Woodworking: Tools Of The Trade, Part 4 - Tools For Shaping
A civilization's maturity and intelligence is judged, in part, by the diversity and sophistication of its tools. When it comes to woodworking, the human race is quite advanced. There are general tools that work well in many situations, and there are specialty tools made for one specific purpose. There are tools that require only manpower and a rudimentary knowledge, and others that utilize computer programs, a wide range of knowledge, and a powerful motor. We have even learned how to harness power for our tools and package it in a small battery component, giving us the freedom to take our tools wherever we need them.
It is truly amazing and wonderful to contemplate the vast number of tools and all that woodworkers are capable of doing and creating with the help of these tools. And for many people, working with tools is one of the thrills, or even obsessions, of woodworking.
Woodworking and related tools have become so popular that there are numerous companies that manufacture these tools and thousands of places to purchase them. Combine that with the vast numbers of different types of tools and it can get overwhelming, especially if you are new to woodworking. Our experts helped us focus on the basics to develop an overview of those tools needed to get a good start in woodworking.
In the most basic terms, a woodworker needs four kinds of tools. They need a place to work, tools for cutting and shaping, tools for assembly, and finishing equipment. This simple statement provides the basis for the following discussion of woodworking tools.
The tools listed and described here represent just the tip of the iceberg. In keeping with the philosophy that it is best to learn the basics first, and to not invest large sums of money until a person is certain that they have an ongoing interest in woodworking, the emphasis is on hand tools, with a few basic power tools thrown in. These tools should prepare you for a variety of beginner projects and give you a solid foundation of equipment and knowledge to build upon.
Tools For Shaping
As you may already know, wood does not always come flat and square, even when purchased precut. In addition, you may need to size and shape pieces of wood so that they fit correctly or look the way you want them to. There are many tools used to shape wood, from those that smooth them to those that take pieces away to create lines, holes, and other features.
Planes
As opposed to a saw, or even a knife, planes cut wood away in small, uniform increments, which helps to create a smooth surface. There are many different types of hand planes. More commonly used planes are referred to as bench planes and include the scrub plane, the smoothing plane, the jack plane and the trying plane. Some planes come with more than one blade or can be adjusted for different types of cuts. Others are used only for specific purposes.
You might use a plane if you wanted to round a corner or cut a groove (with the grain) or a dado (across the grain). Specialized planes will even cut rabbet or tongue and groove joins. In many cases, a plane can take the place of a router for those who don't have the power tool or prefer to do more traditional work.
Keep in mind that some planes can be nearly as expensive as a router to purchase, so if you plan to do a variety of specialty cuts, planes may not be the cheaper solution. A new planer can cost anywhere from $20 for a basic, amateur model to over $100 for larger specialty or combination types.
Selection Tips
Rather than going out and purchasing several different types of planes, it is best to wait until you need a particular one for a project, and then buy quality. Be sure the components fit together well and hold tight when used. Hold the plane in your hands in the position you would use when working to be sure it feels comfortable. Be sure you understand what the plane is for before purchasing it.
There are planes made of metal and of wood. Our experts had different opinions about which is best, but it was mainly based on personal preferences in material, rather than on performance. You might buy one of each to compare for yourself.
Care & Maintenance
Planes may need to be adjusted as you use them to ensure proper depth and angle. Each tool will have screws, nuts and levers to adjust different aspects. Periodically, you will need to take the plane apart, wipe it down and remove wood chips. Be careful that you understand how to put the tool back together correctly after cleaning.
The blade will eventually need sharpening. The angle and shap
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