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Luke Lyu exhibits off conventional Chinese language planes and the way he took inspiration to develop the design of Zen Wu planes.
Aug 22, 2025
Sponsored by Zen-Wu Toolworks
At a look, a Chinese language aircraft appears like a Japanese aircraft with a horizontal stick. But upon nearer inspection, a Chinese language aircraft is a push aircraft, and the blade is secured with a wood wedge; thus, it now seems to resemble a standard Western aircraft. As you decide one up, you discover the similarity ends there: the mouth is considerably at the back of the aircraft, and it makes use of a three-point contact sole like a Japanese aircraft. What an attention-grabbing aircraft, you surprise. Why this design? And the way do you utilize it?
These are good questions.
A very powerful phrase when speaking about Chinese language planes is “stability.” A Chinese language aircraft is balanced proper in entrance of the mouth in order that the person can seamlessly change between entrance registration floor and rear registration floor on the underside of the only real.
You stand behind the workpiece and seize the aircraft with each arms on the deal with whereas extending your index finger. Once you raise the aircraft up within the air, it is vital that you simply have the ability to alter the ahead tilt of the aircraft with minimal effort. If the toe or heel preserve sinking down in midair, you must double-check your middle of gravity. To regulate the middle of gravity, take away materials from the heavier facet by shaping or chamfering, or when extreme materials elimination is required, chopping off a sections from the heavier finish. Your thumbs may be tucked behind the blades or under the handles. You additionally need to relaxation your palm down on the aircraft; should you raise your wrist up, it’s possible you’ll scratch your knuckles throughout planing.
Zen Wu planes may be discovered at zenwutoolworks.com and on Instagram.
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