Raising panels with the Stanley #4

ByPaul Sellers

Should I tell you that a plain Jane #4 plane with no retrofit irons, specialist cap irons or dead flat soles is of equal value to the beastly heavyweights engineers and salesmen tell you you need I would of course enter the realms of controversy most men fear to tread. But I have to do it for the benefit of my fellow woodworkers who might think these others are telling truth instead of merely discrediting Leonard Bailey’s entrepreneurial abilities in producing the perfect metal cast plane. As I have said, as far as the smoothing plane goes, few modern day planes can match the Stanley #4 smoother. Wahay!

Here’s a video we put together to add a dimension to your woodworking you may not know about. Enjoy!

 

7 Comments

  1. Right about now I’m glad that I didn’t buy that 3 1/4hp router. This method looks like so much more fun and maybe I can save what is left of my hearing.
    For a smaller panel, say, a top for a jewelery box, would a block plane be preferred, or is my #4 suitable?

  2. When you were planing the long grain, were you always planing with the dominant grain direction?  (you did mention that there is some interlocked grain)
    It looked like you were always moving the plane in the same direction throughout the video (left to right from the camera’s perspective), so I would have expected some more trouble.

    Matt

    1. Sapele mahogany as stripes caused by reverse grain running parallel but opposite to the other grain in equal proportion. You can angle the plane to eliminate surface tearing.

  3. Each time you post of these videos, I find myself being surprised again as to how easy something may be that I had always assumed was far more complicated.  I really appreciate your contribution as I’m really having more fun and am learning great new lifetime skills.  Like the others, I tried this one and found your methods to be both achievable and straight forward.

    As a result of your emergence here, A friend and I bought your full series and while I haven’t gotten through all of them yet, I find myself being very anxious to get to the shop and that hasn’t happened since I started this hobby.  Thank you.

    Don

  5. Hmmmmmm……

    A new approach with a new angle.
    I’ve made lots of fields of all sizes – half a dozen this afternoon – but I clamp mine flat between the bench dogs and plane on the flat. This allows me to use either a skewed plane for rising and falling grain or my favourite half pitch planes.

    Apart from personal preference, is there  an advantage to your method?

    I’l try it out for myself tomorrow.

    ….

  6. Great video as always, thanks for sharing.
    I have used your technique to raise a couple of panels for a box and it worked a treat.

    I was wondering how you would go about making a fielded panel. I guess you would use a rebate plane first to create the field then a carriage makers plane to create the bevels. Would love to hear your take on it.

    Keep up the good work,
    Ric

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