How to make a Plane Front Knob | Paul Sellers

How to make a Plane Front Knob | Paul Sellers

Don’t have a lathe, lathe tools, or lathe turning skills? You can turn the knob for your bench plane using hand tool methods, and we walk you through the steps to take square stock to a finished knob to rehandle your plane.

The steps are very simple, and you need only hand tools to complete the task of customising the shape of the knob. Enjoy!

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50 Comments

  1. Jacob Broe on September 13, 2023 at 7:46 pm

    Aaah. Now i get it. Just got the stanley nr 4 plane in the mail and the handle and knob is plastic. No i got a new project 🙂

  2. Peter Harman on September 13, 2023 at 7:46 pm

    This turned out beautifully I totally respect your craftsmanship and honesty (the mistake at the end drilling the final hole) many would cut that out but folks like me make these mistakes all the time leading to frustration it’s great to see how to resolve these points calmly and easily huge thank you

  3. Matthew Tatterton on September 13, 2023 at 7:48 pm

    They’re beautiful. Often wondered what would you made them out of. Just wish I had your setup and skill to be able to do them justice. If you need to sell a pair just drop me a message 😉

  4. Kazinix on September 13, 2023 at 7:50 pm

    Hits me hard when Paul said "when I’m gone and somebody auctions them on eBay".

  5. 738polarbear on September 13, 2023 at 7:52 pm

    I think the Woodworking Masterclass should give a small discount on membership for seniors . I did email TWICE but got no answer.

  6. Arry Conway on September 13, 2023 at 7:52 pm

    HI Paul,loved this tutorial funnily enough as i have an absolute train wreak ofa stanley no4 1/4 ,,,at some point someone took a dremmel with a sanding drum to the sole then plastered it in stove paint, front knob missing as is the brass nut and the adjustment wheel(nut),anyway great vid i thought the close ups were particulary helpful.regards A

  7. Roy Johnson on September 13, 2023 at 7:52 pm

    I enjoyed this episode specially the end where you got yourself out of an oops per say, that’s where years of knowledge shines and helps, thanks so much for all you do!

  8. Toby Montana on September 13, 2023 at 7:53 pm

    Iam so happy to watch your videos and learn from the best teacher i have found on Youtube
    Thank you for sharing your knowledge

  9. 738polarbear on September 13, 2023 at 7:54 pm

    You know why I trust Paul Sellers . Because he shows you the lot. Mistakes,warts and all . No cover ups here.

  10. Harry COGNARD on September 13, 2023 at 7:55 pm

    Hello, i don’t understand what is the essence of wood you use, you call it "you"? "hiu"? I’m french so i don’t know every essence of wood in english. I find this light orange color very pleasing to the eye so i curious.

  11. D.L. "Sawyer" Mann on September 13, 2023 at 7:56 pm

    Mr. Sellers, You mentioned when you are gone. You are always cheering us up so I’ll spread some cheer your way today. With Blessings, medical advancements, etc. 70 is the new 50. You have a long ways to go my friend!!

  12. oldsteamguy on September 13, 2023 at 7:57 pm

    …or maybe you just don’t have a lathe and you don’t want to get one to make just one knob. Thanks Paul.

  13. Joseph King on September 13, 2023 at 7:58 pm

    Circa 36:00 mark. Would it not have been easier to clamp a small block to the jig as a stop and use that to keep your cut line true instead of continually realigning it to the pencil mark? I am in *no way* trying to "correct" your method but I am curious if what I suggest is a viable option? 🤷‍♂️ *Thank you* to anyone who may be able to answer my query. 👏👏
    I really have zero skills so there may be a valid reason why it may not work. I know if I try it your way I will only stuff it up and I would really like to replace the plastic rubbish on the Bailey No. 4 that was masquerading as a pile of rust which I have managed to make look recognisable and hopefully useful again. I even think the plane may be happier after his makeover and is now slowly returning to their former glory.
    I don’t have and will never have the precision necessary to enable me to make this piece. My best attempt (after 2 or 3 years) may work by using several hundred sheets of sandpaper to smooth the piece into submission. 🥴

  14. Ben Lawver on September 13, 2023 at 8:01 pm

    1:04:23 there are no mistakes, only happy accidents.

  15. SHORTIES on September 13, 2023 at 8:02 pm

    Thank you Paul

    A very informative tuition. I too have decided to back track away from the use of power tools and appreciate the older technology for what it really is.

    Generally speaking hand craft is the only way it should ever be done when it comes to woodwork. 👍

  16. Bogdan Sima on September 13, 2023 at 8:02 pm

    Do you happen to have any template for this front knob as you did for the tote (not necessarily free), anywhere?

  17. John Michael Nobile on September 13, 2023 at 8:03 pm

    What type of rasp file is that? I would love to purchase one. Any idea if they are still available anywhere?

  18. Jadson Brumatti on September 13, 2023 at 8:04 pm

    Não vejo a hora de por em prática essas aulas incríveis. E parabéns pelo trabalho incrível tanto em madeira quanto nas gravações. Abraços do Brasil. 🇧🇷

    I can’t wait to put these incredible classes into practice. And congratulations on the incredible work both on wood and on the recordings. Regards from Brazil.

  19. hbert06 on September 13, 2023 at 8:04 pm

    I got black marks from the 0000 steel wool. What am I doing wrong?

  20. Bogdan Khmelnitsky on September 13, 2023 at 8:04 pm

    Good plane!

  21. Howard Hardy on September 13, 2023 at 8:07 pm

    I greatly enjoy your videos. I enjoyed how you did the layout on this and many of your other projects. Watching you use the compass and dividers made me laugh at one of my methods for circles. I do have all of the tools such as compass, dividers, etc. I spent about 25 years working a a carpenter and cabinet maker. I have built several hundred countertops, tables, stools, etc. I cheated when i needed to layout a radius that did not have to be any specific dimension. The two most common for me have been a chewing tobacco can (which I always have) and a drywall bucket (which has always been in my shop). Over the years I ended up with a can collection for the same purpose ranging from small pill bottles, food and coffee cans, etc. Unless a specific division was required I could always find a can that met my needs. It may sound silly but the system has served my needs well over the years. I am retired now and have a small but pretty complete shop with all the power tools. I now find myself doing much more by hand than ever before as it is enjoyable and rewarding and I have no time line to meet.

  22. perlygatekeeper on September 13, 2023 at 8:07 pm

    We choose to make a plane knob and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone.

  23. Kevin Reynolds on September 13, 2023 at 8:08 pm

    I’d have bet hard cash Paul sharpened his pencil with a knife not a pencil sharpener! Great video thanks.

  24. Petrock on September 13, 2023 at 8:10 pm

    Thank you Paul, it’s a pleasure to watch your videos and appreciate your skills. ( Retired carpenter. Peter.D. Australia )

  25. djlyon117 on September 13, 2023 at 8:11 pm

    I watch a good bit of YouTube. I don’t know how I’ve just now come across your videos Mr. Sellers. I think you just became my favorite wood shop teacher. It might be just because you measure things in inches and fractions of an inch. Nothing against metric just grew up with inches. I don’t know why there are any dislikes on here.

  26. Asd Qwe on September 13, 2023 at 8:11 pm

    I will definitely do this when the handles on my plane break. I probably wouldn’t have thought it’s possible to make it without a lathe. It’s good to watch just to remove limitations in my mind. Not too long ago people made pretty much everything just with their hands and brains. Too often I thought I could do things if I just had this or that machine. Tomorrow I will receive my first spokeshave (old record). I have to say I bought a record 5 1/2 plane because of Paul Sellers. I love using it and it’s just handy to have (and also cheap compared to power tools). Making wood shavings like that is so much fun. The sound and feeling of a sharp plane is like nothing else.

  27. Charles LaGreca on September 13, 2023 at 8:12 pm

    Truely a fount of knowledge and, seemingly, a real nice guy.

  28. Stephen Clingerman on September 13, 2023 at 8:20 pm

    Fabulous! Thank you!

  29. Paul Sellers on September 13, 2023 at 8:20 pm

    Due to the current public health situation our team have been unable to film as normal, Paul has been busy making and filming several small projects himself! Each project is released on Woodworking Masterclasses a week before it is released on Youtube. To access these projects a week earlier, head to https://woodworkingmasterclasses.com/
    – Team Paul

  30. Juan Carlos Abreu on September 13, 2023 at 8:21 pm

    👍💯👋👋👋⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  31. John Jackson on September 13, 2023 at 8:22 pm

    Could be a great rolling pin as well!

  32. sidthemyth on September 13, 2023 at 8:23 pm

    what you do is valuable and precious for a lot of people. but please make something more useful. demonstrate the craft doing an idea… there are so many. like how to do perfect curves for wooden mechanisms, that can grow and expand with the forest… like ladders and pagodas that change shape with the inputs of the seasons…
    thank you!

  33. Valentina Faussone on September 13, 2023 at 8:23 pm

    I’m planning to make this. I received a Stanley 5, but it had rosewood tote and knob that had to be taken away since they can’t travel to Italy (CITIES restrictions). So I need to make both from scratch.
    I hope that 3 hours will suffice to make this, for a beginner…

  34. JM L on September 13, 2023 at 8:23 pm

    J’ai suivi votre vidéo avec la plus grande attention, c’était passionnant !
    Bravo, quel talent !

  35. Forest Woodworks on September 13, 2023 at 8:24 pm

    Absolutely wonderful! I gave you a shout on my channel yesterday, Paul. A Short, just to say "Thank you." 😇

  36. Bryce Liston on September 13, 2023 at 8:28 pm

    Thank you Paul, I enjoyed watching every minute! I don’t have a lathe and have some projects upcoming that need knobs and rounded type handles. So glad you made this video, it’s a very approachable method and process.

  37. Peter Hague on September 13, 2023 at 8:29 pm

    "But I believe in you"
    Thanks Paul. I’m only really starting out on woodwork, and hoping to make a career of it, as a way back in to the world after suffering with depression.

    Most days I suffer doubts and fears about my abilities and choices. You help to allay them, and keep me moving

  38. Steve Iv on September 13, 2023 at 8:29 pm

    Thank you so much Paul, This along with the Tote handle video that you provided was exactly what I was looking for, I inherited a very old wooden base(bed) jack plane, It is in rough shape, missing the front Toe along with the Tote being broken in three pieces, but everything else is there and certainly worth a new base , toe and tote. which leads me to a question and perhaps it’s already been answered in other videos. Mr.Sellers, the angle in the base(bed) in which the Frog sits against we’re these a standardized angle ? If so would you know of the general angle(s) , Also I know that you used yew for your tote/toe which looks magnificent, but What would you recommend or consider a decent choice for a base ? Thank you so much for all the knowledge and videos that you provide, you are certainly a wealth of knowledge and love that humour. Cheers sir

  39. Curtis Massey on September 13, 2023 at 8:30 pm

    All that knowledge in your brain is invaluable. This is the only way we have so far of passing on this knowledge, and I for one, thank you very much for passing on what you’ve learned.

  40. Neil Hawkins on September 13, 2023 at 8:32 pm

    I’ve watched this four times and now feel ready to try my own handle.Thanks Paul.

  41. Monte Lott on September 13, 2023 at 8:33 pm

    Skill building alternative to a lathe well done master sellers.

  42. LUCIANO -7 Lagoas-MG on September 13, 2023 at 8:34 pm

    Obrigado eu consegui fazer o meu aqui no Brasil!!!

  43. Soofi Hasan on September 13, 2023 at 8:35 pm

    Sir, with utmost reverence as one of your pupils, i wish you health and happiness for all that you do for us. God bless you, i have learnt so much from you and hope to see more of your wonderful work and benefit from your knowledge, kind regards from pakistan

  44. Frank Brown on September 13, 2023 at 8:36 pm

    Fascinating!! I am faced with replacing the knob and tote on two planes as they came with those ridiculous plastic handles. After viewing this I haven’t the first hesitation taking this on. As usual, nice work; particularly overcoming small obstacles! I really enjoy all of your videos

  45. William Bramley on September 13, 2023 at 8:36 pm

    thank you

  46. David Bald on September 13, 2023 at 8:36 pm

    Love the fact you leave the mistakes in the video. We all make them. I truly enjoy fixing my mistakes as much as making my projects. Having to problem solve to make it all work out. Thanks for the video tutorials.

  47. jkg2754 on September 13, 2023 at 8:38 pm

    Why don’t you clamp a stop instead of marking your miter box. Wouldn’t this be more practical ?

  48. Dubby on September 13, 2023 at 8:39 pm

    Dear Paul,
    very nice and precisely made tutorials.
    EVERY step expalined, also mistakes and the solutions showed, with love to detail like in yoiur woodworks..
    Gave me e relaxing evening after my own energy ran out.. Thank U so much!

    Greetings from Germany

  49. Mr Fixit Winton on September 13, 2023 at 8:40 pm

    He was right tedious to the nth degree, Jeezo I nearly clicked onto EastEnders, Ffs.

  50. J Whiskey on September 13, 2023 at 8:41 pm

    Unreal. It might as well be a heart transplant.

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