The Essential Block Plane How to choose and use woodworking’s most popular trimmer By Craig Bentzley It’s no secret that I love hand plane. Available in a variety of What to look for planes and own way too many in a block plane of them–about 250 at last it’s small, relatively inexpensive, As shown in Figure 1 and count. Many of them perform andconfigurations even kind of (as cute. shown But above),it’s Photo A, a block plane is a highly specialized tasks and fairly basic tool. That said, for don’t see use very often. But up and tuned, a good quality good performance, avoid cheap, there’s one type of plane that’s blockdefinitely plane not is aadept toy. Properly at handling set rudimentary hardware store a stand-out exception: the block all sorts of shop chores and is versions. The most important plane. In fact, when I’m asked likely to become one of your most features to look for in a good by beginning woodworkers used hand tools. I’ll discuss what what plane they should to look for in a good block plane, reliable and easy-to-use depth-of- start out with, that’s the one how to set one up, and how to cutblock adjustment, plane include and a an flat adjustable sole, a that always tops the list. use it to your best advantage. throat. You’ll also want the tool The ubiquitous block plane Once you make friends with to feel comfortable in your hand. is probably owned by more a block plane, you’ll wonder Unlike most bench planes, the people than any other hand how you did without one. block plane blade is installed 72 woodcraftmagazine.com Aug/Sept 2015 Figure 1: Anatomy of a block plane Figure 2: Block Plane Angles Lever cap Key: Cutting angle Lever cap screw Blade angle Bedding angle 25° 45° Blade adjusting screw 20° Adjustable throat Figure 2a: Standard Block locking knob Blade Plane with 25° blade. Good for cutting with the grain on most woods. Bed Plane body 25° 37° 12° Throat adjustment lever Figure 2b: Low Angle Block Plane with 25° blade. Throat plate Good for cutting end grain. 38° 50° bevel up. In addition to supporting some harder woods, especially the blade at the cutting edge, this in areas of grain reversal. orientation makes it easy to adjust Forced to choose between the cutting angle to match the job. a standard or a low-angle 12° As shown in Figure 2a, block plane, I’d take the latter Figure 2c: Low Angle Block a standard block plane has a because it offers more working Plane with 38° blade. bedding angle of 20°. Adding options. In addition to superior Good for planing difficult stock. the standard blade angle of 25° end-grain-cutting ability with gives you a cutting angle of 45°, which is comparable to standard bench planes. While this angle most woods, it’s not very good foris fine end for grain planing or gnarly long grainwoods. on Some manufacturers offer a low-angle block plane with a bedding angle of 12°, as shown in Figure 2b. Coupling this with a standard blade angle of 25° yields a cutting angle of 37°, which is better suited for cleanly slicing end grain. On the A downside, this lower cutting For a block plane to work well, its parts must be machined accurately angle may produce tear-out on so they fit together well and the mechanisms work smoothly. Photos: Paul Anthony; Illustrations: Greg Maxson Aug/Sept 2015 woodcraftmagazine.com 73 Get Sharp Above all else, a truly sharp blade is key to successful planing. For a quick, foolproof way to hone your blade to perfection, see the video at woodcraftmagazine.com by clicking on Videos. B The low-angle block plane at left is much better for cutting end grain than its standard-angle companion. a 25° blade angle, a low-angle a 38° angle on a standard block burrs, especially around the plane produces a cutting angle throat opening and body edges. replacement blades ground to of 58°, eliminating tear-out. Mix Lubricate all mechanisms with suitplane other can bework. outfitted For example, with and match. You get the idea. a light oil, sharpen the blade, grind a replacement blade to 33°, and reassemble the plane. and you have duplicated the 45° Cleaning, tuning, cutting angle of a standard-angle and setting the blade laterally to project block plane for planing with the Whether new or used, a evenlySet up across to cut its by width. first adjusting To do this, grain on most woods. Taking it block plane will likely need tension the lever cap for a slightly a step further, a blade ground to some cleaning and tune-up. 38° yields a 50° cutting angle, Disassemble the plane, and cap screw. Then project the blade as shown in Figure 2c. This clean all the parts with mineral justsnug enough fit by adjusting to see its the entire lever edge “York pitch” is great for working spirits, scrubbing them if when sighting down the sole, and necessary with a brass brush adjust it as shown in Photo C. nastiest stock, grind a blade at or steel wool. If a straightedge As a rough gauge, I check the 50°highly to createfigured a wood.cutting For angle the of projection at each end of the blade 62°, which virtually eliminates make it so by rubbing it on with my thumb as I tap. Re-sight indicates the sole isn’t flat, carborundum paper adhered block planes include a lateral tear-out (although the plane tosuccessively plate glass finer or your grits jointer of adjustmentand repeat if mechanism, necessary. (Somebut I awill standard be much block harder plane to push).with table with the blade installed Of course, you can also outfit and fully retracted. Use a Next, turn the blade-adjusting example, putting a blade with screwdon’t consider to set the them depth essential.) of cut a modified blade angle. For fine file to remove any metal C D To laterally adjust the blade, use a small brass To adjust the mouth, loosen the throat locking or wood hammer to tap it sideways until it knob, and then rotate the throat adjustment projects evenly from the plane throat. lever to open or close the mouth. 74 woodcraftmagazine.com Aug/Sept 2015 it’s much faster and cleaner Tip Alert than sanding when it comes Swiping paraffin across the to removing saw marks from sole of any plane will make Photo E it glide much more smoothly on a workpiece. end ofgrain the (cut, plane). inwardTo avoid towardsplitting the away center the fromfibers each at the end. Another very common E cuts, this may be only be a few trimming solid wood edging When planing end grain, it’s thousandthsfor the job at ofhand. an inch. For fine If your block plane operationPhoto is flush- F important that your blade is plane sports an adjustable Along the same lines, it’s great for razor-sharp and set for a very throat, open it just enough to onleveling plywood protruding panels ( dovetail ).pins fine cut. Skewing the plane a Photo D Photo G bit makes the job easier. wide gap is OK for heavy stock The list goes on: the plane will removal,prevent clogging but a tight ( throat ).is A cleanand box up jointmill marksfingers and ( break ). preferable because it keeps the and bevel edges, including back- beveling the non-hinged edge of the blade and tearing out. of a door for swing clearance. woodAlways fibers retract, from liftingand then ahead Other uses include adjusting advance, the blade to “sneak up” door and drawer front gaps, on the depth of cut. Don’t set chamfering the edges of table the projection while retracting tops, and shaping and smoothing the blade, or else backlash in convex surfaces. You can even the adjustment mechanism will set it up as a miniature shooting allow the blade to slide backward board plane for trimming in use. Once your adjustments the ends of small parts. yield the desired depth of cut and Although the natural a full-width shaving of uniform inclination is to use a block thickness, snug down the lever plane one-handed, most cap. It should be tight enough precision operations demand to stay in place while allowing two-handed control. Applying further blade adjustments F during the course of your work. the front of the plane with To plane solid wood edging, onefirm hand downward while powering pressure at begin with a coarse cut for quick Using a block plane the tool forward with your stock removal, then readjust the A block plane is my go-to tool for other hand provides better blade for a fine cut that won’t all sorts of chores. For example, command over the tool. n mar the plywood veneer. About Our Author Craig Bentzley has been restoring antiques and building furniture for nearly 40 years. In addition to writing, Craig also teaches at guilds, woodworking G shows, and at Woodcraft stores. When leveling box joint fingers (or dovetail protrusions), plane inward toward the center of the workpiece to prevent splitting the material. Aug/Sept 2015 woodcraftmagazine.com 75.