Plane newbee

[Dick Heifner]

Hi,
I have a Stanley Bailey # 4 plane. I don't know what it is used for.
Any input will be apprecated.

Thank's
Dick

[Chris Padilla]

It is garbage that you should just hand over to me...I ain't far from ya so I'll even drive over there and get it. ;)

hehehe...near as I can tell, Dick, it is used to try and attempt to make thin transparent shavings of wood...that is all mine do but I dunno what else they are good for.... ;)

Welcome to the Creek! :)

[Dave Anderson NH]

Hands on your head, legs wide apart. We ain't gonna have none of that kinda stuff around here.:D FYI transparent and wispy shavings are an end all unto themselves though trying to convince your significant other could get you in a heapa trouble. I figure that with your recent plane and other tool purchases that your wife is gonna expect at least half a dozen major projects out of your soon to be finished shop over the next year.:rolleyes: :eek:


Welcome Dick- As you might have guessed, this is a somewhat loose collection of opinions, commentary, and a whole bunch of kidding. Your #4 is a smoothing plane used to put a final surface on a board. Depending on manufacturer and age it might be ready to go with just a slight honing of the blade or it might need so serious preparation to become a good user. Give us more info and we'll be glad to help you out.

[Leif Hanson]

Here's a couple nice introductory style articles from Popular Mechanics:

Bench Plane Basics (http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_improvement/tools/1999/3/bench_plane_basics/)

Block Plane Basics (http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_improvement/tools/1998/12/block_plane_basics/index.phtml)

HTH

Leif

Edit - here's another (http://www.toolnewz.com/sept2001/handtools03.html)

[Steve Beadle]

FYI transparent and wispy shavings are an end all unto themselves

Interesting side note: I just discovered that a name for wood shavings is excelsior. They were often used in packing boxes--old-fashioned bubble wrap.