Shop-Made Shoulder Plane

Careful machining will get you close, but sometimes a joint needs a little help to get that perfect piston fit. For fine-tuning rabbets and truing tenons, you can’t beat a shoulder plane. Don’t have one? Don’t worry. A store-bought shoulder plane will set you back over $100, but we have a beauty you can make in a day using a 6×12" piece of leftover hardwood, a plane blade from our Convenience-Plus Buying Guide, and these simple instructions. When you’re done, we’ll show you how to set up your new shoulder plane so you can put it to work ASAP.