How do YOU cut a rabbet with hand plane?

[Dave Schwarzkopf]

Kevin,

I do have both right and left options.  Could you manage with just one?  No doubt.  I'm just one of those OCD, matching pairs, every systainer in a sysport kind of guys.  I can only remember a few times when switching from right to left was preferred, but it's never been 'required' as they're not finishing cuts.

I also have the straight bladed option, (I assume you're talking about the LN version here), but for me, the LN and LV skews have smoother cuts, and for larger scale/really hogging off, you can't beat the size/heft/method of holding of the LV skew rabbet; you can really get behind 'er.

I forget if it has already been mentioned, but whatever your option, be sure to leave the blade just slightly proud of the outside edge of your plane.  Sounds like it shouldn't work, but if you keep the blade flush, your cuts will taper in width, wider at the start, narrower at the end.  Chris Schwarz did a blog entry on this some time back and I find it to be true.

Dave

 

[GaryLaroff]

Kevin,

You only need the right handed plane if the blade is skewed and if there is a nicker iron.  As noted earlier, I use the older traditional style wooden moving fillister but the Lee Valley is basically the same tool.  There is an adjustable fence, an adjustable depth stop, a thick solid skewed blade and a non-bending nicker iron for going either across the grain or against it.

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Using this tool and the older antiques that I have, I've never needed a left handed plane.

Gary Laroff

 

[Dave Schwarzkopf]

Gary,

That sure is purdy.  That a C&W (now Old Steet)?  I've had one on order for a couple of years now, looking forward to putting one through its' paces.

Dave

 

[Christopher Fitch]

If I'm cutting by hand, I prefer the Veritas Skew Rabbet (RH):
Veritas Skew Rabbet Plane

I also have a Record 778 that is an improved version of the Stanley 78 (they added a second fence arm):

The Veritas is an excellent modern version of rabbet planes. The skew makes a big difference.

An inexpensive (if dated) source for learning some of the basics of using planes is Record's Planecraft. You can still buy it at Woodcraft:
Planecraft. It's heavily loaded with Record Sales propaganda but it does have a decent amount of info on using various hand planes.

The basic technique (I learned this from Planecraft) is to set your rabbet plane up (depth and width), and start from the end of the board and work back. You use short strokes until you define the rabbet along the board and then you can move to longer full-length passes until the plane does not cut anymore. It is surprisingly quick and accurate.

Lee Valley has a video showing how to use their plane: Setting Up and Using the Veritas Skew Rabbet Plane.

 

[kfitzsimons]

Gary, beautiful plane. LN Hand Tool Event in March close by, so I'll probably go the LN route. Great info guys.