156 - Cleaning Up Dados with a Router Plane

http://thewoodwhisperer.com
One of my all-time favorite hand tools is the router plane. However, I very rarely use it to create joinery. In my shop, its sole purpose is fine-tuning. The blade can be set at a fixed distance from the base so it is incredibly effective at creating dados and grooves of a consistent depth.

When I cut dados in large boards or plywood, the pieces inevitably lift up to some extent. The scary thing is you might not even realize it's happening. But when you go to assemble the case, you can't figure out why the sides are bowing out! Chances are, your dados and grooves were not cut at a consistent depth. Enter the router plane! I make a habit of setting my router plane and quickly going over each and every dado in my projects. You'd be surprised at how much material this bad boy catches, and the subsequent headaches it can prevent. If you don't already have one, you should definitely pick one up! They're so choice!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• woodworking
• router plane
• hand tools
• dados

[RickyJ108]

Found a couple of router planes online but I like yours better. Where did you get it?

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@RickyJ108 It is a Veritas model from Lee Valley

[hedorah99]

How do you sharpen the blade on a router plane? I have tried finding a video but they appear to not exist.

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@hedorah99 depends on the blade. Mine detach from the shaft so I can just put it under my finger to flatten the bottom. Then the kit comes with an extension to allow you to work the bevel. For the type that does not detach, I would recommend putting your sharpening stone near the edge of the workbench and rubbing the bevel with the shaft hanging over the edge. Take your time and you might even focus pressure only on the pull stroke. And I just set up about 10 sex jokes, lol.

[Sodabowski]

Hey Marc, nice reverb here :p So, what's up with the Greene&Greene crib? ;)

Best thoughts to Nicole, and thanks for the WM :) very pleasing to see anything from you pop up on the new vids.

Enjoy the calm before the greatest of all storms begins ^^

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@Sodabowski haha no crib for me. Decided not to build one. Making a Roubo workbench instead. But I plan on using it as a changing table. Good for holding little squirmy legs down. :)

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@jdrury and....you're welcome.

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@jdrury well, I'm running a marathon, not a race. With almost 200 videos out there already, I think I deserve to pace myself a bit at this point, lol.

[RickyJ108]

@TheWoodWhisperer Great! Thanks a lot.

[hedorah99]

@TheWoodWhisperer Thanks. :)

[ootsam]

Dude, you're a ninja

[hedorah99]

Stop making me want to buy things!

Great video by the way, ogling the one at Lie Nielsen now.