Woodworking Tools

These tools used to provide the woodworker with straight, flat lumber and parallel lumber for their project. They are a step above sanding when it comes to smoothing an shaping wood.

When selecting the right tool for the job, keep in mind this rule of thumb: The rougher the lumber the longer the plane or the bigger the tool. As your boards become smoother and flatter, use samller, shorter planes.

The following is a "generalized" list of tools that fall into this category and what they area used for.

Block Plane a small plane used on end grains of wood. Also used for smoothing figured or curly lumber.
Bench Plane or Long Plane A long carpenter's plane used to shape the edges of boards so they will fit together.
Trimming Plane, Modeling Plane or Short Plane Used for detail planing.
Pocket Plane Used for one-handed speed cutting and trimming. The only "sane" way to finish rough sheet rock.
Spoke Shave or Draw Plane Chamfering edges and cutting convex shapes in wood and for detail shaping.
Shaver Used for removing small amounts of stock. Its more like a rasp (file) than a plane. Works good on irregular or concave surfaces.
Jointer A jointer is a tool for flattening and squaring boards so they will fit together. A jointer can be either a machine or a hand tool. Power Tool The machine known as a jointer consists of two flat beds separated by a rotating series of cutters, with a fence that can be set at 90 degrees. The machine comes in both benchtop and floor models. By passing the face or edge of the board across the bed and the cutters, the machine progressively removes the uneven wood until it is flat. Generally, boards up to 6" wide can be planed with this tool. Hand Tool A long carpenter's plane or bench place made of wood or metal. In wood, the jointer plane is usually 24 to 30 inches long. Metal versions are 20 to 26 inches in length. They are also known as long planes. It is used to quare edges and faces of boards.
Electric Hand Plane (Power Tool) Uses are the same as a bench plane (hand tool) but with a motor.
Planer (Power Tool) Used for thickness planing boards quickly. Most consumer models plane boards up to 12" wide.
Edge Trimmers A double edge model is used to trim edge banding – both edges simultaneously. A single edge model is used to trim edge banding – when only a single edge can be done. Also used for very minute trimming – uses a standard razor blade.

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