Why you need a jack plane

Jack planes are the workhorses of the shop and the go-to tool for a variety of woodworking tasks. The jack plane handles smoothing as well as the shorter No. 2, 3, or 4. It also can be used for the flattening and straightening tasks often reserved for the longer planes: the No. 6, 7, or 8. As its name suggests, this plane is a jack of all trades. Ideally, a jack plane should be capable of taking very fine shavings and leaving a great finish, and yet be able to remove lots of wood in a hurry when set for a deeper cut. It should also be adept at jointing edges prior to gluing up a panel.

One plane, many talents A jack plane set up for a fine cut is a perfect smoother for most projects (below). With a few adjustments, the plane can transition to heavy cuts, flattening rough surfaces—even a workbench (below right). Its added length over the No. 4 makes it adept at jointing edges as well (right).

A close look at the critical…