What Is a Woodworking Plane?
A woodworking plane is a tool that is applied to the surface of wood to smooth the surface by scraping.
The woodworking plane is used to flatten rough or uneven surfaces and to adjust the thickness of the wood. It takes considerable experience in terms of usage and maintenance to be able to use a woodworking plane successfully.
However, some canners are available with replaceable blades that are easy to use even for beginners, so we recommend that you choose the one that best suits your needs.
Uses for Woodworking Planes
Woodworking planes are used for a wide range of woodworking tasks, from general DIY to professional job site woodworking. The tool is used to smooth the surface of wood, and there are different types of woodworking planes for different materials. The most common type is the flat woodworking plane, which is used to remove the surface.
Other types include the chamfering plane, for removing corners, and for shaping grooves. A file is also used to smooth the surface. The main difference between a file and a woodworking plane is that a file is used to rub the surface of the wood to make it smooth, while a woodworking plane is used to strip the surface of the wood into a thin layer with the blade.
When you want to use a solid wood surface, woodworking planes are the best way to achieve a finish that gives the best of the solid wood.
Principle of the Woodworking Planes
The planer consists of a wooden planing plane and a blade. The plane is flattened by scraping the surface of the wood with a blade that protrudes slightly from a groove in the planing plane. There are two types of blades: single-blade and double-blade, with double-blade blades being the most common today.
The two-blade one prevents the blade from cutting into the material or peeling off the surface, even when the wood is reverse grain. It is important to have a good coordination of these two blades in a woodworking plane.
How to Choose a Woodworking Plane
Select the woodworking plane to be used according to the shape of the material to be worked. It is also very important to choose one that matches your experience level in order to improve work efficiency and the finished product.
1. Choosing the Right Woodworking Plane for the Intended Use
There are various types of woodworking planes, including flat planes for flattening wood surfaces, chamfering planes for shaving wood corners, and for shaping grooves. There is also a small woodworking plane that fits in the palm of the hand.
2. Select by Blade Replacement and Adjustment Method
Replaceable Blade Type
Conventional woodworking planes require sharpening the blade with a whetstone and adjusting the distortion of the woodworking plane with a woodworking plane, which requires considerable training. In comparison, the replaceable blade type is easy for beginners to use because the blade is replaced. The replaceable blade is replaced when the blade becomes hard to cut, just like a razor.
Screw Type
Adjustment of the blade is usually done by tapping the head of the woodworking plane blade to bring the blade out and tapping the head of the woodworking plane stand to retract the blade. In the case of the screw type, the blade can be adjusted more easily.
3. Selecting by Manual or Electric
The blade attached to the drum is rotated electrically to shave wood. Although not as suitable for delicate work as a hand woodworking plane, its power makes it relatively easy for beginners to use and efficient for finishing large areas.
Other Information About Woodworking Planes
1. How to Adjust the Blade
The key to using a woodworking plane is to adjust the blade and the direction of the wood. The length of the blade that extends beyond the woodworking plane must be adjusted in order to remove only a thin layer of the wood’s surface.
Use a hammer or mallet to tap the woodworking plane and blade to adjust the length. Tap the head of the woodworking plane to retract the blade and tap the head of the blade to extend the blade. It is important that the blade is horizontal, and adjustments are made by tapping on both sides of the blade a little at a time. The blade should be as small as a hair. 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm is appropriate.
Once the blade is adjusted, test sharpen it using a scrap piece of wood and readjust it if necessary.
2. How to Woodworking Plane
Start by pressing the blade vertically against the woodworking plane. Hold the woodworking plane firmly with one hand and place your fingers on the blade with the other hand. Pull the plane parallel with your body, not just with your hands. It is important that the workbench on which the woodworking plane is placed is also firm and stable.
3. How to Handle When Not in Use
When setting down the woodworking plane in the middle of work, place the woodworking plane on its side so that the blade does not hit the workbench. This is to prevent damage to the blade. When not in use, retract the blade completely.