Handplanes evoke the romance of an earlier era, when they performed countless woodworking tasks from preparing stock to shaping moldings. In The Handplane Book, aficionado Garrett Hack reveals the rich heritage of this classic tool with a treasure trove of information and history, including detailed guidance on how to buy a plane, tune it up, and use it. Lavishly illustrated with 175 photos and 152 illustrations, Hack engagingly traces the tool's lineage from Roman times to the present, with emphasis on the golden age of handplanes from the late 19th and the early 20th centuries.
The Handplane Book
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Woodworkers beware: Garrett Hack has put together a completely irresistible book, beautifully illustrated with color photographs, drawings, diagrams, and everything you would ever want or need to know about the handplane, the ultimate woodworker's tool. Hack covers the history of planes back to Roman times, and explains how to tune and sharpen a handplane, how to use the many different varieties properly, and how to purchase the right kind of plane. In a world where most woodwork is done with machine tools and mechanized wood-shaping devices, The Handplane Book is an ode to the wonders of the beautiful work done with a tool many modern woodworkers have probably forgotten.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
53 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a librarian I see a lot of books on this subject, and lately I have been reading everything I can get my hands on about tuning and using hand planes (an area of woodworking that I have been sorely lax about learning). I am here to say that this book is an absolute treasure trove of information. The coverage of all things relating to hand planes is encyclopedic.
I especially value chapter four 'Tuning a Plane', which is a 25 page long clear and precise explanation of every step one should go through when tuning a plane to work properly. I also benefitted greatly from the explanations for the most common uses of each type and size of plane, and the coverage of what to look for when buying a used plane.
I love the fact that Mr. Hack presents this information on a level that assumes you know nothing, without sounding like he is talking to a five year old. In fact, I think it is because the author is admittedly not a hand tool 'purist' that he is able to convey the important information about hand planes to the power tool junkies among us!
If you are in any way interested in this subject matter, buy this book! I highly recommend it!
I especially value chapter four 'Tuning a Plane', which is a 25 page long clear and precise explanation of every step one should go through when tuning a plane to work properly. I also benefitted greatly from the explanations for the most common uses of each type and size of plane, and the coverage of what to look for when buying a used plane.
I love the fact that Mr. Hack presents this information on a level that assumes you know nothing, without sounding like he is talking to a five year old. In fact, I think it is because the author is admittedly not a hand tool 'purist' that he is able to convey the important information about hand planes to the power tool junkies among us!
If you are in any way interested in this subject matter, buy this book! I highly recommend it!
93 of 98 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Frankly, handplanes scare me. Not because they are particularly dangerous, but because I never seemed to be able to get them set right. Almost every other tool I've used comes out of the box ready to do something interesting to a piece of wood. Planes, however, would always move three inches and dig in, scarring their way across my project. Needless to say I used a lot of sandpaper in my life.
My moment of truth was the surprise acquisition of a Lie-Nielson bench plane at a very reasonable price (if one can ever call a Lie-Nielson plane's price 'reasonable'). Now it was either use it or build a special shelf on which to rest it forever. I did what I always do when confronted with a challenge - I bought a book on handplanes. And into my live came Garrett Hack's remarkable effort, called, appropriately, 'The Handplane Book.'
One can only describe this volume as massive overkill. By the time I got to the chapter entitled 'How to Plane,' I had received instruction on what a plane is, its history, its mechanics, and how to tune it. And once done with that chapter there was even more information on different kinds of planes - truing, sizing, joinery, surfacing, scrapers, shaping, and so one.
Hack writes well, but planes are a dry subject to anyone but the most dedicated. The book is lavishly illustrated with a remarkable selection of planes, old, new, cheap and very, very dear. You will never, ever have to buy another book one the subject. And that's saying something about any book.
Of course, I ran into the shop, grabbed my new plane, fiddled with it like I knew what I was doing and promptly planed three inches, followed by a cloud of dust. But this time I really looked at the plane and though about what to do. More fiddling and I made it a whole six inches. Even more fiddling and then, Gloria Dei, it suddenly went the whole distance! And then did it again! I feel like I've passed one of those arcane rites of passage.
My moment of truth was the surprise acquisition of a Lie-Nielson bench plane at a very reasonable price (if one can ever call a Lie-Nielson plane's price 'reasonable'). Now it was either use it or build a special shelf on which to rest it forever. I did what I always do when confronted with a challenge - I bought a book on handplanes. And into my live came Garrett Hack's remarkable effort, called, appropriately, 'The Handplane Book.'
One can only describe this volume as massive overkill. By the time I got to the chapter entitled 'How to Plane,' I had received instruction on what a plane is, its history, its mechanics, and how to tune it. And once done with that chapter there was even more information on different kinds of planes - truing, sizing, joinery, surfacing, scrapers, shaping, and so one.
Hack writes well, but planes are a dry subject to anyone but the most dedicated. The book is lavishly illustrated with a remarkable selection of planes, old, new, cheap and very, very dear. You will never, ever have to buy another book one the subject. And that's saying something about any book.
Of course, I ran into the shop, grabbed my new plane, fiddled with it like I knew what I was doing and promptly planed three inches, followed by a cloud of dust. But this time I really looked at the plane and though about what to do. More fiddling and I made it a whole six inches. Even more fiddling and then, Gloria Dei, it suddenly went the whole distance! And then did it again! I feel like I've passed one of those arcane rites of passage.
80 of 84 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This excellent book can certainly serve as a testament to convert those seekers who are unfulfilled with the gospel of Norm Abraham and his idolatrous worship of power tools. However, the real value of this work lies in enriching the woodworking experience for those of us who transmogrify wood for therapy and not solely to achieve the end result. While I was reasonably skilled with hand planes prior to my purchase of this book, Garret Hack helped me ascend to the next level of woodworking consciousness - the smug recognition that a well-tuned hand plane and some basic skills can accomplish many woodworking tasks with better results in less time than an expensive electric tool. An interesting phenomenon occurs as one converts from screaming three-phase power tools to handsaws, chisels, braces and planes - the woodworking experience changes focus from the project to the process. Your ability to read the wood and select the most appropriate stock increases dramatically. You begin to appreciate the wood and even the tools themselves as much as you do the actual project. I've been collecting every manner of woodworking hand tools for years, thinking that in my retirement I could afford the luxury of conducting all my woodworking in a non-electric shop as penance to St. Roy of Underhill for my avaricious glorification of Nikola Tesla. While I may never do away with my table saw, this book has given me the strength to forsake all of my other power tools and relegate them to occasional use when I'm doing rough work on knotty pagan wood. It's a good book - swear to God.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Review of the Handplane Book
Book is well written and a good reference book for hand plane owners, users. Good historical information. Great for beginners in wood work as well as more advanced woodworkers.
Published 2 months ago by allen meadows
Great hand plane book
This is a very informative book. Garrett Hack covers a broad subject with the authority of being an avid tool collector and skilled craftsman. Read more
Published 2 months ago by John B. Oakey
A must have for a wood shop.
If you have any interest in traditional tools, or wood work in general, this is a must have. I ,newbie to hand tools, was able to take my first hand plane from a rusty paper weight... Read more
Published 2 months ago by wayne
This book is a labor of love
Garrett Hack is a wonderful teacher and woodworker (see his unparalleled articles and videos on Finewoodworking. Read more
Published 4 months ago by JSBachRules
Beautiful, but ...
it's not much of a how to book. For example, my smoothing plane was giving me trouble so I went to this book to troubleshoot the problem. The book was useless.
Published 5 months ago by Walker
Plain talk about Planes
This is one of the best woodworking books I have seen about hand planes. Very complete reference and wonderful examples of the the numerous kinds of planes. Read more
Published 10 months ago by HAC
Excellent book on hand planes
This book seems to be the very best out there on the subject of hand planes. If you are clueless about how to set up and use various planes, as I was, this will largely clear it... Read more
Published 10 months ago by James A. Neff
Handplane Book review
This is an excellent book for anyone interested In learning about hand planes!
Excellent history, types, use and sharpening techniques that, be careful, might make you
A... Read more
Excellent history, types, use and sharpening techniques that, be careful, might make you
A... Read more
Published 12 months ago by LDS
Excellent resource for the traditional woodworker
This book serves as a great reference for tuning planes and an interesting history book on the types of planes and their progression through history.
Published 14 months ago by N. Wolf
Good reference book
This a good overall reference book that covers everything from hand planes to scrapers. I'd prefer less wording and history, and more of a technical presentation on how to tune... Read more
Published 15 months ago by B. Davis
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
If you'd looked inside the tool chest of an 18th-century colonial joiner, you'd have found chisels, gouges, a bit stock and bits, handsaws, hammers, squares, gimlets, a hand adz, and an assortment of planes. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Bed Rock, Leonard Bailey, World War, Millers Falls, New Hampshire, Jamestown Tool Company, Lie-Nielsen Toolworks, Richard Crane, Ted Ingraham, Garrett Wade, Scotty Carter, Stanley Works, Tom Lie-Nielsen, Civil War, New York, Patent Adjustable, Reed Plane Company, The Taunton Press, Union Tool New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
If you'd looked inside the tool chest of an 18th-century colonial joiner, you'd have found chisels, gouges, a bit stock and bits, handsaws, hammers, squares, gimlets, a hand adz, and an assortment of planes. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Bed Rock, Leonard Bailey, World War, Millers Falls, New Hampshire, Jamestown Tool Company, Lie-Nielsen Toolworks, Richard Crane, Ted Ingraham, Garrett Wade, Scotty Carter, Stanley Works, Tom Lie-Nielsen, Civil War, New York, Patent Adjustable, Reed Plane Company, The Taunton Press, Union Tool New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 24
books:
See all 24 books this book cites
9
books
cite this book:
See all 9 books citing this book
- Mechanick Exercises by Joseph Moxon on 4 pages
- The Complete Guide to Sharpening by Leonard Lee on page 71, and Back Matter
- Encyclopedia of Furniture Making by Ernest Joyce on page 171, and Back Matter
- Dictionary of Woodworking Tools by R. A. Salaman on page 5, and Back Matter
- The Stanley Plane: A History And Descriptive Inventory by Alvin Sellens on page 96, and Back Matter
See all 24 books this book cites
- Basics of Craftsmanship (Essentials of Woodworking) by Purdy Strother on page 75, and Back Matter
- The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture and Cabinet Construction by Andy Rae in Back Matter
- Joinery Shaping & Milling (Essentials of Woodworking) by Taunton Press in Back Matter
- The Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery by Gary Rogowski in Back Matter
- The Complete Illustrated Guide To Shaping Wood by Lonnie Bird in Back Matter
See all 9 books citing this book
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