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Planes are obtainable in many sizes and shapes, depending on the type of work to be done. For general purposes the jack plane is adequate. This plane is about 14 inches long and 2 inches wide. It is suitable for rough work but cannot produce a very smooth surface because its length will cause the blade to slip over the low spots. When a greater degree of smoothness is required, a smoothing plane, somewhat shorter than the jack, is used. For small work and for endgrain planing, the block plane is needed. The blade, or plane iron, can be adjusted for depth by moving the knurled knob located at the back of the blade. The lateral adjustment of the blade is made with a lever that fits into a slot on the upper portion of the blade. The blade has a cap which fits over it to provide additional strength. On hard-grain wood, or for crossplaning, this cap should be set as close to the edge of the blade as possible. This will prevent the wood from splintering. A block plane does not have this cap, as it is designed for end-grain planing. The first rule in planing is to work in the direction of the grain. This direction can be determined with the first stroke. If the blade tears the wood and makes a rough surface, reverse the direction and work from the other end. Do not try to take off too much wood at one time. Set the blade so that a thin shaving will be taken off rather than large chunks of wood. If you do this, you will get greater accuracy and a smooth surface.
There are several methods of endgrain planing, to avoid splintering the wood. If the piece of wood is wider than is required, do not remove the excess until the end has been planed. Chamfer one edge by cutting the corner off at an angle, and plane toward this chamfered edge. The same result can be obtained by placing a piece of scrap wood against the far edge of the wood to be planed and holding both in a vise. The scrap piece of wood should be level with the piece to be planed. Any splintering that occurs will be on the edge of the scrap wood and not on the piece to be finished. Do not let waste accumulate in the plane, as this will reduce the efficiency. Always keep the plane blade sharp and never set a plane flat. This will dull the blade. Get in the habit of placing a plane on its side each time you have finished using it.
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