Replies

1. 
   CharlieD | Mar 10, 2005 04:41am | #1

   I find that they are all planable, just a matter of bed angle (the angle at which the plane iron attacks the wood.) Softwoods want a lower angle, say 30-35 deg; figured hardwoods want a steeper angle, like 50 deg, and others fall in to an average range of around 45 deg. They all want to see a very sharp iron.

   Charlie

   I tell you, we are here to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different. --K Vonnegut
1. 
   ljmgrwd | Mar 10, 2005 04:47am | #2

   Thanks Charlie
   I'm considering making a child's play table for my Grandsons out of Ash. What is your view on it's planability?

1. 
   CharlieD | Mar 12, 2005 07:34am | #9

   It's planable. Your tools need to be well tuned and sharp, though, and properly set up. I'm still working on that part. This is vastly easier with a Bedrock style of plane, lemmee tell ya.CharlieI tell you, we are here to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different. --K Vonnegut

2. 
   Kent_F | Mar 10, 2005 05:43am | #3

   Walnut is my favorite wood to hand plane. With a sharp plane, it cuts easily, seems like there's no wrong direction, the shavings are nice and fluffy, and it even sounds nice.

1. 
   ClevelandEd | Mar 10, 2005 06:25am | #4

   and Walnut is so relaxingly fragrant when planed or sawn.

3. 
   Jellyrug | Mar 10, 2005 08:32am | #5

   My standard daily workout is 5 minutes of the hardest wood I can find, using the smallest plane I can find.

   I attach this morning's picture.

   
4. 
   RMillard | Mar 10, 2005 02:25pm | #6

   Larry,

    

   Ash despite its hardness is quite easy to plane.

   I like to plane mahogany, walnut, cherry, clear white pine ( not surprisingly this is the best), and with the proper plane curly soft maple. Holly and ebony aren't too bad either.  I dislike planing satinwood, purple heart,  the lighter colored poplar, and hard maple. Birch can sometimes be a pain, sometimes a joy. The very few times I've used it, red oak seems okay and white oak is nice, but I've not worked with quarter sawn.

   Rob Millard

5. 
   MarkRoderick | Mar 10, 2005 04:22pm | #7

   All the replies above are on point. Almost any hardwood will plane nicely if the plane is high quality and the blade is very sharp. Personally, I find cherry the most consistently easy wood to work by hand.

6. 
   jazzdogg | Mar 10, 2005 08:20pm | #8

   Larry,

   Six things are necessary to plane effectively: the ability to read the grain of the wood being planed, and the ability to tune up (fettle) your plane for optimum performance,practice, practice, practice and practice.

   Good luck,

   -Jazzdogg-

   Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.

7. 
   Midnight | Mar 13, 2005 02:06am | #10

   I have to admit.. ease of use has never been a consideration when selecting material.. With the planes I have, it's a sure bet that they can handle anything I set them to... whether I can is usually a different matter however.. ;)

   The easiest wood I've worked has to be Indian Rosewood; all that oil in the wood made it self lubricating... effortless to work...

   Most satisfying to work was sycamore... delicate grain, real soft.. but fragile too.. had a tendancy to tear out right when you thought you had it just about done.. It tought me how to get the most from my #62..

   Oak tends to be pretty reliable stuff to work; it's hard on blades, but once you're working with the grain all it takes is patience... seldom any hidden surprises..

   Mike Wallace

   Stay safe....Have fun