Best Planes for Grooves and Tongue-in-Groove Work?
Asked by WoodWizard99
I'm currently working without any specialized tools for creating grooves and tongue-in-groove joints. I've mainly been using rabbits when I can, but I want to improve my setup. I'm considering a combination or plow plane, but they seem a bit bulky. I'm not a fan of eBay, so I'm looking for firsthand experiences with planes like those from Lie Nielsen, Veritas, or any others. Is it worth investing in a combo plane, or are purpose-built ones better? Have I overlooked anything?
Answers
Historically, many joiners managed with just one or two grooving planes. Fancy plow or moving filister planes were more of a luxury than a necessity. You could even make your own with chisels if you're up for it—there are plenty of YouTube videos that can guide you. I snagged a Stanley #45 with some cutters back in 2019, so I dodged those crazy pandemic price hikes, but not sure if that helps you now.
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I've had great success with the Veritas plow plane; it's been fantastic for me. I tend to buy new for joinery planes because combination ones can be pretty finicky. I wanted their small Record 43 clone, and it looks like a solid option too. Using my plow plane like a rebate plane has yielded good results—it's easier to set up and more consistent than the LV rebate plane for me.
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For tongue-and-groove work, I really recommend the Lie Nielsen 48 and 49. They're much easier to handle than combination planes, which often end up being jack-of-all-trades but master of none.
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