The Makers Guide

how to set up a hand plane on a timber workbench
anonymous | May 25, 2026
How to Set Up a Hand Plane: The Complete Beginner's Guide

How to set up a hand plane properly is the skill that separates clean, controlled results from a tool that chatters and frustrates. This guide covers the four stages in the right order — sole, iron, chip breaker, and depth — including the adjustment most beginners get wrong and the...

A woodworking sharpening setup, featuring 1000 and 6000 grit water stones, a diamond plate, a honing guide, a leather strop, at The Makers Society
Luca Dal Molin | February 03, 2026
How to Build a Simple, Effective Sharpening Setup

A dull tool is unsafe and frustrating. This guide shows how to build a simple sharpening setup using diamond plates, honing guides, and a strop—no complexity, just results.

A close-up photograph of a freshly sharpened chisel paring a thin, curling wood shaving from a piece of timber, with more shavings on the workbench.
Luca Dal Molin | February 01, 2026
Sharpening Basics: The Science of the Edge

Sharpening basics are the foundation of safe and accurate woodworking. This guide explains what sharp really means, how to chase the burr, and how to maintain edges without complex systems.