How to Hand Plane Wood to Size

Fine tune wood with a jack plane.

The science of fine woodworking calls for precise measurements. When a board or a piece of wood needs fine-tuning to fit into a space, planes can take off as little as 1/16 inch. Types of planes include jack planes, fore planes, smoothing planes and block planes. For shaving a small layer of wood from the side of a board, woodworkers commonly use a jack plane. Planing a piece of wood so the resulting edge is smooth, flat and level requires the correct grip, stance and movement.

Things You'll Need

• Vice
• Square

Instructions

1. Make marks on both sides of the wood indicating the amount of wood to remove. Secure the piece of wood in a vice with the side to be shaved facing up.

2. Hold the plane's handle with your dominant hand. Position your pointer finger along the side, pointed straight towards the front of the plane.

3. Grab the knob at the front of the plane with your non-dominant hand. Stand to the side of the clamped piece of wood in a firm stance with one leg in front of the other.

4. Set the nose of the plane flat on the piece of wood. Move your pointer finger from the hand that is holding the knob down along the side of the wood to help you guide the plane, if necessary.

5. Move the plane forward, keeping it flat against the wood. Gradually apply pressure by pushing down on the knob with your non-dominant hand to engage the blade into the wood. Skate the plane straight down the wood with a semi-fast stroke. Keep the pressure consistent and let your body rock forward naturally, shifting your weight onto your front leg as you move through the cut.

6. Let up on the pressure as you reach the end of the piece of wood. Check the resulting wood shaving for consistency.

7. Make repeated cuts in the same manner until the wood is sufficiently planed. Test the planed wood for evenness by running a square along the edge.

References

• Handplane Central: Wooden Bench Plane Basics
• Extreme How-To: How to Use Hand Planes; Monte Burch