Chisel Plane 5. Although a wide variety of hand planes are available on the new and used markets, most applications involve what are known as "bench planes. Tested: Twist-bit sharpeners. A large, flat sole prbolem a plane guides the cutter to remove only the highest parts of an imperfect surface, until, after several passes, the surface is flat and smooth. Irwin Tools www.

In the bevel-down plane, the iron sits in the plane with the bevel facing down B. Except for early planes, most bevel-down planes have a chipbreaker mounted on the back of the iron, also known as a double iron. Sometimes people confuse the chipbreaker for the cutting bevel. The function of the chipbreaker is to curl the chip upward as the cutting edge lifts it off the wood. For bench planes, while bevel-down planes are more common, there are plenty of people who swear by their bevel-up planes, in various sizes.

Block planes are bevel-up. Number of planes refers to having a dedicated plane for each of the three functions of roughing, flattening and smoothing versus using a single, versatile plane for all functions, with different irons and setups. A three-plane setup like the one above consists of smoother, jack and jointer planes front to back ; each one is dedicated to a specific purpose.

Jack planes tend to be the ones used for multiple purposes, especially with bevel-up planes. Body type refers to wooden or metal planes, and overall design. Above left to right are three wooden styles: an antique all-wooden plane, a transitional metal and wooden plane, a modern wooden plane and two metal bodied planes. Another style of metal bodied plane is an infill plane not shown. All of these types work, as evidenced by the work people have done with them.

If one side of the edge is high, center your plane over that side and take a couple more strokes. Repeat until the side is square. With one face flat and the sides square to the face, use a marking gauge to scribe a line indicating the thickness on all four edges.

Then plane the board down to that line. If you have a lot of material to remove, consider starting with a scrub plane, a narrow plane with a deeply curved blade that excels at fast stock removal. Used Stanley scrub planes are widely available; Lie-Nielsen also manufactures one. The final step is to plane the ends square to the rest of the board. Because you'll be cutting end grain, extra care is needed. A low-angle block plane works well here. Work in from the leading edge and plane to the center of the board, but avoid planing all the way across the board.

Otherwise, you risk tearout spelching at the trailing edge. You can aid cutting by moving the plane with a circular motion, which slices the grain at an angle. Above all, keep your blade extra sharp for the tough end grain. You can make your own shooting board.

That's all there is to it. By following these few rules and keeping your blades honed, you'll be planing like a pro after only a couple of boards. Click here to read more information about working with hand planes.

Click here to find out more and purchase your own hand planes. Norman Reid is a woodworker specializing in 18th Century and Craftsman furniture. He teaches hand planing in northern Virginia where he lives with his wife, four cats and a basement woodshop full of tools in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

He can be reached by email at nreid fcc. Click the images below to visit some of our most popular tool departments. Highland Woodworking N. Highland Ave. NE Atlanta, Georgia Tel. Errors regarding pricing and specifications are subject to correction. Hand Planes: Unlocking the Mystery by J.

Norman Reid Delaplane, Virginia Like many other woodworkers I decided early on I would be a "Normite" and bow to the superior precision of power tools. How They're Used To plane rough boards smooth, start with the jointer. Designed to flatten and smooth the face of a board, this 9- to inch-long plane is ideal for leveling off high spots and for general planing.

The best all-around bench plane if you have only one. The pocket-size block plane is ideal for trimming small areas, but it's too short to straighten boards. The blade is positioned bevel side up; better models have an adjustable mouth for a super-thin shaving.

Block planes come in two varieties: standard, with a blade pitched at 20 degrees, and low-angle, with a degree pitch. The low-angle block plane severs end grain easily and is comfortable in one hand, making it perfect for fitting shingles, quickly shaving down the corners of swelled doors, and fine-tuning miter cuts on trim. Planes are meant to be used only on wood and can be dulled by other building materials. For shaping wallboard, plastic, or wood products containing adhesives, such as plywood, choose one of these alternatives.

The double-edged blades are disposable, so you can use them on plywood, particleboard, and medium-density fiberboard that will trash a good plane iron. They're also good if you don't want to bother with sharpening. The blade resembles a cheese grater and files away material rather than producing long shavings. Good for fast shaping of drywall, PVC, or plastic laminates, but leaves a rough surface on wood.

A plane won't cut properly unless the blade is razor sharp. Even a new plane needs to be honed before you use it. You don't need fancy tools to get an acceptable edge; a sharpening stone or sandpaper will do. The part that takes a little practice is holding the iron steady at a consistent to degree angle without rocking it, maintaining firm, downward pressure right over the bevel. If all this is beyond you, buy a honing guide, which clamps the blade at the perfect angle.

Repeat the process on a fine stone or a finer-grit sandpaper. Stroke with a circular motion until you feel a burr on the back of the edge, then flip the iron over to remove the burr by rubbing the back flat on the stone, leaving a clean, sharp edge. Finally, keep the iron sharp when not in use by storing the plane on its side and cleaning off resin from softwoods with a rag that's been dipped in turpentine or paint thinner.

Taking too big a bite with a plane will jam the tool or tear out the grain.

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