Handplane Basics: A Better Way to Use Bench Planes

I like Chris Schwarz. I think he has done a lot for hand tool woodworking, and I enjoy my woodworking more now then when I was using all power tools. This is a great DVD for the beginner hand tool user. Mr. Schwarz cuts through all the zen mysticism of hand planes that's out there. He says here are three types of planes, use each type to do this and here's how you do it. Simple, effective, great instruction. Good explanation of why you should do what he's suggesting as well. If you only use hand planes a little, but would like to use them more often yet are afraid of them due lack of knowledge get this DVD or any DVD Mr. Schwarz puts out. A hand plane really can be faster than power tools if you keep it tuned and setup. I didn't believe this until I started using them, and didn't have adjust fences, router bit heights and so on. But you need to get good hand tools. Most of the stanley stuff you see on ebay just can't compete with Lee Valley Veritas or Lie-Neilsen hand tools. Sorry, I have done stanley ebay purchase and tuned them up, but there just not as well made as the modern day makers make.

Wow...What an education. Chris Schwarz is a wonderful teacher. He articulates very clearly so that even a beginner can understand. No matter what level of skill you're at you will get something out of this video. It cleared up a lot of fuzzy areas that I had as a result of listening to too many people. Chris know his stuff. I highly recommend the video for anyone.

Christopher Swartz is inspirational. His knowledge of traditional woodworking skills allows you to understand the process and to improve my efforts and allow me to improve my techniques and improve my desired results.

as described

More about sharpening then planeing

excellant DVD about setting up, sharpening and use of hand planes. if you are interested in fine hand tools, then this is theDVD for you

subject was very well presented and very educational and very informative .. would recommend it to any woodworker interested in hand tools

Whether you're new to woodworking or a seasoned pro, you really owe it to yourself to understand how planes work, what they're used for, and how to take rough lumber, dimension it, and prepare it for finishing, without the use of power tools. For me personally, I started learning about hand planes because was just getting into woodworking and needed a way to mill rough hardwood at home. I have a miter saw, a portable table saw, a circular saw, and a router, but I don't own a powered joiner or planer, nor do I really have room for them. After visiting a few flea markets, I was able to put together a set of three planes (Stanley Nos. 4 & 7, Union Trans. Jack) for $128. Less than half of what the cheapest powered table planer costs.This DVD was instrumental in getting me started. Christopher Schwarz takes you through the setup of each type of plane, then shows you how to prepare a board from start to finish. The last part is what helped the most. Once you see the process at work, everything makes sense. You can see how in the right hands these tools can be as fast as any powered system. Even if you have access to a powered system but you hate sanding, the smoothing plane is your new best friend.I highly recommend getting Schwarz's book, Handplane Essentials as a companion to this DVD. If you are buying vintage planes, the Super-Tune A Handplane DVD, also by Christopher Schwarz, is a must-have.