Learning to use a hand plane opens up new levels of accuracy and craftsmanship. Understanding the role of each plane helps you choose the right tool for your woodworking project and achieve better results.
Learning how to use a hand plane is an essential woodworking skill. Whether you’re preparing stock, smoothing surfaces, or refining joinery, there are types of hand planes that do the job. And you don’t have to build fine furniture or craft custom cabinets to know how to use a hand planer. They are just as useful in do-it-yourself woodworking projects. Understanding which hand planes to use and on what task is only the beginning. Knowing how to hand plane wood just takes practice. Once you have the basics, though, you’ll find both accuracy and quality in every project.
In addition to this article, you can find plenty of practical advice in the archives for hand planing at the Renaissance Woodworker.
Types of Hand Planes and What to Buy to Get Started
There are many different kinds of hand planes available in various shapes and sizes, excelling in distinct tasks. What’s more, there are Western-style (discussed here), Japanese-style, wooden hand planes, specialty planes such as the tongue and groove hand plane, new and used planes, hand plane kits, and on and on. It can be tough to know where to start when you’re beginning your hand tool journey.
Get Started with a Solid Set of Hand Planes
Here are three types of hand planes that are great points of entry for woodworkers.
- Low-angle block plane: This humble workhorse is where to start. It’s great for easing corners, leveling edging, and trimming end grain. You’ll use it every day.
- Smoothing plane: The versatile #4 smoothing plane is perfect for everything from eliminating machine marks to fitting inset doors and drawers.
- Shoulder plane: This specialty plane won’t be used every day. But it’s the right tool for the job when you need to fine-tune your tenons’ shoulders and cheeks.
A Jack Plane, like the WoodRiver #5, is bigger than a Smoothing Plane that flattens and smooths material. A Jointer Plane is the next size up, designed for flattening one face of rough lumber.
You can often find good deals on a hand bench planer at antiques shops and flea markets. With a little elbow grease, you can give an old hand plane new life. But if you’re just getting started, skip the antiques until you’ve had practice using quality, tuned tools.
Another option is to buy wooden hand planes or make them from kits. They function like modern metal planes, just as their wooden predecessors did.
Specialty Planes
Planes designed for more specific tasks expand the capabilities of your woodworking and allow for more precise work. Here is a small selection of specialty planes.
- Router plane: Flatten and refine the bottoms of grooves, dados, and shallow mortises, such as with hinges.
- Tongue and groove hand plane: Fine-tune the fit of tongue-and-groove joints.
- Shooting planes: Working in conjunction with a shooting board, shave end grain to square up workpieces.
Electric Planer Info
While hand planes excel at precision and detail, electric hand planers are best for removing material quickly or preparing rough stock. The tools complement each other rather than compete.
Understanding types of hand planes, how to use them, and integrating them with power tools helps achieve professional-quality results. Marc Spagnuolo, AKA The Wood Whisperer, wrote a book titled Hybrid Woodworking that emphasizes the importance of incorporating both hand and power tools into your shop.
How to Use a Hand Plane
Using a hand plane isn’t hard. When done correctly, it reduces the need for sanding, leaving beautifully finished surfaces. Once your hand planer blades are sharp, the key to mastering the hand plane is learning the movements.
The Mechanics of Planing
How to use a hand planer starts with this basic technique.
- Plant your feet shoulder-width apart with your weight shifted to your rear foot.
- With the plane’s front on your board, but the blade off it, push the knob forward so the blade begins to make a shaving.
- Apply equal pressure over the workpiece, using your body to push the plane forward.
- At the end of the cut, switch pressure to your back hand, easing up on the front.
- Clear out the shaving if necessary and repeat, overlapping the previous pass.
Grasping how to hand plane wood will go a long way in building projects like a classic workbench.
A wall cabinet, especially one you’ve made yourself, is a great way to display your hand planes while keeping them neatly organized and ready for your next woodworking project.
Hand Plane Care and Maintenance
With proper, consistent maintenance, a wood hand planer can become an indispensable shop companion. Keeping your tools tuned up, waxing the soles, and storing them properly will keep them performing at their best.
Organizing and Storing Hand Planes
Proper storage keeps planes rust-free, sharp, and ready to work. A dedicated hand plane cabinet protects the tools while displaying them with pride. Adding new planes over time is a natural progression, but even a small, well-maintained set of tools will handle most tasks with ease.
Making a do-it-yourself dovetailed tote allows you to take your hand bench planer and other tools on the go.
Maintaining a sharp blade is essential for clean, effortless cuts. Paired with practiced technique, a simple hand plane can leave a flawless finish.
Sharpening your hand planer blades
Sharpening a hand plane blade is essential for ensuring clean, effortless cuts. Anne of All Trades shares her inexpensive sharpening setup for getting started. Start by polishing the back to a mirror shine. Hone the blade on a coarse sharpening stone to reestablish the bevel, typically 25 to 30 degrees. Progress through finer grits to refine the edge, maintaining consistent pressure and angle. Use a honing guide for repeatability. Finally, remove any burr from the back of the hand planer blade. A razor-sharp blade makes planing easier, reduces tool wear, improves accuracy, and makes the whole operation safer.