quiet! Since I'm completely new to hand planes and don't have a lot of time to tune up an old plane, I ended up treating myself to a Veritas LA jack and BU smoother. Admittedly, I'm a gadget-guy and in my haste I picked up some water stones, a Stone Pond, and a Veritas MKII honing jig, thinking this would make sharpening easier. I did a "quick" honing of the included PM-V11 iron and, upon attempting to use the plane, quickly discovered that I should have spent more time sharpening. I had quite a challenge pushing the jack plane across some q/s white oak and got quite a bit of tear out, skipping, and catching, which shocked me. I know I need to learn to sharpen better but I also think the PM-V11 steel is just really hard to abrade with the water stones that I have. I went back to honing and used the 800-4000-8000 stones that I'd bought, cambered the edges and, while still a bit better, my plane was not cutting anything like what I saw on various UA-cam videos. I did have a few instances of decent shavings, which just gave me a little taste of what using a hand plane could be like! :) Anyhow, after a bit more research I came across your excellent blog and videos and quickly realized that sharpening doesn't have to be some numbers-crunching, perfectly-angled-to-a-thousandth-of-a-degree ordeal. You very eloquently stated that woodworking artisans have been doing more with a lot less technology for hundreds of years and that we shouldn't make things more complicated than they have to be. This video really set me straight and I just grabbed some DMT diamond stones and will be practicing your sharpening technique this weekend. I'm hoping that I'll have much sharper blades for my next attempt at planing this weekend! :) Again, thank you for sharing your knowledge with us - this truly is somewhat of a lost art. :)
+Digitalfiendscom I couldn't wait for the weekend and *just* finished my first sharpening with this technique and wow, what a difference! For the first time since I got the hand planes last week I was able to plane that q/s white oak I bought without tear out or getting stuck. Jointing the edges gives me that satisfying "shhhnick" sound with nice thin and even shavings; end grain cuts with a bit more effort but evenly; and I was able to finally plane the face of that bloody q/s white oak. It's truly night and day. I'm still having a bit of difficulty with this one board where the grain looks like it reverses on itself but I tried the face on another board and it went much more smoothly, so it seems it might just be this piece of wood (figures lol). Tried a bit of pine and the iron cut through it like butter; haven't yet tried the hard maple I've got for another project. I'm going to sharpen the rest of my blades for this weekend and get going on my table top! Woohoo, thank you so much for this video.By the way, one thing I immediately noticed about using DMT diamond stones is how fast they cut the PM-V11 Veritas blades versus the water stones I bought - and with MUCH less mess. I'm using Stoner's Invisible Glass cleaner which seems to work well enough.Very happy at the moment... :)
Thank you for all of your teachings I learn so much from your videos. I can't wait to receive your latest books and DVDs I already ordered them and I'm looking forward to reading and learning more and more
To see a beginner friendly guide on how to sharpen a plane, visit our sister site Common Woodworking: commonwoodworking.com/sharpening-a-plane/
For more information on Paul Sellers, see paulsellers.com or woodworkingmasterclasses.com for more project videos
Hi Paul, what size stones are they, are they the 8x3 inch. Eze Lap doesn't have 1200 grit in that size, only in the 6x2 inch.
Nice video Stanley the best player
Looking for advice in setting the frog on a no 4, that has no frog adjustment screw (not missing, the plane was designed without one). Is there any concerns or tricks to keeping the frog from being twisted in relation to the mouth? Is this even a concern?
Paul sellers is a MF beast, no gizmos no gadgets no bulls**t just exactly what you need to know to get the task done and get back to work. Paul is one of those rare gems you find in the stinky pile of how-to videos that is UA-cam
A lifelong dream of mine was to do woodworking in retirement. Now that I am here, I have discovered these priceless videos from Paul. Through his incredible teaching and insights, I am able to enjoying woodworking with hand tools within the constraints of my budget. Amazing what you can do with a Stanley plane and a Stanley chisel that is properly sharpened and adjusted. Thanks Paul.
Same here. I have been re-watching his video and practicing the basic techniques.
He’s a great teacher
Every once in a while a real master comes along. He uses just enough words to get the point across and establishes how a person might consider thinking and feeling about a subject.
He's brief but he has an easy conversational style.
Great job!!!!!
Mycroft Holmes when i look for woodworking tips that are all encompassing and give me a true in depth knowledge, I go to Mr. Sellers.
It is simple because it works.
A fantastic teacher and an inspiration for many to begin there woodworking journey
Today I cleaned up a very old rusty Stanley plane that I was given, I then sharpened it and set it up. I've just taken it for a test run on a piece of material, and at the end of it I was smiling from ear to ear, as it worked perfectly! I'm so thrilled as this was the first time since my school days, which ended in 1969, that I have actually used a plane. Thanks Paul for all your brilliant videos, they are not only instructive, but very motivating.
Paul, this is invaluable to someone like me who has just purchased his 1st plane. Thank you.
My exact situation as of today
After 3 years how many planes have you accumulated?
Eyyyyy same here... 4 years later🤣
Likewise!
Yeah a wealth of knowledge we can all learn from
I'm back here after 4 years and watching again. Thanks Paul
I love the low key no BS presentation - proves excellent results can be obtained without high expense sharpening tools or a high end plane.
Makes fine woodworking accessible to anyone prepared to roll up the sleeves and learn!
Thanks again for sharing.
I was a boatbuilder for 40+ years....... Paul is a wonder..... I learn every time I watch his video. I would have loved to have him teach apprentices (and experienced builders) in my shop.
THE LEVER CAP TO TIGHTEN THE SCREW ON THE BLADE OMG BRILLIANT.
So helpful, no messing, straightforward and no ghastly music! thank you!
jerebuck northern style
spot on
You can tell that Paul loves woodworking, he s very enthusiastic and inspires me to jump off my couch to find an old Plane to restore. Thanks Paul
I can't say I've seen a more practical, detailed and simple explanation of this whole process. Absolutely top notch Paul.
Paul, I practically watch your videos everyday. Sometimes I watch a video a couple times until I get it. Thank you for taking the time to produce these educational videos in so much detail. I've gone from power tools to hand tools and it's so much more fun learning the traditional way. It's a lot of work to accomplish but I feel the job is so much more worth it.
Thanks,
Corey
When I saw you pull that burr off the iron, I really got goosebumps. Excellent demonstration of years of experience, and of skill.
me too!
6 years after the vid was uploaded and here I am, just got my first planes and I'm learning how to set them up etc. How cool is that!
I can’t even explain the amount of knowledge I’ve absorbed from this man. Truly grateful
I'm watching them over and over! I just over paid, I mean bought, my first plane from an antique shop the other day, so here we go! I say over paid because I keep seeing UA-camrs say you shouldn't pay more than $15 for an old Stanley lol, nope! I paid a bit more. Have a good one, cheers!
Thanks for this clear teaching, Paul! Putting a cambered bevel instead of a straight one has really decreased the stress of sharpening for me. Got my diamond stone(Sharpal 6x2.5" double sided) the other week, followed your method and got a sharp plane iron that could shave arm hair and left the surface of the wood silky smooth! Really appreciate it!
I am very grateful for your videos. You are teaching me things I should have learned 50 years ago
The best hand plane sharpening technique I have seen and used. No need for fancy jigs or grinding wheels.
Paul, thanks to your videos I flattened, sharpened and set up my first hand plane, a #5 Millers Falls, this week. I own others, but have never used them. I made my first shavings with it, and was able to dial it down to translucent shavings on cherry. Thank you for the motivation and guidance. I've been a corded tool user for years but am working to move into hand tooling for things other than ripping and thickness planing. Next up: my block plane!
Keep up the good work!
Please don't ever stop making videos.
Each and every one are just amazing and show your passion for woodworking.
And I can't speak for anyone else but you have a very interested subscriber here!
THANK YOU
What a lesson! I've been slaving away on the flat surface, more than on the bevel, just I was told to do so many years ago. It feels like saying "abandon the parachute, let's just fly", but I feel very well advised by Paul, so myself and several cohorts will do just as we are shown. Thank you. The green abrasive stick is the only item we miss, ours being white, but this will also come into our shop practice. Laying planes on their side is another misguided practice I am happy to dismiss, because it's true about knocking the knife askew that way.
Just wanna thank my dad for pointing me in your direction, great presentation and appreciate your experience Mr. Sellers.
I bet most people never notice with all of Mr Sellers video he includes the imperial units even though I’m assuming Paul is from metric England system. I’m also from a metric system and to convert units into imperial with ease like Mr Sellers is hard. And I see myself fairly adequate with maths and general intelligence.
Thank you for your time Mr Sellers. Immeasurable free knowledge gained. I’ll go have a look if you have a patreon account.
As someone who has been around Planers most of my life, I have to say that is a heck of wall covered in Hand Planes. Truely impressive. Thanks for posting.
What a ridiculous amount of good knowledge Paul has, and thankfully generous enough to share.
Thank you Mr. Sellers, Merry Christmas.
Thank you for sharing these tips! All by eye, no tools and jigs required 😊
You're such a natural teacher - thank you for taking the time to produce these videos! I've recently bought my father your book and he was very pleased with it indeed!
Amazing! Planes, unraveled in the simplest way possible! I can't wait to get out and get my planes and chisels razor sharp and ready to go. Thanks Paul!
Just recently retired. Never worked with wood. Have dads and some old chisels and planes. Going to start getting them ready for shavings. I hope I can learn take small boxes, birdhouses, drawers etc. Very relaxing using hand tools with limited power tools. Thanks Paul for the inspiration.
I keep coming back to these older videos just as a refresher ... they are brilliant!! No fuss, no mess, no blah - easy peasey and back to work. Thanks Mr. Sellers, this method is the polar opposite of how I learned to sharpen and works so much better than the faffy techniques I was taught originally.
The sound of those last few strokes was sheer heaven.
Are you having a special moment?
Thanks much Paul- I was sent here by Cody from Wranglerstar, I will be watching many more here. I finally have some decent planes, old, not ancient, Stanley No 4 (X2), and a small 9 1/4. I will now be able to correctly adjust my blades after a proper sharpening. I didn't know how much the corners were holding me back, wondered what I was doing wrong. Thanks again- Paul A, Stateside
we're so lucky to have you Paul Sellers
Since watching your videos, I have been collecting reprints of early 1900's books. The Practical Woodworker (4 vol.) by Bernard E. Jones (1920's) , and Modern Practical Joinery By George Ellis (1902). For those of us buying ancient planes, cleaning and sharpening them to Paul Sellers excellent specifications, yet we still find our planes choking after a few strokes of paper-fine shavings. I highly recommend following the directions in Modern Practical Joinery pages 50-51.
Thank you Paul for introducing me to this worthy art.
Thank you! After a couple of years of playing about with a cheap number 4 plane from Wickes and having it dig in to the wood and only giving me small crumpled bits of a shaving, I now have one that makes the satisfying noise of producing a full shaving wafer thin.
It's fun watching and learning from a real craftsman. Thank You.
So very well explaned and demoed. Thanks Paul. Am waiting to receive my exact same Stanley plane from Amazon. This is the way I will follow.
Paul you're a godbless! finally someone that takes time to explain the set up of a plane!
Godspeed to you sir.
Thanks Mr Sellers.You are such a gem.We are so lucky to have a teacher like you☺
I have a very old plane just like this. Thank you, this was very helpful!
So many UA-cam woodworkers are really just gadget buyers who are more interested in consumerism than wood working Paul is the real deal
Wow!!! My plane ended up sounding like yours! Onion peel too. I didn't think I had it in me, but you clearly extracted it. What a difference. Thank you, so so much.
Wow! Paul, for us self-taught guys, your demos are a major help. Thanks!
For years I've messed around with honing guides and had inconsistent results. So I trawled through to find this tutorial and tried Paul's method over a weekend. After some practice on diamond stones I now find this the best sharpening method I've ever found. And it even works on the thicker irons for heavyweight planes (which incidentally work perfectly well with the old thinner irons). The secret, if I may say so, is that a substantial wire edge is created ensuring the edges have met. And better still, you don't need to regrind. Truly a "light bulb" moment - thanks to Paul.
using the thin slab for leveling the plane sole is amazing tip. I have been working with my plan for more than a year without getting the full width shave, and it was so frustrating for me. no matter how mach i was sharpening the blade. I used to leveling the iron by eye only, and my vision isn't that good, so, probably, it was always tipping to some side and I couldn't tell.today, for the first time, i got full width shave, and it feels amazing.
Thank you
Yep, I like to use a piece of 3/8" scrap to level the iron using that method I can get an even 0.0015" across the entire plane mouth. Yes I'm anal enough to micrometer my shavings.
Skill and mastery aside...this is Poetry! Love Paul Sellers for so many reasons.
Thank you for this video. I enjoy the wisdom of a lifetime of work in any certain area. I am a beginner and have two restored bench planes from an antique store. As I was watching sharpening videos I was intimidated by the cost of the stones, guides, strops, pastes that were presented by others. This video has once again taught me frugality is still possible in woodworking. Again, thank you.
Hated woodwork in school , but if only I’d had Paul to teach me
this is absolutely brilliant. Hopefully good to know, nine years on, you just made setting up my stanley simple and easy. great stuff!
I was looking for quick instructions on sharpening and re-assembling my plane, you hit it spot on. Thank you
Thank you so much because in one perfectly explained video you helped me with my years of frustrated maintenance problems!
Thank you Paul , you are absolutely the best teacher , it is nice to see the passion that you have for your craft, you are a true master craftsman,
I finally know how to adjust and use a hand plane! Thank you - this is the most rewarding woodworking tool I've used. Such a nice feel.
Another brilliant tutorial.I have been using a plane that I restored watching one of your other videos and I have just completed my first project using my restored and brilliantly sharp plane thanks ever so much Paul its made my life and work so much better.
I stumbled across your videos while researching bench top ideas. Watched your series on building a bench, and was impressed by the presentation and skill, but awed by the use of the simplest of tools to create such quality. Thank you so much for sharing your know-how, and doing so in such an enjoyable manner. You have earned yet another subscriber, Sir.
I just set up my first hand plane, a No 4 Stanley, and watched this video a few times. Made my first shavings and they are translucent and perfect. Thanks Paul 🙏
Well Done as usual Paul. I have adopted your sharpening method and have had excellent results. Simple,fast and super sharp plane blades and chisels make all the difference in the world. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge.
paul, thanks a bunch. you are so full of great tips and no nonsense-straight forward wisdom. a person could get lost listening to other so-called masters. thank you so much for sharing!
Ive definitely watched this video 10 times plus, best instructor on UA-cam
Paul you really are one of a kind. You've helped me and so many others dramatically improve our lives in the shop
Thank you for always sharing your knowledge Paul.
real pleasure to learn from such a woodworking deity
Many Happy Returns Of The Day, Paul
Probably one of the best explanations on the process i've seen/heard. Usually it's so thick with unnecessary details that one needs to learn on his own. This one was perfect.
I had been using the veritas honing guide for months when sharpening my planes and chisels. I have been practicing your method and it works even better. One thing I learned from this video was sharpen often and more often. Wow! Its awesome I get to learn from a master woodworker without being in your location or spending lots of money on classes or schools. Thanks for a great professional presentation, demonstration, and knowledgeable technique Mr. Sellers. Many thanks!
This is beautifully filmed, and wonderfully explained, thank you Paul, a real treat to be learning this with you!
Thanks for this. I have followed your instructions albeit not exactly to the letter and was able to plane the edge of (not off) my kitchen door. Now I can close it without having to use my foot to force it home.
I had problems with my plane irons and chisels not being sharp enough until I saw your sharpening technique, Paul! Ever since, my tools have been sharp enough to shave the hairs off the back of my arm after being stropped. It's so enjoyable to use a super sharp tool! Thanks for these videos!
Thanks Paul, this was a very valuable demonstration. One really gets a good understanding of the whole process, with lots of details.
Paul, I've learned so much from your youtube videos and now your Masterclasses. This is the first time I ran across this one. So simple to set a plane blade to be perfectly level.
Recently had a new carpet in a bedroom, so my inherited father's Stanley no. 4 was pressed into service, she wouldn't win any beauty contest but she now takes beautiful parallel fine shavings, thankyou sir for teaching me a life skill that will serve me well.
Thanks for another, very clear and useful presentation.
Paul's method works wonders. I have been struggling with a Hock A2 Cryo blade for a week. I spent hours sharpening with the Veritas Mk II honing guide and a modified Eclipse style guide. The blade would get sharp, but the edge was ragged, almost like it was too brittle. I spent literally 5 minutes with Paul's method and got a perfect edge. 300 grit diamond stone, 500, 1000 and 4000 Shapton stones followed by 30 strokes on the stropping leather. Since this was the first time establishing the cambered bevel I spent 45-60s at each stone. Future sharpening's should be about 15-30s per stone.
Awesome helpful vid. Just what I need to learn how to tune adjust and use my old plane that’s just like the one in the vid. Thanks so much.
I'm so glad I found this channel I desperately needed this level of instruction. Took my planes from burnishing wood to taking shavings.
I love watching your shows I have put a lot of your methods into my own work
You are a great teacher and an artist. Your method of sharpening is so effective and just makes sense.
This is the most helpful video i've seen on this subject, no non-sense and the right amount of detail.
I have to say unfortunately these days only the self employed would be able to go through all that several times a day, most bosses would sack a guy for doing that more than once a week!
I picked up a used #4 and this video is exactly what I needed to see. Paul, your explanation and demonstration are thorough and clear. I love how informative and enjoyable your videos are. Thank you!
Absolutely the best video's on UA-cam, Hands Down!!!
Every day is a school day with Paul.true craftsman
Great descriptive vocabulary for each component's needed service. Hand motion shows much experience sharpening and setting. Easy to follow presentation.
Excellent job Paul and thank you for sharing tips and tricks.
Once again, thank you for your informative and helpful video. being a novice, you have taught me so much.
Its amazing to watch you. You have so much experience and you don't have a problem of sharing it.
Just the maintenance and care of hand tools is an art in itself. Sharpening a hand plane or chisel is incredibly difficult and takes years of practice - believe me, I've tried and still am nowhere near Paul's ability. Great stuff Paul.
I’ve learned so much from you sir. Thank for sharing your experience with us.
Thank you! I've been watching your videos, reading the articles, and reading your blog.... I have successfully refurbished my grandfather's (maybe older) No 3 Stanley Bailey and using it on my first workbench. Too bad he didn't have a No. 4 at least, or a No 5 for prepping the stock :D Work with what you have..... I appreciate all you do to inspire and teach.
nice video paul, im a electrician but also love woodworking as a hobby and the planer i love using. i often keep refering to this technique of prepering my irwin record planer. keep up the good work all the best
¡Gracias!
Thank you so much for the time to make this video. I am still on the edge of my seat waiting for the tool box that you were going to make and putting all the skill in one box one could say.
Paul's the best at hand tool's, I've learned so much from him.👏🇺🇸
Thanks!
Thanks for the instructions. Works like a charm!
its an amazing demonstration by Paul sir. Precise, easy to understand and it really got me motivated to do things in a calm and accurate manner. Respect.
That's beautiful. Still trying to get there. Helpful video.
Thank you so much for this video.
I've recently caught the woodworking bug and coming from a power-tool centric setup it's quite refreshing to do things in peace and quiet! Since I'm completely new to hand planes and don't have a lot of time to tune up an old plane, I ended up treating myself to a Veritas LA jack and BU smoother. Admittedly, I'm a gadget-guy and in my haste I picked up some water stones, a Stone Pond, and a Veritas MKII honing jig, thinking this would make sharpening easier.
I did a "quick" honing of the included PM-V11 iron and, upon attempting to use the plane, quickly discovered that I should have spent more time sharpening. I had quite a challenge pushing the jack plane across some q/s white oak and got quite a bit of tear out, skipping, and catching, which shocked me. I know I need to learn to sharpen better but I also think the PM-V11 steel is just really hard to abrade with the water stones that I have. I went back to honing and used the 800-4000-8000 stones that I'd bought, cambered the edges and, while still a bit better, my plane was not cutting anything like what I saw on various UA-cam videos. I did have a few instances of decent shavings, which just gave me a little taste of what using a hand plane could be like! :)
Anyhow, after a bit more research I came across your excellent blog and videos and quickly realized that sharpening doesn't have to be some numbers-crunching, perfectly-angled-to-a-thousandth-of-a-degree ordeal. You very eloquently stated that woodworking artisans have been doing more with a lot less technology for hundreds of years and that we shouldn't make things more complicated than they have to be. This video really set me straight and I just grabbed some DMT diamond stones and will be practicing your sharpening technique this weekend. I'm hoping that I'll have much sharper blades for my next attempt at planing this weekend! :)
Again, thank you for sharing your knowledge with us - this truly is somewhat of a lost art. :)
+Digitalfiendscom I couldn't wait for the weekend and *just* finished my first sharpening with this technique and wow, what a difference! For the first time since I got the hand planes last week I was able to plane that q/s white oak I bought without tear out or getting stuck. Jointing the edges gives me that satisfying "shhhnick" sound with nice thin and even shavings; end grain cuts with a bit more effort but evenly; and I was able to finally plane the face of that bloody q/s white oak. It's truly night and day. I'm still having a bit of difficulty with this one board where the grain looks like it reverses on itself but I tried the face on another board and it went much more smoothly, so it seems it might just be this piece of wood (figures lol). Tried a bit of pine and the iron cut through it like butter; haven't yet tried the hard maple I've got for another project. I'm going to sharpen the rest of my blades for this weekend and get going on my table top! Woohoo, thank you so much for this video.By the way, one thing I immediately noticed about using DMT diamond stones is how fast they cut the PM-V11 Veritas blades versus the water stones I bought - and with MUCH less mess. I'm using Stoner's Invisible Glass cleaner which seems to work well enough.Very happy at the moment... :)
Thank you for all of your teachings I learn so much from your videos. I can't wait to receive your latest books and DVDs I already ordered them and I'm looking forward to reading and learning more and more