Grooving Plane

This traditional plane is a fun way to cut grooves, and can be made in half of a day.

- By James Wright

The grooving plane is a hand tool that is faster than a power tool that will do the same task. Not to mention, the curls are incredibly enjoyable. This project is designed so that a beginner can use hand tools to make a functional tool they can use for the rest of their life. It’s also a project that tends to scare people. Making a hand plane is supposed to be a very difficult task, but in this case, it’s surprisingly easy if you take it step by step.

For this project, you will want to make the body out of a hard and durable wood, such as hard maple. The body is 10" long and 31/2" by 11/2". This size was chosen so you can make a test project out of a scrap 2x4. This grooving plane is designed to cut a 1/4" by 1/4 by 1/4 groove. This is the groove I cut more commonly than any other. If you would like a full kit with the body, wedge, and iron, they can be purchased at www.WoodByWright.com.

1 Lay out cuts for the rabbet.

This one is a 1/2" x 3/4" rabbet.

2-4 Cut down the cheek and shoulder of the rabbet.

Cutting the Rabbet