- Flattening and fine tuning the castings and various components that make up any plane
- Grinding bevels using bench grinder, whetstone grinder and disc sander
- Grinding / honing angles
- Flattening bench stones
- Honing techniques using bench stones - various makes of diamond, water, ceramic and oil stones are available to try
- Making and using a strop
- Techniques for sharpening shaped blades e.g. carving chisels, moulding planes
- Sharpening a cabinet scraper
Bench plane
The ‘Jack Plane’ is probably the most useful. My personal favourite is the No. 05˝ but the No. 05, which is a little narrower and lighter, is also an excellent choice. This plane will be your real workhorse which, when tuned, will be able to undertake remarkably fine work.
Block plane
Useful for end grain and very delicate work.
Shoulder Plane
Designed, not surprisingly, for trimming shoulders, but also very useful for cutting mouldings by hand.
Chisels
European or Japanese, depending on your personal preference.
Cutting Gauge
Used primarily for marking out joints, such as dovetails, and also used in hand veneering.
Cabinet Scraper
When sharpened properly, this simple tool can take the finest shavings from the wildest woods and veneers
Cabinet Making Skills
Once tools are prepared, the basics of cabinet making will be covered:
- Planing techniques and strategies for flattening boards and working on narrow edges
- Preparing a face side and face edge
- Using shooting-boards
- Setting out using a square and marking, mortice and cutting gauges
- Cutting and planing timber to fine tolerances
- Planing edges and executing a traditional ‘rub-joint’
- Making & using traditional cabinet making tools
- Letting in line inlay
