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Guides · Section 06

Tool Skills

Every tool cuts well only when it is set up, sharp and used the way it was designed to work. These guides cover sharpening, tuning hand planes, chisel technique and the setup that makes power tools accurate.

Subjects
4
Guides
14
Level
Beginner · Intermediate

Start here

Foundation guide

How to Sharpen Chisels and Plane Irons

Flatten the back, set the bevel, raise and remove a burr, and compare grit systems: a method for sharpening chisels and plane irons, with a fault table.

Beginner · 8 min readRead the guide

In this section

Hand planes

Setting up, adjusting and using bench planes.

  1. How to Use a Hand PlaneSet a plane’s depth, lateral and mouth, read the grain, keep pressure right through the stroke, and plane a face flat and an edge square, with a fault table.Intermediate · 10 min read

Chisels

Paring, chopping and working to a knife line.

  1. How to Use a Chisel: Paring and ChoppingPare and chop with control: hand positions, which way the bevel faces, grain direction, working back to a knife line, and how to avoid undercutting and splits.Beginner · 6 min read

Power-tool setup

Aligning fences, blades and bits for accurate cuts.

  1. Cutting Plywood With a Circular Saw: Support, Depth and a Straight GuideBreaking down plywood and boards with a handheld saw: supporting the sheet, good face down, blade depth, guiding a straight cut and the causes of kickback.Beginner · 4 min read
  2. How to Drill Clean Holes in Wood: Start, Feed, Depth and ExitHow to drill clean holes in wood with any bit: starting, feed and chips, depth stops, backing boards at the exit, large holes, and fixing burning or wobble.Beginner · 4 min read
  3. How to Use a Drill: Drilling Holes in Wood and Driving ScrewsUsing a drill/driver to drill holes in wood: fitting the bit, drill setting and gear, grip and straight pressure, stalls, then pilot holes and driving screws.Beginner · 3 min read
  4. How to Use a Lathe: Mounting, Setting the Rest and Turning a First SpindleUsing a wood lathe for beginners: preparing and mounting a blank, setting the tool rest and speed, roughing, shaping, sanding, finishing and parting off.Beginner · 5 min read
  5. How to Use a Router: Setup, Feed Direction and Clean CutsUsing a handheld router step by step: fitting the bit, setting depth and speed, clamping, which way to feed, climb cuts, passes, and reading a bad cut.Beginner · 5 min read
  6. How to Use a Scroll Saw: Blades, Tension, Feed and Inside CutsScroll saw use step by step from two makers' manuals: fitting a blade, tension, the hold-down, speed, feeding curves, inside cuts and clearing a jammed blade.Beginner · 6 min read
  7. How to Use a Table Saw: Setup, Ripping and CrosscuttingThe basic setup before switching on, then a rip cut with the fence and a crosscut with the miter gauge, step by step, each tied to the saw maker's manual.Beginner · 4 min read
  8. How to Use a Thickness Planer, Step by StepThickness planer tips from the makers' manuals: setting up, depth by width, feeding with the grain, flipping, narrow and warped boards, snipe and clearing jams.Beginner · 5 min read
  9. How to Set Up and Use a Band SawBandsaw techniques from the makers' manuals: fitting a blade, tracking, tension and guides, then straight cuts, curves with relief cuts, resawing and lead.Intermediate · 5 min read
  10. How to Set Up and Use a Router TableSetting up a router table step by step: plate, insert, bit, height and fence; edges, grooves, jointing and curves; feed direction; never trapping stock.Intermediate · 4 min read
  11. How to Use a Jointer: Face, Edge and Bevel, Step by StepHow to use a jointer step by step: checking the tables and fence, reading the grain, flattening a face, squaring an edge, bevels, push blocks and long boards.Intermediate · 4 min read

Reading order

  1. 1.Beginner

  2. 2.Intermediate

What this section covers

  1. 6.1

    Sharpening

    Bevels, honing and keeping an edge.

    1 guide

  2. 6.2

    Hand planes

    Setting up, adjusting and using bench planes.

    1 guide

  3. 6.3

    Chisels

    Paring, chopping and working to a knife line.

    1 guide

  4. 6.4

    Power-tool setup

    Aligning fences, blades and bits for accurate cuts.

    11 guides

Work it out

Related reference.