I've noticed that while some metal hand planes have blades that extend to the edges, which is helpful for planing inside corners and cutting rabbets, most do not. Instead, they have a lip that helps with shooting boards since the blade won't affect the straightness of the track. I'm curious why this full-width feature isn't more common in hand planes and what prevents wooden bench planes from having it?
3 Answers
Another point people sometimes forget is that when you're planing a flat surface, a blade with sharp corners can leave noticeable track marks. Sure, you can round the corners or camber the blade to fix that, but then it can't really function well as a rabbet or shoulder plane. Most woodworkers have realized it's more practical to use dedicated planes for specific jobs, hence why regular planes are more commonly found than those designed specifically for rabbeting.
One of the main reasons is that making a plane with a full-width blade is a bit tricky. It can make the plane more delicate, which can be a hassle. Vintage rabbet block or bench planes might have been produced in smaller numbers, or perhaps fewer of them have survived. Still, I'd love to see more of them around! My current rabbet plane is nice, but something wider would feel like a real treat.
Having both types of planes is definitely a plus! For instance, using a regular bench plane makes sense for shooting, as the blade doesn’t go all the way to the edges. Plus, you can flatten boards more easily without worrying about taking too much from the low side when using a regular plane. That said, a rabbeting plane shines when it comes to cutting rabbets and tenon shoulders. Lots of wooden planes with full-width blades exist, both Japanese and Western. Check out this gorgeous example I found – it really highlights what a good rabbet plane can look like!
That’s such a beautiful plane! I appreciate how versatile a good rabbet plane can be, even if they aren’t used all the time.