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    Making Modern Wooden Planes

    Nov 02, 2021 5 minutes

    There are many metal hand planes available today, but they tend to fall into two categories: high-end and expensive or poorly made and cheap. This can be a deterrent for people looking to get into woodworking. Companies like Lie-Nielsen and Veritas make outstanding products, but the price is reflective of the quality and North American manufacturing. On the other end, we have what I call ‘planelike’ objects that certainly appear to be hand planes until you try to adjust and use them. The vintage market can be a good source for decent quality tools, but you have to know how to tune them up as they almost certainly require fussing and repair to get them up to a usable state. Thankfully there is an affordable and quality option that many don’t consider, and that is making your own wooden body plane.

    THE EXPERIENCE

    Making your own planes#4 was too large and heavy for the task, so I made a small rosewood smoother that was perfectly suited to the task.

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