Whether you're sanding a wooden door panel or sanding corrugated iron, there's no tool like a hand sander. Although these simple woodworking tools have been around for hundreds of years, they are still common in woodworking shops today.
Unlike muscle-powered hand tools, these wood cleaners are a craftsman's best friend. Most portable wood planes are similar in shape, but they come in different sizes and types, and each type performs slightly different tasks, so the best hand plane depends on the specific woodworking project.
To help identify the best hand planes for various projects, we put some popular models through their paces, evaluate their finish and performance, and who is best suited for everyone from the novice craftsman to the woodworker. Find out the key factors in choosing the best hand plane and why one or more models in our range deserve a place in anyone's workshop.
- Best Overall: WoodRiver #4 Bench Plane, V3.1
- The best EDGE help planner. Yogin 4 Inch Woodworking Hand Planer
- Best for confined spaces: Stanley 12-101 3½-inch Mini Trimmer
- Best for rough blocks : Stanley 12-137 No. 62 SweetHeart Low Angle Jack Plane
- Best Rated Aircraft: Veritas #4 Rated Aircraft
How we tested the best handheld jets
Each product is tested by a wood professional for one month. It has been tested live in the wood shop on a variety of test boards to evaluate performance under real project conditions as well as during the production of kitchen cabinets for customers.
Each aircraft is tested to see how it works out of the box, then continuously used and tested after restart. We looked at the following aspects of each aircraft.
- Weight and finish. The feel and comfort of the device in the user's hand and the overall quality of the device.
- First cut. How the device works right out of the box without any other configuration.
- difficult. The amount of skill required to prepare and adjust equipment for service.
Our top picks
The following hand planes are designed for a variety of jobs and one or more of them will be ideal for workshop, furniture or cabinet work.
Photo: amazon.com
Designed for professional carpenters, the WoodRiver bench plane is a high-quality tool for easy transport of softwood and hardwood. This full-size plane (9-7/8" long and 2-7/16" wide) has a handle on the front that doubles as a second handle, making it a two-handed plane. In the test, using the plane to smooth the general surface of the table, it was fast and efficient.
This beautifully designed airplane case fits comfortably in the hand for long periods of time. The plane is perfectly balanced, making it easy to carry, the metal coated blade is particularly easy to use and adjust.
Made of high-quality steel and solid wood, the Woodriver hand plane is an excellent choice for removing stains from large wood projects such as cedar boxes or toy boxes. It's perfect for the woodworker who takes pride in creating custom projects, but its ease of use also makes it perfect for beginners. We consider this Woodriver hand plane to be a quality heirloom instrument that will be passed down through the generations.
List of products
- Size: 9-7/8" wide by 2-7/16" wide
- First cut. Very easy to use out of the box; Easy setup
- Difficulty: Beginner
Positive
- The cutting size is easy to adjust for many projects and cutting patterns
- No appointment necessary; Ready to use right out of the box
- Premium quality and built for long term use or multiple projects
- Versatile and easy to use; Adjustable first and second handle
Disadvantages
- Some users have reported poor quality blades. This may confuse some users.
Get a WoodRiver hand plane from Amazon or Woodcraft .
Photo: amazon.com
Sand it or replace it with wood grain or shave the split cutting boards with a Yogion woodworking hand plane. The sharp blade of this block leveler is made of thumb steel for accuracy and precision. This classic flat blade is fully adjustable with a hammer and the rosewood block style scabbard is smooth and comfortable in the palm of your hand. It is a traditional wedge and rail aircraft and has no mechanical adjustment.
Measuring 4-1/10" long and 2-2/5" wide, the mini plane fits easily on a tool belt, so it's always close at hand in the workshop or job site. The single wood plane tested showcases the tool's simplicity, and we found it to be a good, basic choice for turning edges or doing small relief cuts and edge relief work. However, it took several tries to get the wedge iron in place.
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- Size: 4-1/10" wide by 2-2/5" wide
- First cut: Very difficult; This requires a big change
- Difficulty: medium
Positive
- Small size to fit in tight spaces or small projects; It can be a portable tablet for the workplace
- A handy video tutorial is included for convenience and ease of use.
- Affordable compared to similar options; Very good quality for the price
Disadvantages
- Setup takes some time; This can be difficult for first-time buyers
- For very small surfaces; It is possible to dig corners and clear small areas
Get the Eugene Hand Planer from Amazon .
Photo: amazon.com
Those who bought it in high school may be familiar with this device. At just 3 inches long and 1 inch wide, the Stanley Mini Trimming Plane is a basic plan for removing uneven wood in tight spaces where a larger plane won't fit. This block type plane is made of steel and the high quality blade is held by the thumb and can be adjusted or removed for manual sharpening as needed. This small but sturdy hand plane provides clean cuts for wood carving and modeling or other simple woodworking.
During testing, we found Stanley's 3-inch plane to be a sturdy, durable piece of equipment built to last, although the overall finish is rather generic. People who plan a lot will appreciate this compact and lightweight model. It fits easily in the hand to create a folded edge, but can also solve shoulder chafing. Although it does not reflect the work, it is a suitable choice for finishing woodwork. A warning. We found that this jet needed to be reset frequently during use in order for the blade to shave consistently.
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- Size: 3½ inches long and 1 inch wide
- First cut. Repeated restarts required
- Difficulty: medium
Positive
- The convenient size can be used for many types of softening
- It is shaped to be held in one hand, but can be folded into a larger space
- Inexpensive hand plane compared to similar products
Disadvantages
- It is difficult to adjust compared to similar options; It can be difficult for first time users
- It can be stiff and requires frequent adjustments during use
Find the Stanley 12-101 Hand Plane at Amazon , Ace Hardware , Home Depot or Grainger .
Photo: amazon.com
For smoothing rough boards and wood, Stanley's Sweat Jack Planer will not disappoint. To get the job done, a crane plane is 15-4/5 inches long and 6-7/10 inches wide, larger than a standard seat model. It is made of cast iron, weighs more than 6 kg and has two handles for the control scheme.
Stanley Swert's line of planes has a single leg shoe and frog section made from semi-finished steel with a 0.003 tolerance. An angled, low-profile, one-piece base helps glide over dry wood. A thick steel blade improves edge retention and reduces noise. It has a blade angle of 25 degrees to reduce cutting when working with highly refined wood; It provides a high quality finish on wood with many natural marks and patterns.
One problem we encountered during testing was that the case was open out of the box, so some adjustments were needed. In addition, pre-inflation is also a method of tightening the muzzle, so we must be careful when adjusting the front handle, because it will affect the adjustment of the muzzle, this situation has happened many times in use.
Problem aside, this Stanley Sweetheart is a solid, high-quality instrument that fits comfortably in the hand and even the finish is beautiful, befitting the craft's humble heritage. Woodworkers who create projects from raw wood will find this craft plane a great choice.
List of products
- Size: 15-4/5" high by 6-7/10" wide
- First cut - good; Full width thin saw paper
- Difficulty: Beginner. It took a while to set up, but it was a straight forward setup.
Positive
- Shortcuts make projects big and small work quickly
- High quality tools made of metal alloy and durable wood
- Simple and easy settings to change track types quickly and easily
Disadvantages
- Adjusting the front handle/mouthpiece can be difficult for some users.
Get a Stanley Jack from Amazon , Home Depot , or Acme Hardware .
Photo: leevalley.com
Multi-Purpose Planer The versatile Veritas #4 1/2 is designed for fitting, measuring and leveling wood, and is perfect for a variety of jobs, such as edging or decking. The knives are known for having a frog on the tip of the sole, which provides full blade support that reduces noise and makes blade adjustment easier. The manufacturer's 4 1/2 model is no different, allowing the user to get narrow holes or wide cards simply by loosening two screws and adjusting the hole with the thumb.
The hull is made of fully stress-reduced channel ductile steel with a 10" x 2" flat bottom and 2" by 2" blade in A2, O1 or PM-V11 tool steel (user's choice). It is comfortable to use and the handle is large enough to accommodate large hands.
This well-designed, heritage-quality device performed exceptionally well in tests. Everything about it was well cast, well cast and well put together. The packaging was even better, the blade was installed separately from the plane, perhaps to reduce damage or to order a different type of cut.
List of products
- Size: 10" long and 2-7/8" wide
- First cut. Frog and the mods took time to adjust.
- Difficulty Level: Advanced (but contains very helpful instructions, including a diagram to get you started)
Positive
- Well built for long term use, durability and/or multiple projects
- Quality function and ease of use compared to similar options
- Ensure smooth cutting every time; Designed to support the blade and reduce vibration during planing
Disadvantages
- Initial adaptation and long-term adaptation; It can be difficult for first time users
Find handmade Veritas in the Lee Valley .
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We also tested the GreatNeck C4 9-inch Ornamental Jack Plane and the Grizzly Industrial H7568 22-inch Joint Plane, but found that they did not meet our criteria for inclusion in our top picks.
The GreatNeck C4 arrived unopened and undamaged. Both handles are broken and the damaged blade has to be sharpened all day. While these issues may be the result of a very busy delivery period, unfortunately the product we received was unusable.
The blade metal on the Grizzly Industrial Jointer had a small flaw, and while it didn't affect the tool's performance, we thought it was worth mentioning, as the flaw in the blade joint could affect the stability of the finish. influenced . The blade was also a bit lighter and not as sharp as some bench planes. We also found that the blade depth adjustment was incorrectly installed during manufacture and the frog was not installed properly. Also, if we don't clean the tools properly, excess sealing grease can become contaminated. The plane lasted a long time but was difficult to use and gave an average finish.
Types of hand planes
All hand planes remove excess wood by shaving it with the blade, but within the hand plane category there are different types that fulfill specific woodworking tasks.
Airplane with seats
A bench plane, so called because it is often used on a desk, is a two-handed plane with a handle on the front and a two-handed controller on the back. The blade is held at a 45 degree angle, with the bevel pointing down. The depth of the blade can be adjusted and most bench planes have a chip guard on the cutter. More than 20 hand planes fall under the name of seat plane.
Block the plane
A block plane is a traditional woodworking tool that can be held in one hand and used for tasks such as erasing mill marks, catching small darts, cutting edges, marking lines or drawing a pencil. . Block planes differ from bench planes by having an angle of about 20° instead of 45°, sloping up rather than up. Block planes are known for their flexibility and comfort.
Shared plane
Joining planes make the chisels and cutters needed to join joints in woodwork. They are often named after the type of joint at which they are cut, such as rabbit planes and dovetail faces. These hand planes have different sized blades and guides called shoulders that help the user create uniform cuts and cuts on the side or edge of the board. There are several special plans for woodworking for cutting different widths and depths, with wood (cross) and grooves and channels in wood.
Note: Woodworking planes are different from interfaces, which create flat edges to join two pieces of wood, like the wood on a Lucanda cutting board.
barn
A carving plane, also known as a carving plane, creates the shapes and lines found in wood carving and finishing. These ancient hand tools have a rich history in creating the ornate forms found in early European cathedrals and other interiors. More than one design plan is often needed to create a specific boundary; A large curved plane can be used first to create a wide edge on the cutting board, and then two or more small planes cut rounded grooves or beads to cut. A more luxurious look.
What should you consider when choosing the best hand plane?
Consider the following when purchasing a new hand plane:
Iron vs. wood
Hand planes are designed for use in the workshop, primarily for building furniture. Although hand planes are made of wood or metal, metal hand planes are generally preferred for their strength and durability. However, some people appreciate the look and feel of wooden planes and use them for special projects.
- Metal planes are a heavier version of wood planers, and woodworkers can use this extra weight to their advantage because they don't have to push down on the wood as hard as a planer. It is easier to adjust the surface depth on a metal plane than on a wooden plane. These tools usually have powder-coated cast iron for strength and metal or wooden handles.
- Wood levels are lighter than metal levels so it's easy to lift straight wood, a heavy metal level can be difficult to use. Wood traditionalists love the smooth feel of old wooden planes, and acquiring a hundred-year-old plane can be quite the feat: However, adjusting the blade depth for a wooden plane often requires the use of a hammer, which takes time
Low angle
Low-angle planes are made of metal, but are lighter than other metal planes, are shallower, and often have thicker blades that are easier to adjust: If you're new to woodworking, a low-angle plane is a good choice to start with. , because it is easy to install and manage.
Stanley Bailey
If users can purchase a Stanley-Bailey plane, they will have a tool that woodworkers will greatly respect: Stanley still sells quality hand planes, but since the late 20th century, Bailey has been discontinued. from the manufacturer's name: Original Stanley Bailey Planes Still sought after by collectors because wood craftsman Leonard Bailey, who designed planes in the mid-1800s, created planes that did precise cuts and shears: Stanley Bailey planes were from different designs including shaped planes, woven planes and standard seat planes. planes:
Comfortable grip
The large handle and curved rear handle can make using the heavy plane more comfortable: Small hand planes often come with only one handle to control the plane, and some all-wood hand planes only have a piece of wood that the user holds while flying. move the plane. In a two-handle plane, the handle is usually held in the user's dominant hand, while the front handle acts as a second handle to control the aircraft: Round metal handles are acceptable, but polished wooden handles absorb more vibration and shock, making them more comfortable to use:
Question and answer
Hand planes can be used for a variety of projects, from building a jewelry box to preparing an entire kitchen: Those who want more information about this important woodworking tool can find it below in the answers to frequently asked questions about hand planes:
Question: Which hand plane is good for beginners:
Аржанапатив программыхани райовый елеганой, хой да 4-рд ласси райовый елеганой, or Jack No. 5 hand planes, get you started: As you become more proficient with hand planes, you can add specialized planes to your hand plane collection:
Question: What is the difference between block level and bank level:
The bevel of the cutting edge is directed upwards on the block plane, which is better for planing against the grain or end grain: On the plane, the bevel is directed downwards. It is ideal for cutting back the grain to make finished pieces:
Question: What is the connection level used for:
Joint planes are the longest planes available, ranging from 22 to 30 inches long, and are intended to smooth curves in panels:
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