How to Set a Plane Mouth for Fine Shavings
A plane mouth is the opening in the sole directly in front of the blade. Its job is to support […]
Equipment
How to Tune a Plane Frog for a Stable Cut
A plane frog controls more than blade angle. It supports the iron, sets the mouth opening, and determines whether the
Equipment
Low-Angle Plane vs Standard-Angle Plane for Difficult End Grain
What the Plane Angle Actually Changes When a plane cuts end grain, the blade has to sever fibers rather than
Equipment
Bullnose Plane vs Shoulder Plane for Short Recesses
Short recesses are awkward because the tool must start and stop cleanly in a confined area. A bullnose plane and
Equipment
Rabbet Plane vs Fillister Plane for Door Frame Rebates
Rabbet Plane vs Fillister Plane for Door Frame Rebates For a traditional door frame, the rebate (also called a rabbet)
Equipment
Metal Planes vs Wooden Planes for Damp Jobsite Conditions
Damp jobsites expose hand planes to problems that are easy to underestimate. A metal plane may develop surface rust overnight,
Equipment
Jointer Plane vs Fore Plane for Straightening Long Boards
For straightening a long board, a jointer plane and a fore plane can both remove twist, bow, and high spots.
Equipment
Best Compact Planes for a Mobile Carpentry Kit
What makes a hand plane suitable for a mobile kit? A plane earns a place in a mobile carpentry kit
Equipment
Best Hand Planes for Adjusting Window Sashes by Hand
Choosing a Plane for Window Sash Work Adjusting a sticking window sash is usually a small planing job, not a
Best Plane Irons for Reducing Tear-Out in Figured Timber
Figured timber—maple, oak, mahogany, walnut and similar boards with reversing or interlocked grain—can tear out even when a plane is