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Wood Plane |
The image below shows nomenclature used in this outline. It shows a bevel up blade, but the ideas are the same for a bevel down blade (only the blade is flipped over before inserting it into the plane).
Notes are also available on a different web page for Micro / Secondary Bevels.
Edge angles
Values shown in the table below are for the Cutting Angle and the Relief Angle. As the Bed Angle is based on the plane body you are using, these are not shown. Additionally, the Front Bevel and Back Bevel can be easily determined from the Cutting Angle and the Relief Angle. To calculate these angles, use the following formulas:
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I think there is more talk and debate about the plane than there is usage of one. Rich Colvin |
Front Bevel = Cutting Angle - Bed Angle
Back Bevel = Bed Angle - Relief Angle
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General Guidelines |
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Type |
Cutting Angle |
Relief Angle |
Camber |
Notes |
| Bench Planes | 1/32” - 1/16” |
Cutting angle could be as low as 30°. When working wood wider than the blade, crown the cutting edge or round the corners (or both). Using a 10° relief angle is especially useful for Low Angle and Bevel Down planes. |
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General Purpose |
32° | n/a | ||
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Soft Woods |
27° | n/a | ||
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Low Angle |
32° | 10° | ||
| Blind Nailer | n/a | n/a | n/a |
You will need to consult someone wiser than I. (Leonard Lee’s book, The Complete Guide to Sharpening, is a good place to start.) |
| Block Planes | 1/32” - 1/16” |
Often, no cap iron is needed. Using a 10° relief angle is especially useful for Low Angle and Bevel Down planes. |
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Bevel Down |
35° | 10° | ||
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General Purpose |
32° | n/a | ||
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Soft Woods |
27° | n/a | ||
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End Grain |
45° | n/a | ||
| Bullnose Planes | 35° | n/a | None | Sharpen to be square across the front. |
| Jack Planes | 35° | n/a |
Radius of 8” - 10” |
Jack Planes generally have a greater amount of camber on the blade. TM 9-867 Maintenance and Care of Hand Tools recommends that the center of the blade project 1/16” beyond the edge corners. |
| Jointer or Trying Planes | 35° | n/a | 1/32” - 1/16” | |
| Moulding Planes | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Lap the face of the cutter. For re-sharpening or re-profiling the edge, you will need to consult someone far smarter than I. |
| Rabbet Planes | 35° | n/a | None | Sharpen square across the front. |
| Scrub Planes | 35° | n/a |
Radius of 3” - 4” |
Highly curve the cutting edge. One guide is that the camber should be 1-2x blade's width |
| Shoulder Planes | 35° | n/a | None | Sharpen square across the front. |
| Smoothing Planes | 35° | n/a | 1/32” - 1/16” | |
| Spoke Shaves | n/a | n/a | n/a |
You will need to consult someone wiser than I. (Leonard Lee’s book, The Complete Guide to Sharpening, is a good place to start.) |
The shape of the grind used is a call best made by the tool's use, based on their own experience. Additional notes are available on separate web pages for: Grind Profiles, and Micro / Secondary Bevels.
Flattening the back is really critical for the overall sharpness. There is a good video about that below.
A relief angle helps keep the force behind the cutting edge aligned with the movement of the plane (i.e., more in alignment with the surface of the wood than tangential to it). This is especially true for bevel down plane blades, and is also true for low angle planes.
Additional notes on Primary and Secondary Bevels is on the Chisel page.
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