Wooden Planes

Common Types of Wooden Planes in the 19th Century

In the 19th century, wooden planes were the backbone of woodworking, serving a wide range of purposes from rough shaping to fine finishing. Made primarily from dense hardwoods like beech or maple, these tools were paired with high-carbon steel irons and came in a variety of forms—each tailored to a specific task. Here’s a look at the most common types of wooden planes used by craftsmen in the 1800s.

See the History of Wooden Planes in the 19th Century

1. Jack Plane

The jack plane was the all-purpose workhorse in a woodworker’s shop. Typically around 14–18 inches long, it was used for initial flattening and rough shaping of boards. The blade (iron) was often ground with a slight camber, allowing it to remove more material quickly. Its name comes from being a “jack of all trades.”

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2. Jointer Plane

Longer than the jack plane, jointer planes were used to straighten and flatten long surfaces, like the edges of boards that needed to be joined. These could be 22 inches or more in length and required a steady hand and experience to use effectively. Their extended sole helped bridge high and low spots to create a straight, flat surface.

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3. Smoothing Plane

The smoothing plane was a finishing tool, used after the jack and jointer had done their jobs. Smaller (around 7–10 inches), it was designed to produce fine shavings and leave a silky surface. A well-tuned smoother could eliminate the need for sanding, especially prized in the days before modern abrasives.

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4. Molding Planes

These were some of the most varied and specialized planes in the 19th-century workshop. Molding planes had profiled soles and irons designed to cut decorative shapes—ogees, beads, coves, and more—into the edges of boards and trim pieces. Craftsmen often owned dozens or even hundreds of molding planes to match architectural styles and custom requests.

See more about Wood Smooth Planes and a special type of smooth plane, The Coffin Plane

5. Rabbet and Shoulder Planes

These planes were made for cutting precise rebates (or rabbets), which are grooves or steps at the edge of a board. The rabbet plane had an open side that allowed the iron to cut right up to the edge, while shoulder planes had a fine mouth and were often used to fine-tune joints, especially in furniture making.

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6. Plow Plane

Plow planes were used to cut grooves, often for paneling or drawer bottoms. They featured a fence and depth stop to control the width and depth of the cut. Some were adjustable and could accept interchangeable irons for different groove widths, making them incredibly versatile.

7. Compass and Compass-Soled Planes

These were specialized for curved work. The soles were either convex or concave, and they were used on curved surfaces like chair rails or round tabletops. While less common than flat-soled planes, they were essential for certain types of furniture and architectural work.

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Legacy of 19th-Century Wooden Planes

While metal planes began gaining popularity toward the end of the 19th century, wooden planes remained deeply valued for their lightness, tactile feedback, and affordability. Many woodworkers continued to use them well into the 20th century—and today, they are still respected for their elegance, simplicity, and enduring craftsmanship.

These planes weren’t just tools; they were extensions of the craftsman’s skill, and their diversity reflects the incredible range of tasks traditional woodworkers mastered in the age before power tools.