Plane Talk: Straight Flat and Square

 November 3, 2026

Paul, Lawrence, Miles, Jim, Arno

The first hour of the session was spent discussing various connections that the individuals had to past woodworkers and carpenters.  Also some members discussed car motor repairs.

Lawrence, Miles, and Arno discussed how the Old Woodworkers used to build roofs, and erect walls using shake lines. A good discussion on the use of the carpenters square was held. Lawrence and Arno were very knowledgeable about this tool, which was clearly the precursor of the slide rule and Calculator. Arno brought in a tool for sharpening  the edge of blades and chisels which he bought from TIMU. It was very similar to the Lee Valley Veritas tool  used for the same purpose but much cheaper. Miles brought in a scraper plane adaptor from lee Valley. It was a special blade that could be adapted to use on a regular smoothing plane to convert it into a scraper plane.

Lawrence then did a demonstration of staining.
Paul had a short piece of Pin Cherry which was planed, scraped and sanded to 180 Silicon Carbide. 

Lawrence applied Minwax wood conditioner to parts of the wood and none to other parts.

He applied various stains: Nutmeg, VanDyke Brown, Walnut
It was immediately obvious that the conditioner (on Pin Cherry) lessened the uptake of the stain in bad spots like knots.
The conditioner is applied liberally and in several coats until the wood stays completely wet. 
Then wipe it off.
Then apply stain and wait for a few minutes and then wipe it off. The stain has to applied within 2 hours of applying conditioner.
One can then appreciate whether the wood is best treated with just stain or after the conditioner is applied.

Some discussion was held about the problems with wood growth and harvest eg. "shake" on hemlock boards. This is a separation of the rings that occurs a few days/weeks  after the wood is sawn .

Next session we will apply a top coat and will do the same process on a piece of white oak that Jimmy has.

Pin Cherry-Nutmeg top, walnut middle, VanDyke brown end

Top is walnut no conditioner,bottom-conditioner

Mohawk Stains (NGR)

Top-walnut, middle no stain, bottom VanDyke brown