MIMF

I'm looking for recommendations on a good book on sharpening hand tools, preferably one that might also cover how to set up a hand plane?

How about "The Handplane Book" by Hack. Check Abebooks.com for prices. Some I saw were in the $14.50 - 18.00 range.

You can also check the Sharpening Book by Leonard Lee. I believe it is from Taunton Press.

Another great suggestion and recommendation is available from LMII, "Double bevel sharpening" by Brian Burns. I watched him perform a demonstration of setting up a hand plane and proceed to shave nearly transparent shavings from both curly redwood and highly figured maple. Brian distributes "Pegheds" geared "wooden" pegs and is full of great information about tools and guitars.

Great! Thanks guys.

All good suggestions, I have all the publications mentioned, they have lots of info. There are also many videos and various online tutorials that show different approaches to sharpening and hand plane tuning. I mention this because I haven't seen the sharpening method that I use, which involves a simple honing jig, a DMT 'duosharp' diamond stone (sometimes a belt sander) and a Japanese water stone, mentioned in any books, but I believe there is a Youtube video that shows something similar. It is usually a good idea to stick with a 'system', or a known, reliable procedure for sharpening, and you may want to check out a few different ones, until you find out what works best for you. Then become so familiar with the procedure that using it becomes second nature, and something that you do quickly and effortlessly while working, as a matter of course. Of all the methods I have tried, I picked the one that gives me the best edges with the least effort, which means I'm less likely to work with dull tools.