How to Adjust the Blade of Your Japanese Hand Plane
Before using your Japanese hand plane, it's important to know how to adjust the blade so you can get beautiful wood shavings every time. Carpentry is an art that requires precise measurements, careful tool maintenance, and a passion for creating amazing things. You don't have to be a seasoned craftsman to use a Japanese hand plane. Nor does caring for your hand plane have to be a daunting task.
In this article, we will give you a step-by-step guide on how to adjust the blade of your Japanese hand plane.
1: How to Adjust the Blade
When explaining how to adjust the blade of a kanna hand plane, we will refer to the parts as follows:
For the Plane Body:
- Head
- Tail
- Side Grooves
- Retaining Pin
For the Plane Blades:
- Blade
- Chip Breaker
To adjust the blade, tap the top of the blade with a hammer to move the blade forward. While you are doing this, be sure to look at the sole of the plane body to observe the blade as it approaches the mouth of the sole.
The blade should only protrude about a hair width beyond the mouth of the sole. This is all that is needed to make clean shavings.
2: How to Move the Blade Backwards
If the blade protrudes too much, tap the head of the plane body to move the blade backwards. Be sure to alternate the taps on either side of the head.
You do not need to tap harder than what is shown in the video of this tutorial.
It is important to never tap the center of the plane body's head with the hammer. Doing so, can cause the plane body to split or crack.
3: How to Adjust the Blade at an Angle
If the edge of the blade is protruding at an angle from the mouth of the sole, you can adjust the blade by tapping on the shoulder of the side that is sticking out beyond the mouth.
Make sure that the edge of the blade is horizontal with the sole of the plane body before using your kanna hand plane.
4: How to Adjust the Chip Breaker
To adjust the chip breaker, tap the top of it to bring its edge close to the blade's edge.
Continue tapping the chip breaker until the edge is just a hair width apart from the blade's edge.
If the edges are too close, the hand plane will not shave. When this happens, you will need to move the blade and chip breaker backward and start again.
5: How to Remove the Blade and Chip Breaker
If you would like to remove the blades, hold the plane body with one hand while using your finger to secure the blade and chip breaker. Tap the head of the plane body to move the blades backwards. Be sure to alteranate the taps on either side of the head.
You do not need to tap harder than what is shown in the video of this tutorial.
Once loose, pull the blade and chip breaker out carefully to avoid dropping them.
Check out our other articles for more great tips on how to care for and maintain your Japanese hand planes!
