Planes for Joinery, from ‘Benchwork’

The following is excerpted from Michael Pekovich’s book “Benchwork,” which we expect in our warehouse any day now. And because the words alone don’t fully do justice to introducing book, I’ve included a screen shot of each page from wich the text below is excerpted, so you can see the gorgeous design (also by Mike). While some of these planes are designed to create joinery from scratch, their biggest value often lies in fine-tuning the fit of machine-cut joints. At least this is where they earn their keep in my shop. My formal furniture making education in college led me to a machine-centric view of the craft. I had just enough hand tools – backsaw, chisels and a mallet – to cut a dovetail. A block plane and card scraper filled out my collection. My first experience with a dull bench plane was so distressing that it was many years before I revisited them. While I built a fair amount of furniture in that time, when I finally began to introduce more hand tools into my routine, my progress took a huge leap forward. Not only did my work improve, my mind-set and relationship to my tools changed as well. As I became familiar with using more hand tools (and sharpening them properly!), they integrated themselves into a seamless way of working. Hand versus power is not an either-or proposition in my work. Each tool and machine exists to do a job, and both complement each other in working toward the results I’m hoping for. That said, in spite of my professed adherence to efficiency, I find myself picking up a hand tool on occasion to cut a rabbet or groove that a tablesaw could tackle just as easily. The joy of the journey is at times more important than the speed at which we reach our destination. Router Plane This is one of those tools where, while you can live without it quite happily, once you have it you’ll wonder how you ever got by without one. Available in different sizes, the larger versions typically feature a fine depth adjustment, while the smaller versions come without it. For tasks like cleaning out the bottom of hinge mortises, the small router plane is the way to go. For larger-scale tasks, the increased size of the base and outspread handles of the large router plane is a benefit. In addition to clearing out the bottoms of dadoes and grooves, a large router plane can be used to size tenons as well. I’ll often make stopped cuts at the tablesaw for non-through dadoes, and a router plane is the perfect tool for cleaning out the scalloped portion of the cut. Shoulder Plane As its name implies, you can certainly plane the shoulder of a tenon with a shoulder plane, but more often than not, I use it to plane the cheeks of the tenon. While this is not the only task suited to a shoulder plane, if that were all I used it for, it would still earn its keep in my collection. The unique feature of the plane is its blade, which runs the full width of the sole. This allows you to work into the corner of a rabbet or tenon. Most woodworkers opt for a medium-sized plane, but the large version has its merits. I find that its wider blade and increased mass is better suited to sizing tenons. That said, I’d get your hands on both before deciding which to buy. A smaller size can come in handy for more intricate tasks like fine-tuning the fit of a box top. Inexpensive Option for Tenons A new shoulder plane can cost upwards of $300, making it understandably a significant purchase. A much cheaper alternative for tenon work is a rabbet plane. I consistently find vintage versions on sale for $30 to $50. For some reason they still represent a great value on the used market. Their open throat is not an issue on cross-grain cuts and the wide blade requires fewer passes and helps to ensure square tenons. Tongue-and-groove Plane OK, this tool is just plain fun to use. Designed to cut mating tongues and grooves in 1⁄2 in. or 3⁄4 in. stock, this plane can make quick work of backboards in a bookcase or cabinet. The key to its functionality is a fence that pivots. In one orientation, the plane can cut a tongue along the edge of a board. Lifting a spring-release pin allows the fence to rotate 180°. In this position the plane will cut a centered groove to match the width of the tongue. Because the fence registers along the same face of the board for each cut, even if your stock is not to exact thickness, the joint will still align for a flat assembly. In harder woods I would likely opt to use my tablesaw when cutting the joint, but for the Eastern white pine I commonly use for the backs of my projects, the tongue-and-groove plane offers a pleasant respite from machine work and the accompanying roar of the dust collector. Lie-Nielsen makes a new version, but vintage versions can be found online. Miter Plane Here is a somewhat guilty pleasure of mine. Is this an essential plane? You can easily argue that it is not. When shooting the ends of parts, a standard bench plane will serve well, and I’ve often used a jack plane for the task. A bevel-up plane with its low-angle blade is even better suited for planing end grain. While the bevel-up plane is a versatile tool that can also be used for a number of other tasks, the miter plane is a single-use tool, and not inexpensive at that. With all of that in mind, I have to say that this is a wonderful tool to use. Its length and mass, combined with a low-angle skewed blade, allow it to slice through end grain like butter. I often put it to use when sizing drawer fronts and case partitions, exacting procedures that require parts of a precise length. I typically get as close to a final fit as I dare at the tablesaw and then turn to the miter plane and shooting board to finish the task. Side Rabbet Planes Another esoteric tool that may be hard to make a case for owning, the side rabbet plane often comes in pairs. It does exactly what its name implies, allowing you to dial in the width of a rabbet or dado. For the longest time, I assumed that they came in pairs with one for the right side of a groove and the other for the left side. The real reason is that the opposing blades allow you to work in either direction so that you are always planing with the grain. There are versions where a single plane is outfitted with blades on each end that serve the same purpose. I have been waiting for Michael to write another book! Today I found it. Can not wait hip-hop or at I cannot wait!!! .Edward