Block plane

Block plane

A block plane is a small woodworking hand plane which typically has the iron bedded at a lower angle than other planes, with the bevel up. It is designed to cut end grain and is typically small enough to be used with one hand.

According to [http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan2.htm#num9.25 Patrick's Stanley Blood and Gore] , Stanley marketing materials states that, "A Block Plane was first made to meet the demand for a Plane which could be easily held in one hand while planing across the grain, particularly the ends of boards, etc. This latter work many Carpenters call 'Blocking in', hence the name 'Block' Plane." Tradition also claims that the block plane gets its name from its traditional use to level and remove cleaver marks from butchers' blocks that were built with the end grain facing up.

A block plane is frequently used for paring end grain. This is possible because block planes have their blades set at a shallow bed angle, allowing the blade to slice through end grain more efficiently. For this to work the plane is frequently held at an angle sometimes as much as 45 degrees to the direction of travel. The angled cutting edge slices the wood fibers as they pass from one end of the cutting edge to the other.

A block plane has many other uses in woodworking. Typically, it is used for cleaning up components by removing thin shavings of wood to make a component fit within fine tolerances. Chamfering (rounding square edges) and removing glue lines are some of the other uses woodworkers find for it.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • block plane — block′ plane n. bui a small carpenter s plane for cutting across the grain • Etymology: 1880–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • block plane — n. a carpenter s small plane for cutting across the grain on board ends …   English World dictionary

  • block plane — noun a small plane used on end grains of wood • Hypernyms: ↑plane, ↑carpenter s plane, ↑woodworking plane * * * noun : a small plane having the iron set at a lower pitch than other planes and used chiefly on end grains of wood see plane… …   Useful english dictionary

  • block plane — noun Date: circa 1884 a small plane made with the blade set at a lower pitch than other planes and used chiefly on end grains of wood …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • block plane — Carpentry. a small plane for cutting across the grain. [1880 85] * * * …   Universalium

  • block plane — noun a carpenter s plane with a blade set at an acute angle, used especially for planing across the end grain of wood …   English new terms dictionary

  • block plane — /ˈblɒk pleɪn/ (say blok playn) noun a small plane used for cutting across the grain of the wood …  

  • Plane (tool) — A plane is a tool for shaping wood. Planes are used to flatten, reduce the thickness of, and impart a smooth surface to a rough piece of lumber. Special types of planes are designed to cut joints or decorative mouldings.Hand planes are generally… …   Wikipedia

  • plane — Synonyms and related words: aeroplane, aircraft, airliner, airplane, alabaster, amount, aspire, avion, beading plane, become airborne, bench plane, billiard table, block plane, bowling alley, bowling green, caliber, capping plane, claw skyward,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • Block — (bl[o^]k), n. [OE. blok; cf. F. bloc (fr. OHG.), D. & Dan. blok, Sw. & G. block, OHG. bloch. There is also an OHG. bloch, biloh; bi by + the same root as that of E. lock. Cf. {Block}, v. t., {Blockade}, and see {Lock}.] [1913 Webster] 1. A piece… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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