Hand Planes

From DIYinfo.org

During the 17th Century, different types of planes appeared. Specialist craftsmen such as musical instrument makers, coach builders, coopers and ship builders developed planes for their own needs.

Modern bench planes are the result of continuous improvement of Wood Planes from early times. They remove material in the form of a shaving. Recommended cutting edge angles for these are,

- Grinding: 20-25 degrees

- Honing 25-30 degrees

[edit] Basic Parts of the Plane

1 Body	2 Sole
3 Toe	4 Mouth
5 Heel	6 Knob
7 Handle	8 Frog
9 Frog locking screw	10 Frog adjusting screw
11 Lateral adjusting lever	12 ‘y’ Adjusting lever
13 Depth adjusting knob	14 Plane Iron
15 Back Iron	16 Cap screw
17 Lever cap	18 Cap screw

[edit] Planing Terms

[edit] Traversing

Planing across the grain to 'flatten' a solid timber top.

[edit] Feathering

The gradual lifting of the 'heel' whilst removing a shaving thus tapering or feathering the cut off

[edit] Hollow Jointing

By concentrating several cuts of in-creasing length from the centre of the board gradually working out towards the end produces hollow edges ideal for cramped edge jointing.

[edit] Care and Maintenance

Correct care and maintenance can considerably prolong the working life and performance efficiency of cutting tools.

[edit] Care

Planes should only be used on timber surfaces which are free of grit, nails, staples etc., capable of 'gapping' a blade. Protection of the cutting edge should be provided at all times of non-use e.g. storage, transporting etc. Avoid 'rusting' of steel surfaces by light oiling and keeping away from moisture.

[edit] Grinding

For efficient operating cutting blades should be ground between 20° and 25° this angle refers to between the 'ground' face and the top side of the blade.

[edit] Sharpening/Honing

This process is carried out on an oilstone, the object being to produce a keen cutting edge by means of the fine abrasive particles from which the oilstone is made. Thin oil is necessary on the stone to reduce friction and float off particles of metal which would otherwise clog the pores of the stone.


The cutting tool is held at a constant angle of about 25°-50° to the stone, (5° greater than the grinding bevel)

[edit] General Purpose Planes

Smoothing Plane No. 3 & 4 & 4 ½

Uses - Final Plane used to clean up the surface of timber prior to scraping and sand papering.

Body Length 200 mm – 260 mm
Blade Width No. 3 – 45 mm
No. 4 – 50 mm
No. 4 ½ - 60 mm

Jack Plane No. 5 & 5 ½

Uses - To plane surfaces straight off the saw. The first plane used to prepare a true, flat surface.

Body Length 360 mm - 380 mm.
Blade Width No. 5 - 50 mm
No. 5 ½ - 60 mm

Tryinq /Jointer Plane No. 6 & 7.

Uses - Used after the Jack Plane to produce long true flat surfaces, and straight edges.

Body Length 560 mm - 610 mm
Blade Width 60 mm wide

[edit] Special Purpose Planes

Rebate Plane	Uses - For adjusting or cleaning up rebates. A rebate is a rectangular recess cut along the edge or across the end of a piece of timber. The blade of the plane is the same width as the sole.
Side Fillister	Uses - To plane a rebate the same width throughout, the plane is fitted with a fence, depth gauge, and cutting spur.
Block Plane	Uses - The low pitch of the cutter makes the block plane ideal for working on end grain. The blade is mounted with the grinding bevel upward.
Shoulder Plane	Uses - For truing up shoulders of wide rails. The cutter is set at a low pitch to aid planing end grain and is used with the grinding bevel upwards.
Bullnose Plane	Uses - Similar to a shoulder plane. The nose can be detached. This enables the plane to be worked right into the stopped end of the rebate.
Compass or Circular Plane	Uses - For smoothing curved surfaces and edges which are true arcs of a circle (concave or convex). The plane is fitted with a flexible steel sole that is adjustable.
Router Plane	Uses - For surfacing the bottoms of trenches. If fitted with a small adjustable fence, it can be used for grooving parallel to an edge.
Moulding Planes	Uses - To produce a variety of mouldings or shaped edges. These can be purchased with a wooden body, however a multi-plane can be purchased that will perform a wide range of planing operations. Many of the original functions of this plane have been superseded by the electric router or spindle moulder.