I'm looking to improve my woodworking by getting into planed finishes. I already know quite a bit about eastern and English planes, including sharpening techniques, but I'm curious about trying Japanese planes. Could anyone suggest which brands or types of steel I should consider? My budget is around $150. Thanks!
2 Answers
For Japanese smoothing planes, blue paper steel (like #1 or #2) is a great choice as it's pretty standard. Just remember, even a well-sharpened blade won't give you the best results if the dai isn't set up properly. Their setup can be tricky, so I’d recommend starting with a more affordable plane to get the hang of it before diving into higher-quality options.
Finding a great Japanese smoother for $150 won't be easy, but the Senkichi plane on Amazon is a decent starter. You might also want to check out vintage tools from Wilhelm Grimm on Facebook or Yamasuke for some hidden gems. If you can stretch your budget a bit, check out this hand-forged Hyobu model: https://shop.kurashige-tools.com/en-us/products/hyobu-7-smoothing-plane-kanna-by-nakano-takeo-中野武男作-手上げ鉋-70mm?_pos=19&_fid=b5e24390f&_ss=c. For something a little cheaper, the Taunesaburo kanna on Amazon is around $200 and is decent as well.