Smooth Operator
From the Middle Ages until the dawn of the 20th century, wooden planes were the dominant bench plane form in the Western world. But when I started woodworking (in the hand-tool dark ages of the [...]
Saw & Plane Till
It won’t solve a tool addiction, but it’ll make finding tools easier. You’ve no doubt seen photos of the H.O. Studley tool cabinet – the Sistine Chapel of tool cabinets. And as far as I’m [...]
Roubo Hollows & Rounds
Make these French moulding planes that are essential for every hand-tool kit. Hollows and rounds are making a strong comeback in the hand tool woodworking world. However, many woodworkers are [...]
Prize Rabbet Plane
Tool: Bevel-Up Jack Rabbet Plane Manufacturer: Veritas MSRP: $329.00 Specialty planes have a special place in my shop. They’re good for the soul. I use them when I want to turn off the [...]
Bench Arm, Planing Arm or Bench Rex? A Jig for Planing Wood
The The BT&C Planing Stop is a small toothed plate, intended to serve as a buffer stop when planing a board on the bench.
Karl Holtey, Plane Pioneer
This legendary planemaker’s career has been dedicated to innovation. There is no straight path between a childhood spent in a camp for displaced persons in Germany’s Black Forest at the end of [...]
Q&A: Planing Without Jointing
Normally, a planer can’t take the twist out of a board; it merely makes the top side parallel to the bottom. To get a board flat without a jointer, fool the planer into thinking the bottom of [...]
Bill Anderson Knows Moulding Planes
In “Choosing, Refurbishing & Using Moulding Planes”, Bill walks you through the classifications of moulding planes, discusses what to look for when shopping and then takes you step-by-step [...]
Q & A: Low-Angle Planes Provide Versatility
A Low-angle bench planes allow you to change the blade’s effective cutting angle to suit specific tasks. Because the bevel points up on a low-angle plane, the effective cutting angle can be [...]
Troubleshoot Your Plane
Troubleshoot Your Plane Practical Solutions to 6 Common Problems By Tom Caspar When a plane is working right, it can produce a silky-smooth surface that absolutely glistens. When it doesn’t work, [...]
Beyond The Vise: Planing Boards
On several occasions I’ve taught hand tool woodworking in locations that weren’t really setup for it. The challenge I faced was hand planing workpiece faces on tables or workbenches that didn’t [...]
Q & A: Low-Angle Planes Provide Versatility
Q & A: Low-Angle Planes Provide Versatility Q: What advantage does a low-angle bench plane have over a standard bench plane? A: Low-angle bench planes allow you to change the blade’s [...]