COMBINATION PLANE: Used in a similar way to a rebate plane. It can be used for creating a shoulder/rebate on the edge of a piece of wood. This plane has an advantage over the rebate plane as it is adjustable for different widths.

REBATE PLANE: Used for producing shoulders or rebates. A good example is a base to a jewellery box which is rebated into the sides.

PLANESA large range of planes are available and they are used for different purposes. The body of a plane is  made from high grade cast iron with the cutters being tungsten made from vanadium steel.

HAND ROUTER PLANE (GRANNY’S TOOTH):

This plane has a narrow cutting head that will make grooves with smooth bottoms. It has an adjustable blade for smoothing or shaping wood.

SMALL BLOCK PLANE: This is a small version of a wood block plane and it is used for light work such as producing 'chamfers'. It is normally held and used in one hand.

JACK PLANE: It has a steel body and because it is heavier than the wood block plane it is easier to hold down on the surface of the wood being planed. It is used to remove marks, bring timber down to size, make surfaces flat, and plane longer pieces of wood.

TOTE

The Plane-Iron is a plate of steel with a sharpened edge which cuts the wood.

The Lever cap holds the blade down firmly to the body of the plane.

The Knob is a handle on the front of the plane.

The Plane-Iron Cap serves to make the blade more rigid and to curl and break apart wood shavings as they pass through the mouth.

The Lateral adjustment lever is used to adjust the iron so that the depth of cut is uniform across the mouth.

The Tote is a handle on the rear of the plane.

The Frog is a sliding iron wedge that holds the plane Iron at the proper angle. It slides to adjust the gap between the cutting edge and the front of the mouth. The frog is screwed down to the inside of the sole through two parallel slots and on many planes is only adjustable with a screwdriver when the plane iron is removed.

Parts of a Plane

BASIC GUIDANCE ON THE USE OF THE PLANE  

1. The wood must be placed level and firmly in the vice. 2. Always plane in the direction of the grain. Examine the wood carefully, it may be obvious which way the grain is flowing. 3. If the plane sticks whilst in use, turn the wood the opposite way round in the vice. Now the grain may be pointing in the right direction. 4. Rub a little candle wax on the bottom of the plane. This will help the plane glide across the surface of the wood. 5. Make sure that little of the blade is sticking out off the bottom of the plane. Too much of the blade will make using the plane very difficult and it may damage the surface of the wood. 6. Always place the plane at the end of the piece of wood and push it firmly across the entire length, without it lifting off the surface. Lift the plane back to the starting position. Pulling the plane back along the wood surface will 'blunt' the blade quickly. 7. Always use a sharp blade.