Smoothing plane

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Smoothing plane
Garrett Wade Paragon No. 4 Smoothing Plane.jpg
A Garrett Wade Paragon No. 4 Smoothing Plane
Other namesSmooth plane
Smoother
Classification Hand tool
TypesMetal-bodied
Wooden-bodied
Transitional
Used with Jack plane, jointer plane, fore plane, card scraper
A wooden smoothing plane. Hoevl.jpg
A wooden smoothing plane.

A smoothing plane or smooth plane is a type of bench plane used in woodworking. The smoothing plane is typically the last plane used on a wood surface, removing very fine shavings to leave a smooth finish. When used effectively it quickly produces a finish that equals or surpasses that made by sandpaper. [1]

Contents

Description and history

The smoothing plane is the shortest of the bench planes. [2] Under the Stanley Bailey numbering system for metal-bodied planes #1 to #4 are smoothing planes, with lengths ranging from 5+1⁄2 inches (140 mm) to 10 inches (250 mm). [3] The #4 plane, which is 9 inches (230 mm) in length, is the most common smoothing plane in use. Historically wooden smoothing planes in the United States have typically been 7 to 9 inches (180 to 230 mm) long with irons 1+1⁄2 to 2+1⁄2 inches (38 to 64 mm) wide. [4]

As with other bench planes, until the end of the 19th century the bodies of smoothing planes were predominantly wooden, typically made out of beech ( Fagus sylvatica in Europe, Fagus grandifolia in North America). [4] Wooden planes were largely superseded by iron-bodied planes and to a lesser extent transitional planes. Despite the predominance of the heavier iron-bodied planes, vintage wooden planes remain in common use, while new wooden smoothing planes are available from a small number of manufacturers. [5]

Being smaller than other bench planes, the smoothing plane is better able to work on smaller workpieces and around obstructions. [4] Since the 1700s wooden smoothing planes have predominantly been 'coffin shaped' – wider in the middle and slightly rounded – making them more manoeuvrable. [2] [4] It has also been claimed that the coffin design exposes more end grain, enabling the plane to better adjust to changes in humidity. [6] :139

The irons (blades) on smoothing planes are often slightly rounded at the corners to minimise the risk of gouging out tracks or marks in the workpiece, and on a metal plane the throat or mouth is usually set tight to reduce the risk of tearout. [7] [1] [4]

In Britain the name smoothing plane dates back to at least the 17th century. [8]

Use

A smoothing plane is typically used after the workpiece has been flattened and trued by the other bench planes, such as the jack, fore, and jointer planes. Smoothing planes can also be used to remove marks left by woodworking machinery.

When used effectively alongside other bench planes, the smoothing plane should only need a handful of passes removing shavings as fine as 0.002 inches (0.051 mm) or less. [1] The workpiece is then ready to be finished, or can be further refined with a card scraper or sandpaper. [6] :61 [9]

The smoothing plane is usually held with both hands, and used in a similar manner to the other bench planes. [10]

Though designed for smoothing, a smoothing plane can be used as an 'all-round' bench tool and for rougher work depending on how it is set up. [2]

Related Research Articles

Block plane Small metal-bodied woodworking hand plane

A block plane is a small metal-bodied woodworking hand plane which typically has the blade bedded at a lower angle than other planes, with the bevel up. It is designed to cut end grain and do touchup or finish work. It is typically small enough to be used with one hand.

Jointer plane Large woodworking hand plane used for flattening and jointing workpieces

The jointer plane, also known as the try plane or trying plane, is a type of hand plane used in woodworking to straighten the edges of boards in the process known as jointing, and to flatten the faces of larger boards. Its long length is designed to 'ride over' the undulations of an uneven surface, skimming off the peaks, gradually creating a flatter surface. In thicknessing or preparing rough stock, the jointer plane is usually preceded by the fore plane or jack plane and followed by the smoothing plane.

Plane (tool) Tool for working with wood

A hand plane is a tool for shaping wood using muscle power to force the cutting blade over the wood surface. Some rotary power planers are motorized power tools used for the same types of larger tasks, but are unsuitable for fine-scale planing, where a miniature hand plane is used.

Try square Woodworking tool used for marking and checking 90° angles

A try square or try-square is a woodworking tool used for marking and checking 90° angles on pieces of wood. Though woodworkers use many different types of square, the try square is considered one of the essential tools for woodworking.

Spokeshave Woodworking hand tool

A spokeshave is a hand tool used to shape and smooth woods in woodworking jobs such as making cart wheel spokes, chair legs, paddles, bows, and arrows. The tool consists of a blade fixed into the body of the tool, which has a handle for each hand. Historically, a spokeshave was made with a wooden body and metal cutting blade. With industrialization metal bodies displaced wood in mass-produced tools. Being a small tool, spokeshaves are not suited to working large surfaces.

Card scraper Woodworking shaping and finishing tool

A card scraper or cabinet scraper is a woodworking shaping and finishing tool. It is used to manually remove small amounts of material and excels in tricky grain areas where hand planes would cause tear out. Card scrapers are most suitable for working with hardwoods, and can be used instead of sandpaper. Scraping produces a cleaner surface than sanding; it does not clog the pores of the wood with dust, and does not leave a fuzz of torn fibers, as even the finest abrasives will do.

Jack plane type of woodworking hand plane

A jack plane is a general-purpose woodworking bench plane, used for dressing timber down to size in preparation for truing and/or edge jointing. It is usually the first plane used on rough stock, but for rougher work it can be preceded by the scrub plane. The versality of the jack plane has led to it being the most common bench plane in use. The name jack plane is sometimes used interchangeably with the longer fore plane.

Sander

A sander is a power tool used to smooth surfaces by abrasion with sandpaper. Sanders have a means to attach the sandpaper and a mechanism to move it rapidly contained within a housing with means to hand-hold it or fix it to a workbench. Woodworking sanders are usually powered electrically, and those used in auto-body repair work by compressed air. There are many different types of sanders for different purposes. Multi-purpose power tools and electric drills may have sander attachments.

Mitre box Woodworking tool used to guide a saw

A mitre box or miter box is a wood working appliance used to guide a hand saw for making precise cuts, usually 45° mitre cuts. Traditional mitre boxes are simple in construction and made of wood, while adjustable mitre boxes are made of metal and can be adjusted for cutting any angle from 45° to 90°.

Bench hook Woodworking tool

A bench hook is a workbench appliance used in woodworking to hold a workpiece in place while crosscutting with a hand saw. A bench hook is a simple method used to improve accuracy and safety.

Marking knife Woodworking layout tool

A marking knife or striking knife is a woodworking layout tool used for accurately marking workpieces. It is used to cut a visible line, which can then be used to guide a hand saw, chisel or plane when making woodworking joints and other operations. They are generally used when marking across the grain of the wood, with scratch awls better suited for marking with the grain.

Holdfast (tool) Woodworking tool for securing a work-piece to a bench

A holdfast or hold fast is a tool used to hold a workpiece firmly to the top or side of a wooden workbench or on the top of an anvil.

This glossary of woodworking lists a number of specialized terms and concepts used in woodworking, carpentry, and related disciplines.

Router plane Woodworking hand tool

A router plane is a hand plane used in woodworking for smoothing out sunken panels, and more generally for all depressions below the general surface of the pattern.

Fence (woodworking)

A fence is a part of many woodworking tools, they are typically used to guide or secure a workpiece while it is being sawn, planed, routed or marked. Fences play an important role for both accuracy and safety. Fences are usually straight and vertical, and made from metal, wood or plastic.

Razee plane

A razee plane is a style of wooden hand plane which has a section of its rear cut away, so that the plane has a lower handle. This design makes the plane lighter, with a lower centre of mass, and puts the handle closer to the workpiece and cutting edge – giving the user greater control.

Bedrock is a design of bench planes developed by Stanley Works as an improvement over the Bailey plane design. It was introduced in the early 20th century.

Burnisher Woodworking tool for sharpening a card scraper

A burnisher is a hand tool used in woodworking for creating a burr on a card scraper.

Fore plane Woodworking tool

The fore plane is a type of woodworking bench plane typically used for preparing and flattening rough workpieces before using other planes, such as the jointer plane and the smoothing plane. The name fore plane is sometimes used synonymously with the jack plane, but the fore plane is usually longer in length, making it more effective at levelling larger workpieces.

Square (tool) Handtools for marking and checking 90° and 45° angles

A square is a tool used for marking and referencing a 90° angle, though mitre squares are used for 45° angles. Squares see common use in woodworking, metalworking, construction and technical drawing. Some squares incorporate a scale for measuring distances or for calculating angles.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Schwarz, Christopher (2009). Handplane Essentials (1st ed.). Cincinnati, Ohio, USA: F+W Media. pp. 23–24. ISBN   978-1-4403-0298-5. OCLC   326678537.
  2. 1 2 3 Salaman, Raphael A. (1975). Dictionary of Tools Used in the Woodworking and Allied Trades, c. 1700-1970. Internet Archive. New York, USA: Scribner. p. 360. ISBN   978-0-684-14535-8.
  3. ↑ "Stanely Bailey Planes Miscellaneous Data". primeshop.com. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Sellens, Alvin (1978). Woodworking Planes: A Descriptive Register of Wooden Planes. Internet Archive. Augusta, Kansas, USA: Alvin Sellens. pp. 18–19.
  5. ↑ "Another Great Maker of Wooden Handplanes". Popular Woodworking Magazine. 2015-07-03. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  6. 1 2 Schwarz, Christopher (2010). The Anarchist's Tool Chest. Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, USA: Lost Art Press LLC. pp. 61, 139. ISBN   978-0-578-08413-8. OCLC   875304703.
  7. ↑ Pekovich, Michael (2018). The Why & How of Woodworking: A Simple Approach to Making Meaningful Work. Newtown, Connecticut, USA: The Taunton Press. p. 57. ISBN   978-1-64155-051-2. OCLC   1045464261.
  8. ↑ "smoothing, n. (1b smoothing-plane)", OED Online, Oxford University Press, retrieved 2020-10-13
  9. ↑ Wearing, Robert. (1988). The Essential Woodworker: Skills, Tools and Methods (2010 ed.). Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, USA: Lost Art Press LLC. p. 131. ISBN   978-0-578-06044-6. OCLC   711676532.
  10. ↑ Hand Planes Reprint from Handwork In Wood by William Noyes
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