Jack Plane Description and its Purpose

A jack plane is defined as a general-purpose woodworking bench plane. It is used for dressing timber down to the required size. The jack plane is generally known as the first plane for cutting the rough stock. Where the scrub plane leaves off, the jack plane takes over from there and is being used for shaving off smaller amounts of wood to reduce the thickness to make it to the desired size. The jack planes are usually longer than the smoothing planes. Therefore, it has a higher capability to straight the edge than a smoothing plane. In practice, the jack plane is used immediately after the scrub plane and before the fore plane, jointer plane, and smoothing plane.

How it got its name

Jack plane got its name from the saying "jack of all trades," as jack planes are made to perform the work of smoothing, fore, and jointer planes, mainly on smaller pieces of work.

Critical Characteristics of jack planes

The angle of the iron

There are standard and low angle metal versions of the jack planes available in the market. In terms of the irons pitched the standard version with 45 degrees slope down, and the low angle metal version with 12 degrees bevel up. However, the wooden jack planes do have the irons pitched at 45 degrees.

The size of the jack plane

Jack planes usually have a capacity of 292mm/ 11½" and 380mm/ 15" length. On the other hand, the width of the plane's iron is just 10mm/ 3/8″ or narrower than the plane's body can be 44.5mm, 50mm or 60mm wide.

The shape of the cutting edge

The jack planes are treated as multi-purpose planes. Therefore, it's iron's cutting edge is honed straight and with rounded corners. It makes the plane suitable in addition to doing the jointing and smoothing the work. The rounded corners are designed to serve to prevent "tracks" being left on surfaces that are wider than the iron.

Design number

The metal versions of the jack plane produced by Stanley. However, these metal versions were given to Stanley model numbers, which are still used today in terms of cataloging, advertising, and ordering planes. However, some different numbers and sizes are available for purchasing. Jack planes made to the Stanley/Bailey design are the No. 5, No. 5¼ and No. 5½. Number 5¼ is smaller than the number 5, and the number 5½ is bigger.

Conclusion

A jack plane is essential in the woodworking projects. However, its primary purpose is smoothing the edge, sizing of timber, but just for making it smaller to the expected size. At the end of the nineteenth century, it came to be referred to as a "No. 5" plane or a "Bailey pattern No. 5". The "No." was developed by the Stanley Tools to label its Bailey pattern plane products to identify products. Other manufacturers in that era didn't have the same number scheme for their planes. However, Millers Fall and Sargent both used different numbers to refer to the same planes.

Parts of a Wooden Bench Plane

Wooden bench planes come with several designs. Wooden bench planes are often box-shaped and have a squarish profile viewed end on. Some wooden bench plane stocks are curved towards their toe and heel, which are known as coffin-shaped. However, the plane’s iron usually set in place with a wooden wedge, instead of having a lever cap with a cam or a wheel nut as given on many metal bench planes. Wooden bench planes are mostly given with a “single-iron,” as a consequence they have no chip breaker. However, some planes do have the chip breaker, which leads the blade less likely to bend in use, and helps by breaking the “chip” – the sliver of wood shaving – so decreasing the risk of splitting the wood being planed.

Stock

Stock is often called the “block” or “body.” The hardwood stock is the main body part of the plane, where all other parts are attached. The length and width vary depending upon which plane you are using. Smoothing planes are short and narrow; jack planes are a little longer, fore planes also longer and wider, and the jointer planes are the longest and widest among all. The longer the body of the plane, the better it will be for leveling or flattening the wood.

Sole

The sole is the underside of the plane. It has to be perfectly flat that ensures the planed edges and faces of wood are accurate.

Toe

The toe is in the front section of the plane’s stock and sole. It usually needs to be pressed down through the hand on the front handle or front of the stock in addition to planing wood.

Heel

The heel is the back or rear section of the plane’s stock and sole.

Iron

Iron is widely known as a “blade” or “cutter.” This blade is the main mechanism of a wooden bench plane. This blade is usually a hardened steel part that is sharpened at its lower end to cut the wood. It is normally bedded bevel down at an angle of about 45 degrees to the sole looking at the side, or cheek of the plane, but can be as high as 55 degrees in some wooden bench planes. You will get additional information about Top Delta Planers by browsing this site.

Chip breaker or cap iron (where fitted)

Generally, the traditional wooden bench plane does not have a chip breaker. Still, some wooden planes do have the chip breaker as an aid to breaking, curling, and shaving before it can gain any leverage, reducing the possibility of the wood splitting.

Bed

The bed is the inner area of the stock where the iron rests. It is also called as “frog” which is not similar to the usual frog in standard metal planes. It cannot be moved forward and backward to adjust the gap between the leading mouth of the plane and the blade of the plane.

Conclusion

The above parts are the main body parts of a wooden bench plane. However, other body parts of a wooden bench plane include wedge, mouth of the plane, wedge mortise or clamp bar, tote & knob, or handles, and strike button.

How to Tune up a Block Plane?

A properly tuned plane is a crucial tool that can glide through the wood with remarkable ease. A tuned plane is typically capable of planing both the softwood and hardwood. When you optimize your plane correctly, you will get better shavings coming out of the plane. For tuning up your block plane, you need to go through the following process:

Process of turning up a block plane

The first step is you need to see the sole or bottom of the plane for flatness. This can certainly be accomplished through a straight steel edge. You now need to lay it diagonally across the sole and look for any light between the straight edge and the plane. Now take note to any hollows. At this point, you now lay it across the other diagonal corners and check. Again, take note of any hollow area. By using the same technique, you need to check the front to back flatness on both sides of the sole. The aim is to determine if the sole is dead flat. If you see the sole is not flattened enough, you will have to flatten it until it becomes completely flat. Now use a piece of 3/8” plate glass, wet it with some mineral spirits, and lay some wet/dry sandpaper on it. However, the mineral spirits will hold the paper tight to the glass. It will also be performing the role of a lubricant while flattening the bottom. Moreover, the grit of the paper will determine how bad the bottom is. Mostly woodworking professionals start with 400 grit paper. You may get more details about Dewalt 734 vs 735 by browsing site.

Now you need to hold the plane firmly against the paper, rub it back and forth for a multiple of times, and then check the marks you drew on the bottom. It would help if you now continued sanding until all the dots are removed.

Next step, you now need to do the same procedure to the bottom flat of the blade. With the backside polished, the angle of the blade will require honing. However, a good jig to hold the proper angle will help out. This also wants to be a polished edge absolutely with no burr left on the backside. By switching between the front and back will gradually form a wire edge.

Now it’s time for you to check the opening in the sole, where the blade protrudes, and check for smoothness. You also need to wax the bottom of the sole, which will help to protect the metal. Besides, it will also allow it to glide across the workpiece. Finally, reassemble the plane and adjust the blade square to the body, and set the depth for an excellent cut.

Conclusion

This above description will help you to tune up your block plane. Professional woodworkers always follow these above specific procedures to tune up their block planes.

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Woodworking is an infinite craft which demands skill and practice, but which depends upon obtaining the ideal equipment. Woodworkers like to use hand tools within their work, plus it is possible to carry out all elements of design. But, the hobbyists and wood-work professionals will observe accuracy and the ease that modern tools could contribute to almost any undertaking, and may choose to incorporate any range of these in their set.