Online Tips Index / Planing/Jointing / Flattening the Sole of a Block Plane
Flattening the Sole of a Block Plane
Your block plane, or any hand plane, has the potential to be a precision tool. But it doesn't come out of the box that way. The primary problem is that the sole of the plane is not truly flat. And it needs to be for you to make precise, controlled cuts. Fortunately, it easy to flatten to sole of a plane. Just follow the steps below.
Step One
Using a permanent marker, draw a squiggly line across the sole of the plane.
Step Two
Then sand the sole on a sheet of 220-grit silicon carbide sandpaper that's taped to a piece of glass.
Step Three
And dark lines that remain indicate low areas. So continue sanding until the
marks disappear.
