The angle of the HF handle is awesome. Really and I hate HF. However in this case this is a good tool. I just throw away the blade it comes with and replace it with a Micro Blade. Great tool after modified.
Sickdog don't be sick and buy a Mirco Blade for that dog!
I may be opening up a new can o’ worms here, but…
What would you use drywall screens for?
Can you/should you use a surform on a stringer? If not, then what? I don’t want to go straight to a power planer. I’ll be shaping my first board soon and plan on doing it all by hand and elbow grease.
Thanks.
surform on stringer doesn't work that great. get a hand plane
The only times I use a surform is to rough in the nose of a short board where a power plane does not fit in the curve of the deck. I also use them to tighten up the rough tail template. Uses other than these (IMHO) are not good. They do not function like or as well as a power plane witch should be used to do 90% of the shaping.
I do like the Micro plane blades though and have them on my “cheap” HF surforms!
Wow! I just learned a whole heck of alot from this discussion. Just a couple questions in getting ready to “mow some foam!”:
Anyone have an idea on the BEST electric planer to buy? (price NOT being an issue) -for a beginner
When to use electric vs. hand planer vs. surform?? (or was this too generalized of a question?)
Do I absolutely need a router to make/place a finbox?
Thanks!
Joe
For the money Hitachi F20 Adjustable shoe
Router is a must for many things (Outlining, Fin Boxes)
Royobi’s are cheap and easy to use.
For OP: I'm new to shaping and was lucky to shape a few boards under the supervision of a friend (long term own board-shaper) who's shaped a lot of longboards, and gets very good final results, including with glassing.
If you can, shape a few boards start to finish with someone who already knows what they're doing. That'll make clear to you what you feel you need for yourself.
I would just say be careful when it comes to buying hand planes. Crappy ones are a waste of money. I'd get my spokeshaves from a boardshaping supply company, and maybe the main stringer hand planes as well. Some of the thumbplanes you'll see at Harbor or elsewhere will be basically useless, as well.
Jeez…just realized this thread is years old. Oh well.
It’s all good. There are nuggets of Knowledge in some of these old threads.