A Block Plane in a Tool Pouch
Save time — and layers of skin — by sheathing your plane in an old sock.
I often carry a block plane in my tool pouch when doing siding and trim. But carrying the plane in a pouch comes with risks — the blade can easily be dulled by rubbing up against other tools sharing the pouch, or I could shave off a few layers of skin blindly reaching into the pouch’s dark recesses.
While I can retract the blade into the mouth between uses, that takes time. Instead, I sheath the plane in an old sock before dropping it into the pouch. The plane slides out of the sock quickly, and because the blade is not retracted, it’s ready to go to work without adjustment. Thick socks work best, but thin ones are serviceable if you fold them over for double coverage.
— Michael Haynes; Coventry, R.I.
From Fine Homebuilding #266
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View Comments
Seriously? If it takes you longer to put your plane in a thin sock that's not going to protect the blade than to just loosen the clamp and retract the blade, you need to go back to school.