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Hand Planes: An Introduction

Hand planes are essential tools for woodworking, designed to shape, smooth, and flatten wood surfaces. They have been used for centuries, offering precision and control that is often difficult to achieve with power tools. Here’s an introduction to the basics of hand planes.

Anatomy of a hand plane

Body

Typically made of wood or metal, the body houses the blade and determines the plane’s size and heft.

Blade (iron)

The cutting edge of the plane, which can be adjusted for depth of cut. The blade is usually bevel-up or bevel-down, depending on the plane type.

Cap iron (chipbreaker)

Sits atop the blade, helping to reduce tear-out by breaking the shaving as it is cut.

Lever cap

Secures the blade and cap iron in place, providing stability.

Frog

A component that supports the blade and can be adjusted to change the blade’s angle.

Sole

The flat bottom of the plane that glides along the wood surface.

Mouth

The opening through which the blade protrudes to make the cut.

Diagram showing parts of a hand plane tool.

Types of hand planes

Bench planes

Jack Plane (#5): A versatile plane used for initial rough work, flattening, and sometimes smoothing.

Smoothing Plane (#3 or #4): Ideal for final smoothing of wood surfaces.

Jointer Plane (#7 or #8): Long and heavy, designed for jointing edges and flattening large surfaces.

Wooden hand plane with shavings on a board
Jack plane
Vintage hand plane tool on white background.
Smoothing plane
Vintage wood plane tool with wooden handles
Jointer plane

Block planes

Compact planes with the blade set at a lower angle, suitable for end grain work and smaller tasks.

Wood plane with shavings on workshop bench
Block plane

Speciality planes

Rabbet Plane: Used for cutting rabbets (shoulders and grooves).

Shoulder Plane: Designed for trimming tenons and shoulders.

Router Plane: Used for cleaning up dadoes, grooves, and recesses.

Plough/Combination Plane: Cuts grooves and dados with adjustable fence and depth stop.

Wood plane on wooden board with shavings.
Rabbet plane
Hand plane on a carpentry workbench
Shoulder plane
Vintage woodworking router plane on wooden surface.
Router plane
Woodworking tools on a workshop bench
Rough/combination plane

Using a hand plane

Setup

Ensure the blade is sharp and properly adjusted. The depth of cut and the mouth opening should be appropriate for the task.

Close-up of a vintage woodworking hand plane tool.
Use the depth adjustment wheel to set the blade to cut at the correct depth

Technique

Hold the plane with both hands, applying even pressure. Start the stroke with pressure on the front knob and finish with pressure on the rear tote. Aim for thin, continuous shavings.

Carpenter smoothing wood with hand plane tool.
The correct way to hold and use a hand plane

Maintenance

Regularly sharpen the blade, flatten the sole, and keep all parts clean and rust-free.

Plane blade and honing jig on sharpening stone
Always keep your hand plane sharp to get a smooth finish and ribbon shavings

Planing tips for beginners

  • Start with a well-tuned and sharp plane to avoid frustration.
  • Practice on scrap wood to develop the feel for different wood grains and the plane’s performance.
  • Invest in a good-quality plane; cheaper models often require significant tuning to work properly.
  • Mastering hand planes can greatly enhance the quality of your woodworking projects, especially for tasks like making a wooden jewelry box, where precise smoothing and shaping are crucial.

A well-adjusted and sharp plane combined with a good technique will give the best results

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