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What are hand planers?
Hand planers, also known as manual planers, are tools used to smooth and flatten wood surfaces. They consist of a flat blade attached to a wooden or metal body. The blade protrudes slightly from the bottom of the tool and shaves off thin layers of material as the planer is pushed along the wood’s surface. Hand planers require manual effort to operate, unlike their powered counterparts, such as thickness planers and jointers. However, hand planers provide more control over the material removal process and can access confined spaces that larger machines cannot.
Benefits of using a hand planer
Precision and control
One of the main benefits of using a hand planer is the level of precision and control it allows. While power planers and jointers can quickly remove large amounts of stock, they lack the finesse of manual planers. The hand planer allows the woodworker to focus pressure on specific spots to flatten high areas or remove just enough material to smooth the surface. This meticulous control makes hand planers ideal for delicate work, such as trimming dovetail joints and planing end grain.
Versatility
Hand planers are versatile tools that can shape and smooth various materials. While mainly used for wood planing, they can also flatten and deburr metal, remove paint or rust from surfaces, and plane plastics. The manual operation allows them to work on materials too hard or brittle for powered alternatives. Hand planers are also useful for trimming and fitting joints, especially in confined spaces. For example, they can easily plane a protruding tenon shoulder when fitting a mortise and tenon joint by hand.
Portability
The compact size and manual operation of hand planers make them highly portable shop tools. Their lightweight wooden or metal bodies can be easily transported and used on job sites away from the workshop. Hand planers require no batteries, power cords, or air hoses. Some models even fold or collapse into smaller sizes for convenience. The portability and quiet operation of hand planers allow them to smooth and shape wood in places larger benchtop machines cannot access.
Cost savings
Owning a hand planer is significantly cheaper than buying and operating large power planers. Budget-minded woodworkers can flatten, taper, bevel, and smooth wood with just a hand plane instead of a jointer and thickness planer. The savings are especially noticeable for smaller operations without the production volume to justify expensive stationary equipment. Hand planes also require little maintenance apart from occasionally sharpening and honing the blade.
Limitations of hand planers
Physically demanding
The main downside of hand planers is that they require physical effort to operate. Planing wider surfaces can be tiring and time-consuming compared to using a power planer. The manual force limits the cuts to relatively light passes, as anything too aggressive risks flexing the blade or lurching the tool. Taking thicker cuts requires applying more strength, pressure, and time. Those with less upper body strength may find hand planing difficult, limiting the practical workpiece size.
Difficulty planing larger surfaces
While suitable for smaller workpieces, smoothing and flattening large tabletops or boards can be physically draining. Removing cupped warps and twists from wide stock is also more realistically achieved with a jointer rather than a hand plane. The limited blade width and need to push the planer manually makes it impractical for surfacing anything but smaller projects. Power planers are better suited for high-volume production environments.
Steeper learning curve
Mastering the use of a hand plane requires developing the proper stance, grip, planing angle, and feel. Beginners often struggle with techniques like skew planing and grain direction. The variability in technique means less consistent results until gaining experience. Power planers and jointers have more automated processes and remove guesswork from the equation. With hand planes, the operator directly influences the success of the planing task.
Types of hand planes
There are several types of hand planes, each designed with differences in blade width, length, and bevel angle to suit various planing tasks:
Bench planes
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| No. 4 Smoothing plane | Features 8-10″ length and 2″ blade width. Light cuts give smooth, ripple-free surfaces. |
| No. 5 Jack plane | At 14″ long with 2″ blade, removes stock efficiently while still capable of smoothing. |
| No. 7 Jointer plane | Large 22-30″ planes with 2.5-3″ blade width for flattening large stock. |
| No. 8 Jointer plane | Similar to No. 7 but slightly smaller at 18-22″ length. |
Specialty planes
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Block planes | Small ~6″ planes for end grain, small surfaces, and difficult to reach areas. |
| Shoulder planes | Designed to plane shoulders of tenons and along grain inside mortises. |
| Bullnose planes | Rounded front corners get into tight spaces like chair spindles. |
| Chisel planes | Blade adjusts straight up/down for vertical planing tasks. |
| Chamfer planes | Angled blades cut bevels and chamfers along edges and corners. |
Factors to consider when buying a hand plane
Plane types
Choose plane types suited for your projects. Smoothing planes produce the finest surfaces, while jack planes efficiently remove larger amounts of material. Block planes are great for smaller tasks. Specialty planes tackle unique planing needs.
Plane length
In general, longer planes allow you to flatten larger surfaces in fewer passes. But longer planes require more space to use and store. Consider your workpiece sizes.
Blade width
Wider blades (~2 inches) flatten boards faster. Narrower blades (~1 inch) provide more precision on edges. Standard bench plane blades are 1.5-2 inches wide.
Build quality
Look for precise machining, tight tolerances, and high-quality materials like cast iron or brass. These enhance performance and durability. Some specialty planes are still crafted from wood.
Replaceable blades
Models with removable/replaceable blades allow changing blade types. You can install cambered blades for smoothing tasks or straight blades for edge jointing.
Blade adjustments
Precision depth and lateral blade adjustments help dial in the perfect cut. Look for easy adjusting mechanisms like geared wheels or screw advances.
Ergonomics
Consider totes with comfortable grips that suit your hand size. Low profile planes require less lift when planing. Chamfered edges prevent sharp digging into your hand.
Accessories
Useful accessories like replacement blades, honing guides, aftermarket knobs, and tote options increase the versatility.
Price
Cast iron bench planes can cost $100-$300 but should last generations. Some specialty planes cost over $500. Expect to pay $25-$100 for basic wooden hand planes.
Recommendations for first-time buyers
If looking to purchase your first hand plane, here are some recommendations that won’t break the bank:
– No. 4 or No. 5 smoothing plane from Stanley, WoodRiver, or Anant. ~$100-$150. Use for general smoothing/surfacing.
– No. 4 transitional style plane from Stanley. ~$75. Wooden core with steel reinforcement. Durable and lightweight.
– Stanley 12-920 block plane. ~$60. Great for smaller tasks and end grain.
– Used/antique Stanley, Sargent, or Miller Falls planes. ~$50. Affordable way to try hand planing. Requires restoration.
– Wooden jack plane kit from Hock Tools. ~$110. Fun project to build your own plane.
– No. 102 Stanley block plane. ~$35. The classic simple block plane model.
Are hand planers worth the money?
Better for some tasks
Hand planes excel at localized smoothing, fine trimming, end grain planing, and small surfaces. The precision and control surpass power planers for these finer tasks. Hand planes are worth it if doing a lot of meticulous smoothing work.
Portability and cost
The compact size, low cost, and lack of power requirements provide great value for small shops and on-site work. Hand planes are an inexpensive way to surface wood without a shop full of large equipment.
Satisfaction from skill
Learning to effectively use hand planes provides a rewarding tactile experience and skill development. Mastering the nuances and techniques can be enjoyable.
Faster for large jobs
For surfacing large tabletops or flattening wide boards, a powered jointer and planer will be much faster and easier. Hand planing has limitations on realistically achievable workpiece sizes.
Physically demanding
The physical exertion required can be draining and frustrating, especially for beginners. Those lacking arm and hand strength may be unable to use a hand plane effectively.
Steeper learning curve
It takes patience and practice to master hand planing techniques. Without proper skill, results will be inconsistent. Power planers are more forgiving for beginners.
Conclusion
Hand planers provide precision and finesse difficult to achieve with machines. While best suited for smaller surfaces, their affordability and portability can be valuable for certain workshops. However, physically demanding operation and a learning curve limit their practical use for larger jobs.
Overall, hand planers are worth the modest investment for their capabilities smoothing difficult grain, working portably, and performing light trimming tasks. They complement power planers well but cannot fully replace them. Choose hand planes understanding their inherent limitations but appreciating their irreplaceable control and craftsmanship.
