Choosing and Using Hand Planes

Planing with the grain
With the working edge facing up, examine the side of the board to see which way the grain rises (in this photo, it slopes up toward the right) and plane in that direction. If the grain tears out, try planing in the opposite direction or skewing the plane diagonally as you push.

Planing a long edge
Apply even pressure with both hands, pushing down on the front knob and forward with the rear handle. To make the cut easier, skew the plane so that diagonally opposite corners of the bottom, or sole, are aligned on the same edge. Periodically check the edge with a square, adjusting the blade laterally if you're off.

Smoothing a board's face
To flatten the face of a board, maximize the blade's cutting efficiency by turning the plane slightly askew as you push the tool straight ahead. It's okay to plane diagonally across the grain to remove high spots. Depending on the grain, you may have to plane in several directions.

Planing end grain
The grain on the end of a board is likely to tear out at the corner where the plane leaves the wood. To avoid this problem, clamp a piece of scrap wood flush with the planing surface, then plane straight across the ends of the board and the scrap.

Chamfering an edge
For a decorative chamfer or bevel, tilt the block plane at a 45-degree angle. To keep the angle consistent, raise the work above a table or piece of plywood on which you can brace your hand as it runs along the edge.