Hand planes: do you leave the blade in position or retract it when finished?

[questionmarke]

As someone new to hand planes (I just refurbished my first plane: a Stanley 1930's low angle block plane), I have been wondering ... is it generally considered proper usage to put a plane's blade into finely-tuned position and then leave it set that way all the time (minus sharpening or re-adjusting it) or does one retract the blade each time when finished using it for the day?

[Rutabagared]

I always leave mine in the tuned position (blade not retracted). That way it's ready to go as soon as I pick it up. Just ensure you store it in a way that prevents blade contact with anything metal. I store mine in a drawer sole-down.

Joe

[PaulMarcel]

Mine are under the bench on a shelf; much like Joe, I leave them ready to go. I have a strip of cork that the heels sit on to keep the blade from digging into the shelf and so the bottom gets air flow.

[rmac]

Same thoughts here. If you have a decent place to store them where they won't get dinged up, leave the blades out and ready to rumble.

-- Russ

[questionmarke]

Great. Noted. I work on the job site more than in a shop, so would need to take hand planes with me from time to time. Thus, I will need to protect the blades in some manner, whether that be retracting them or putting the planes in their own bags or containers, or whatever. But I was just curious what "proper" protocol was if one weren't running around town with tools in tow... Thanks for the replies.

[CessnaPilotBarry]

When I take my planes mobile, I put them in socks.

Some are cool, genuine "Plane socks", others are random orphan "real socks, from my drawer. Both protect the edges in a bag or box.

[ViolinMagick]

I always retract the blades. Sharpening is one of those chores that I honestly don't like doing. I would rather take the extra 15-20 seconds to set the plane up when I need it and then retract the blade when I am done. A nice side effect of this is that I never chip my blades.

[nateswoodworks]

I never retract mine that way they are always ready to go.

[Craig]

I store my planes on their side with the blade ready to go. No problems.

[MTC]

I have always store them on their side - I was told many years ago " a 22inch plane placed with heal or toe raised would if left over time would 'sag' " - while I don't believe this would sag enough to put the sole out of true, I have never run the risk.

[CessnaPilotBarry]

I leave the iron out, wipe them with Camellia oil, and put them in my wall cabinet.

[Mike M]

I leave the blade extended and ready to go. The shelf I store them on has a foam pad so the blade is protected.

[flairwoodworks]

I was told many years ago " a 22inch plane placed with heal or toe raised would if left over time would 'sag' " - while I don't believe this would sag enough to put the sole out of true, I have never run the risk.

Ha! I was just thinking about how I'd never read that before! It sounds rediculous to me. I have read that straight edges should be hung from one end or laid down fully supported (on a flat surface!).

[Mister Pants]

I leave mine ready to go, sole down. Only thing to be mindful of is to pick them up when you use them and place them down, don't slide them around.

[bois]

If I retracted my plane irons after each use, I'd spend more time fiddling with the irons than I would actually using the planes. I don't do anything special, I just lay them sole down in my plane cabinet. I'm not too worried about wooden cabinet shelves doing any damage to my A2 irons. I used to find that I'd spend 20 minutes flattening a board, banging my jack or jointer down the board, and then once I was putting it away I would suddenly treat it like a delicate flower. Funny in retrospect.

[pagel]

I'll add to the chorus. I never retract my blades for all the reasons cited. I don't have a fancy cabinet or dedicated shelves to store mine. I just use an old cart with a towel draped over the top - works fine.