Hand Planes

A tool that gets right to the point.

More and more woodworkers are bringing power jointers and planers into their shops, often pushing hand planes into dusty corners. But a plain old plane still comes in handy, even in the most up-to-the-minute shop. Here's one of the handiest: the block plane.

What tools does a beginning woodworker need, and how should he or she acquire them? From a poll of WOOD® magazine staff members, we assembled a basic tool kit.

For paring tenons and rabbets, nothing does the job better than one of these handy hand tools.

Over time, sharpening stones wear more in the middle than along the edges.

5 Tools every woodworker should own and use religiously.