Making & Mastering Wood Planes [Paperback]

David Finck (Author), James Krenov (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2000

Small and extremely comfortable to use, wooden hand planes bring machined surfaces to an alluring, silky smoothness-but they can't be bought anywhere. Fortunately, this meticulously complete, photo-packed guide is like two volumes in one, teaching you how to make a classic plane yourself (it takes only a day or so) and how to use it in a refined manner. One of the most respected woodworkers around digs deeply into the art of crafting and working with this personalized tool, helping even the most uninitiated with dozens of detailed boxed sidebars on the basics. Every step in the construction process receives extremely close attention: preparing the plane blank; bandsaw pointers; drift angle; tension; tuning and using hand tools; sharpening with ease speed, and reliability; cross pin location; and gluing up. Handle the plane well so as to get a good stroke going; and take a look at invaluable planning aids and special techniques. No other manual is its equal!

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Many modern woodworkers will never use a hand plane, but the trade is still considered essential for work of the highest caliber. Finck guides readers through the precision construction of a wood-soled plane that will perform better than today's factory-made, metal-soled counterpart. For the less adventurous, Finck offers comprehensive instructions in the proper use of planes of all types (metal or wooden). Unfortunately, the black-and-white illustrations, while useful, make for a somewhat drab book. Garrett Hack's The Handplane Book (Taunton, 1997) is much more attractive but doesn't cover the construction of one's own planes or appear to be as useful to the average user. Comprehensive woodworking collections will want this title.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

David Finck comes from a long line of ardent woodworkers, and he continues the tradition, designing and building fine furniture, as well as acoustic guitars. He has also written Practical Planning for Sterling..

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (December 31, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806961635
• ISBN-13: 978-0806961637
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #489,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #35 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Hand Tools

More About the Author

David Finck was born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1961. His father's efforts at instrument making piqued David's interest, and so, he built his first guitar while still in college. This turned out to be a transforming experience, sparking a passion for wood and craftsmanship. Subsequently, after graduating from Berkeley, that ember truly caught fire with two years of instruction under reknowned craftsman, author, and teacher, James Krenov. Since 1986, David has been designing and building guitars, fine furniture, and lighting fixtures. He has maintained a commitment for passing along his woodworking knowledge through teaching and writing, and lately, videography.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true desert island book for woodworkers., December 19, 2000

By 

Dave Esposito (Baltimore, Md) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making & Mastering Wood Planes (Paperback)

This book ostensibly is about making both functional and beautiful wooden planes. However, in my humble opinion, I think it is one of the best books on woodworking fundamentals ever written - and I've pretty much read them all. That's because on the way to making a plane using this book, you get a thorough grounding in craft, in wood working fundamentals and in just plain how to do things right.

The book is clearly written and illustrated. Sometimes, I have difficulty in visualizing what an author explaining complicated processes is saying. Sometimes even with pictures, I struggle, (and I assume others do as well) with something missing from the explanation or perhaps with an explanation that raises more questions than it answers. In the case of "Making & Mastering Wood Planes" I felt that I was able to visualize what the author was putting into words quite easily. Mr. Finck has a very good way of explaining things in a sort of three dimesional way. He also has done an excellent job of anticipating the reader's questions. The only other book I've had this feeling about was Michael Dunbar's book on Windsor Chairmaking.

The amount of detail in this little book is really amazing. It's also amazing that the detail is consistently in support of the key concepts and processes that the author is explaining. Far from being a burden, the exhaustive detail provides the "why" and the rationale for what is being explained. It's actually quite motivating; you read, and as you read the pieces of the puzzle come together. So in this book you make a plane, but you make it by way of the Brooklyn Bridge. What I mean is that when the author instructs you to cut out the wood you need for a plane using a bandsaw, he first shows you how to tune the bandsaw up so that it is not the "weak link" in your arsenal. Nothing is left for granted or to chance - the book is complete, exhibiting the fine craftsmanship it so ably teaches.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, March 1, 2001

By 

bayoubill - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making & Mastering Wood Planes (Paperback)

If you are already a woodworker and want to make planes, this is a great book. If you are a beginner and want to learn woodworking, this is the best book I've ever seen. Get this book and "Making Joints" by Ian Kirby. I have both on the shelf dead center above my workbench because I refer to them often. I used to think the Kirby book was the standard by which all other WW books should be judged, but "Making Planes" has set a higher mark.

The best things about Mr. Finck's book are it's thoroughness and logical organization. Every time a new tool is introduced, information about using it and tuning it (ever see how to tune a combination square?) is given immediately, thoroughly and clearly, instead of at the end or a few pages later or whatever other cockeyed place was convenient for the editor.

Further, techniques are described for doing the work to a very high standard of precision and beauty, not just "close enough". We all need to urged on to higher acheivement, and it sure helps if the person urging is also showing you how to do it, clearly, symapathetically and in detail. Using a band saw? Shows how to check the tires for trueness. Grinder? how to dress the wheels. Sharpening stone? how to flatten. Make your own marking knife, adjusting mallet. How to plane -- how to stand, where to put your hands, everything but breath control (2d edition -- ?).

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book bursting with gems, April 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Making & Mastering Wood Planes (Paperback)

Yes, the title DOES suggest that it's about making wooden planes and I suppose it is. ('Krenov-style' planes only, but that's a great start.) In actual fact, this is a book with so much more than just the usual overload of information on a very narrow field. Every page has something of interest to anyone who works wood, or who uses tools for either livelihood or recreation. If you DO want to make wooden planes, then you couldn't do better than to get this book. I believe it's among the best titles available and is probably the best still in print anywhere. The techniques outlined would permit a reasonably careful reader to upgrade any plane, wooden or metal, that came into his or her possession.

Almost incidentally, the reader is taken on a short course in testing, upgrading, creating, fine-tuning and using all manner of tools for cabinet-making and general woodworking. The band-saw, metal block-planes and spokeshaves, the cabinet scraper and all manner of jigs and tool-rests are covered. There is even a small section on making a brass mallet for adjusting planes, if you are so inclined. There are even methods outlined for coping without a 'proper' work-bench.

No elaborate machine-shop or tool arsenal is necessary to utilise this book and no greater skill than that of reading is required to take a pile of great gems from this outstanding book. If you're very experienced, you might have heard most of the tips and advice before, but probably have never had them explained so thoroughly and convincingly, with high-quality photographs accompanying the text on the same page.

There is no preaching and there is nothing 'forbidden' in these pages, but there is a philosophy of good craftsmanship that really under-pins the work and manages to come through clearly. The author's love of fine tools and their interaction with the raw materials is infectious.

This book would suit the professional woodworker as well as the complete novice who has yet to decide whether to take up some form of woodcraft. You WILL gain something from reading this book; you may even lose out, if you ignore the clear and powerful techniques and messages that it offers. It's brilliant. I've never quite been able to say that about a woodworking book before.