Niwaki Plane
Kanna
Delivering to US (Paying in USD) 
Niwaki Plane is in stock:
- 2lb 6.8oz
- 10.8 x 3.3 x 2.8"
- 2.6" blades
- SK Steel
- Japanese White Oak handles
- Made in Sanjo, Japan
Product description
A great introduction to the world of Japanese carpenter’s planes, with a hard wearing and easy to sharpen laminated SK steel blade, set within a Japanese White Oak block (dai).
As with most Japanese tools, the cutting (or in this case, planing) is achieved with a pull stroke (ie pulling towards you) not pushing away, which soon becomes natural and offers more control, we think.
Setting up Kanna (Japanese planes) is a bit of a knack - have a look here for detailed information (Sumokun’s YouTube channel is not affiliated to, or sponsored by, Niwaki in anyway - he’s just keen to help!)
Best usage
The blade sits inside the wooden body at an angle of 38–39° and has a sharpened bevel of approximately 25°. If you’re planing soft woods such as paulownia, cypress, pine or cedar, this 25° cutting edge is ideal.
To set up the plane, tap the head of the blade with a wooden mallet to extend the cutting edge about 0.1mm below the bottom of the plane – just enough to be faintly visible. If the blade protrudes unevenly, tap the side of the blade on the protruding side until the cutting edge is even. If you’ve pushed the blade out too far, don’t tap the blade back in. Instead, tap the chamfered side of the wooden body with the mallet. This will loosen the blade and allow you to reposition it.
Similarly, adjust the chip breaker (also known as cap iron) by tapping it so that its edge sits 0.5mm behind the cutting edge. To remove the blade for sharpening, hold the blade securely while tapping the chamfered side of the wooden body until it loosens.
*When using the plane on medium-hard or hard woods, you will need to adjust the cutting edge angle by sharpening it to 28–30°