The hand plane is an essential tool for fine woodworking. The plane is used for flattening surfaces and fine tuning part fitments, when properly set up you can take off only a few thousandths of an inch at a time.

The learning curve is steep and the first time you use the tool will be an excellent workout. As you develop proficiency and improve your technique it gets easier and faster. As people develop the skill it often becomes a meditative practice.

Planes with wide blades are used for finishing and final flattening, large blade planes usually have large soles so they only work well on wood that is generally flat to begin with and are best suited to finish work and perfecting a surface, they also tend to be heavy requiring more energy to operate.

Narrower blades will cut faster and deeper, they are used for roughing. Some narrow planes utilize a curved blade edge and can take material very quickly

From left to right: Computer mouse for scale, Stanley No.7 Finishing plane, Stanley No.5 intermediate, Union No.4, Stanley “Handyman” scrub (roughing) plane, Sargent No.217 low angle block plane