How to use the Stanley #65 Shave © Copyright 2007 by Jim Reed Tallahassee, Florida

General Chamfering is a technique of reducing a ninety degree edge into two forty five degree angles. It is an old and widely accepted method of dressing square edges. It is used so little today in that I consider it a “Lost Technique”. Old timers understood the properties of and knew that raw ninety degree angles were sharp and prone to damage. With use, the end fibers wear away and the edge rounds over. This rounding is not uniform since it happens more where there is the most wear. Chamfering reduces and controls this process and makes the edge, usually a table leg, look more uniform.

How to Measure Chamfers are measured by their width. A chamfer that is ¼” wide is referred to as a ¼” chamfer. The size to use is based on proportion and depends on the size of the item in question. My practice is to create a full size model in scrap wood and experiment to find the most pleasing size. I then add that scrap to my collection of templates so that I can repeat and save time on future projects.

Places to Use a Chamfer Any ninety degree corner in your woodworking project is a potential chamfer site. Square table legs are a good place to use chamfers. Not only do the chamfers dress up a boring square timber, they help maintain the finish. Chamfered edges are unlikely to exhibit edge damage like square legs do. Table tops are often chamfered. It softens up the edge and makes it more pleasing to the touch as well as more durable.

1 How to use the Stanley #65 Chamfer Shave © Copyright 2007 by Jim Reed Tallahassee, Florida The The #65 chamfer plane has eight pieces. They are: the body, blade screw, blade, blade cap, left guide, left guide screw, right guide, and right guide screw. The guides adjust to cut chamfers of different widths.

The Blade The Stanley blades are 1/16” thick. Sharpen and hone your blade. Place it into the shave with the towards the rear. Set a very slight depth of cut. The shave should pull a shaving that is thinner than a sheet of paper. It should be wispy and should curl up. The most common mistake made with this is setting the blade too deep so that it cuts too aggressively.

Stock Setup for Normal Operation Make some chamfer blocks so that the corner is held on top. the stock to your . The corner to be addressed is the corner on top. Rotate the workpiece as you complete the chamfers.

Adjusting the Guides Adjust the guides to your desired chamfer width. That distance is the distance between the guides where they meet the blade. A trammel is handy for setup. Take care not to overtighten the screws. They should be tight enough to snug down the guides. Since your technique with this tool should be soft and gentle, moving guides should not be a problem. If your guides do not stay in place, re-examine your technique. This tool works best with a gentle touch.

Using the Shave Once you have set the blade depth and adjusted the guides you are ready to use the shave. Begin with light pressure. Try to hold the shave perpendicular to the final chamfer and draw it towards yourself. If the workpiece is long, use your legs to maintain a steady flow of motion. Long and slow strokes work best; avoid short choppy strokes. Pulling the shave towards your body gives you the best control.

Troubleshooting Common Problems Once you get your shave working you should be in for years of happy chamfering. Here are some common problems and their solutions. 1. General troubleshooting. The plane must first function well as a . If you are having problems, remove the guides and get them out of the way. Work with your plane and make it pull long thin shavings. When you are satisfied with the way it works as a spokeshave, replace the guides. 2. Chattering. Chattering is usually related to the blade. Make sure your blade is sharp and well bedded. File any high spots you find on the plane bed. Make a cardboard bed using post card stock. Cut it the size of the blade but short and put it behind the blade. It will perform like a gasket and improve the blade bed. 3. Digging in. The most common mistake made is setting the blade too aggressively. Your shaving should be as wispy as you can make it. It should be as light as tissue paper and should curl. Light shavings give you more control.

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