Editing Plane (tool) (section)

== Types ==
[[File:Veritas router plane.jpg|thumb|[[Router plane]]]]

Most planes fall within the categories (by size) of  '''[[block plane]]''', '''[[smoothing plane]]''', and '''jointing plane'''. Specialty planes include the [[shoulder plane]], [[router plane]], [[bullnose plane]], and '''chisel plane''', among others.

Electrically powered '''hand planers''' (loosely referred to as '''power planes''') have joined the hand-held plane family.

Bench planes are characterized by having their cutting bevel facing down and attached to a chipbreaker. Most metal bench planes, as well as some larger wooden ones, are designed with a rear handle known as a tote. Block planes are characterized by the absence of a chipbreaker and the cutting iron bedded with the bevel up. The block plane is a smaller tool that can be held with one hand and that excels at working across the grain on a cut end of a board (end grain). It is also good for general purpose work such as taking down a knot in the wood, smoothing small pieces, and [[chamfer]]ing edges.

Different types of bench planes are designed to perform different tasks, the name and size of the plane being defined according to its use. Bailey iron bench planes were designated by number with respect to the length of the plane. This has carried over through the type, regardless of manufacturer. A No. 1 plane is but little more than five inches long. A typical smoothing plane (approx. nine&nbsp;inches) is usually a No. 4, jack planes at about fourteen&nbsp;inches are No. 5, an eighteen-inch [[fore plane]] will be a No. 6, and the jointer planes at twenty-two to twenty-four inches in length are No. 7 or 8, respectively. A designation, such as No. 4{{frac|1|2}} indicates a plane of No. 4 length but slightly wider. A designation such as 5{{frac|1|2}} indicates the length of a No. 5 but slightly wider (actually, the width of a No. 6 or a No. 7), while a designation such as 5{{frac|1|4}} indicates the length of a No. 5 but slightly narrower (actually, the width of a No. 3). "Bedrock" versions of the above are simply 600 added to the base number (although no "601" was ever produced, such a plane is indeed available from specialist dealers; 602 through 608, including all the fractionals, were made).

=== Order of use ===
[[File:Stanley transitional jointer plane.jpg|thumb|right|Stanley No. 32 transitional jointer plane (26 inches long)]]
[[File:Kanna2.gif|frame|A Japanese plane in use]]

A typical order of use in flattening, truing, and smoothing a rough sawn board might be:
* A '''[[scrub plane]]''', which removes large amounts of wood quickly, is typically around {{convert|9|in|mm}} long, but narrower than a smoothing plane, has an iron with a convex cutting edge and has a wider mouth opening to accommodate the ejection of thicker shavings/chips.
* A '''[[jack plane]]''' or '''[[fore plane]]''',<ref name=pw>{{Cite web|url = https://www.popularwoodworking.com/tools/understanding_bench_planes|title = Understanding Bench Planes|date = 14 February 2019|access-date = 29 April 2018|archive-date = 30 April 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180430114047/https://www.popularwoodworking.com/tools/understanding_bench_planes|url-status = live}}</ref> usually between {{convert|14|and|20|in|mm}} long, is also used for initial material removal, but with more accuracy and flattening capability than the scrub.  
* A '''[[jointer plane]]''' is between {{convert|22|and|30|in|mm}}<ref name=pw/> long, and is used for jointing and final flattening out of boards.
* A '''[[smoothing plane]]''', up to {{convert|10|in|mm}} long, is used to begin preparing the surface for finishing.
* A '''polishing plane''' (''[[Japanese plane|shiage ganna]]'') is a traditional Japanese plane designed to take a smaller shaving than a Western smoothing plane to create an extremely smooth surface. Polishing planes are the same length as western smoothing planes, and unlike Western planes, which are pushed across a board, is pulled with both hands towards the user.

=== Material ===
Planes may also be classified by the material of which they are constructed:
* A '''wooden plane''' is entirely wood except for the blade. The iron is held into the plane with a wooden wedge and is adjusted by striking the plane with a hammer.
* A '''transitional plane''' has a wooden body with a metal casting set in it to hold and adjust the blade.
* A '''metal plane''' is largely constructed of metal, except, perhaps, for the handles.
* An '''infill plane''' has a body of metal filled with very dense and hardwood on which the blade rests and the handles are formed. They are typically of English or Scottish manufacture. They are prized for their ability to smooth difficult grained woods when set very finely.
* A '''[[side-escapement plane]]''' has a tall, narrow, wooden body with an iron held in place by a wedge. They are characterized by the method of shaving ejection. Instead of being expelled from the center of the plane and exiting from the top, these planes have a slit in the side by which the shaving is ejected. On some variations, the slit is accompanied by a circular bevel cut in the side of the plane.

=== Special purposes ===
[[File:Stanley Plane 92 (3).jpg|thumb|Stanley No. 92 [[rabbet plane]]]]
[[File:Stanley Plane 78 (5).jpg|thumb|Stanley No. 78 fillister plane]]
[[File:Fingerhoevle.jpg|thumb|Finger planes. Note the size.]]
[[File:Stanley 55 01.jpg|thumb|Stanley No. 55 combination plane]]

Some special types of planes include:
* The '''[[rabbet plane]]''', also known as a rebate or openside plane, which cuts rabbets (rebates) i.e. shoulders, or steps.
* The '''[[shoulder plane]]''', is characterized by a cutter that is flush with the edges of the plane, allowing trimming right up to the edge of a workpiece. It is commonly used to clean up dadoes (housings) and tenons for joinery.
* The '''[[fillister plane]]''', similar to a rabbet plane, with a fence that registers on the board's edge to cut rabbets with an accurate width.
* The '''[[moulding plane]]''', which is used to cut mouldings along the edge of a board.
* The '''[[grooving plane]]''' which is used to cut grooves along the edge of a board for joining. Grooves are the same as dadoes/housings but are being distinguished by running with the grain.
* The '''[[plow plane|plow/plough plane]]''', which cuts grooves and dadoes (housings) not in direct contact with the edge of the board.
* The '''[[router plane]]''', which cleans up the bottom of recesses such as shallow mortises, grooves, and dadoes (housings). Router planes come in several sizes and can also be pressed into service to thickness the cheeks of tenons so that they are parallel to the face of the board.
* The '''[[chisel plane]]''', similar to a bullnose plane, but with an exposed blade which allows it to remove wood up to a perpendicular surface such as from the bottom inside of a box.
* The '''[[finger plane]]''', which is used for smoothing very small pieces such as toy parts, very thin strips of wood, etc. The very small curved bottom varieties are known as violin makers planes and are used in making stringed instruments.
* The '''[[bullnose plane]]''' has a very short leading edge, or "toe", to its body, and so can be used in tight spaces; most commonly of the shoulder and rabbet variety. Some bullnose planes have a removable toe so that they can pull double duty as a chisel plane.
* The '''combination plane''', which combines the function of moulding and rabbet planes, which has different cutters and adjustments.
* The '''circular''' or '''{{Vanchor|compass plane}}''', which utilizes an adjustment system to control the flex on a steel sheet sole and create a uniform curve. A concave setting permits great control for planing large curves, like table sides or chair arms, and the convex works well for chair arms, legs and backs, and other applications. The compass plane, which has a flexible sole with an adjustable curve and is used to plane concave and convex surfaces. Typically used in wooden boat building.
* The '''[[toothed plane]]''', which is used for smoothing wood with irregular grain.<ref>{{cite web|title=Toothed Plane|url=http://www.fine-tools.com/G301211.htm|publisher=ECE|access-date=2014-12-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707173426/http://fine-tools.com/G301211.htm|archive-date=2014-07-07|url-status=dead}}</ref> and for preparing stock for traditional hammer veneering applications.
* The '''[[spill plane]] ''' which creates long, spiraling wood shavings or tapers.
* The '''[[spar plane]]''', which is used for smoothing round shapes, like boat masts and chair legs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?144707-Shaping-plane-for-rounding-a-spar|title=Shaping plane for rounding a spar|date=March 4, 2012|website=The WoodenBoat Forum|access-date=December 11, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052819/http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?144707-Shaping-plane-for-rounding-a-spar|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The '''[[match plane]]''', which is used for making tongue and groove boards.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stanley No. 148 Match Plane|date=7 July 2006|url=http://www.handplane.com/233/stanley-no-148-match-plane/|access-date=11 December 2014|archive-date=14 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214223939/http://www.handplane.com/233/stanley-no-148-match-plane/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Hollows and rounds are similar to moulding planes, but lack a specific moulding profile. Instead, they cut either a simple concave or convex shape on the face or edge of a board to create a single element of a complex-profile moulding. They are used in pairs or sets of various sizes to create moulding profile elements such as fillets, coves, bullnoses, thumbnails ovolos, ogees, etc. When making mouldings, hollows and rounds must be used together to create the several shapes of the profile. However, they may be used as a single plane to create a simple decorative cove or round-over on the edge of a board. Many of these hollows and rounds can be classified in the category of side-escapement planes.