A 'Jointer Plane', also known as a
'Jointing Plane',
'Try Plane',
'Trying Plane' or
'Trueing Plane', is a long woodworking plane traditionally used by
joiners / woodworkers / carpenters, used for flattening out long lengths
of board and straightening board edges.
Jointer planes are the longest plane design, typically in the region
of 22" - 24" long (there were longer wooden jointer planes made).
The jointer plane's long length allows the plane to perfectly carry
out its function of flattening out long lengths of board, also referred
to as making it true.
Jointer planes are only really suited and used for working on big pieces
such as a table-top. They are long and heavy making them suited to
their function however the design makes them too cumbersome for smaller
work.
Jointer planes are usually used after a
fore plane
(or jack plane)
has worked a piece.
After the jointer plane has flattened the workpiece, a
smoothing plane
is used to finish the work.
A jointer plane is also referred to as one of the
bench plane range.
It is called a 'Trying Plane' because you are 'Trying' the surface of the board, you are 'Trying' to make the board flat, to ensure it is flat you are 'Trying' to find any uneven surfaces.
If the long plane with its long flat underside (sole) sails over a
high point (an area which isn't flat) you will hear and feel a big
shaving, the area is then worked until the area is as flat as the plane
sole.
You know it is flat when you hear and feel one long continuous cut.
The jointer plane has evolved slowly over the last few centuries,
during the evolution a variety of different planes have appeared
on the marketplace.
Whilst the core design and function has remained the same, the materials and
construction of these planes has evolved. Each evolutionary phase coincided
with new technological advances which enabled makers to make enhancements
or make changes to suit mass production techniques.
The below charts the evolutionary stages of the jointer plane from its
early form through to its recent form.
Click on each era of jointer plane to see the full list of jointer plane
reviews...
Or scroll down for more information about each type of plane...
WOODEN
The commonly used jointer planes of the 17th, 18th, 19th and the first part of the 20th century were made of wood.
INFILL
The second part of the 19th century and the first part of the 20th also saw the 'Rolls Royce' of jointer planes, the infill planes. Some still made today.
TRANSITIONAL
The end of the 19th century through to the 1950's saw the transitional jointer / trying plane; a plane which was half way between a wooden plane and a metal plane.
Jointer planes were originally made from wood and were usually 22" - 28"
long with some being longer.
These planes were around for centuries with the peak of sales happening
throughout the 1800's (19th century). Sales began rapidly dwindling
from the beginning of the 1900's as the popularity of the iron jointer
planes increased.
By the mid-1900's there were very few manufacturers making wooden jointer
/ trying planes....the iron jointer plane had won....or had they...
wooden jointer planes are making a niche resurgence.
For more info about the wooden jointer planes, see the
'Wooden Jointer Plane'
page.
- Sole glides easier
- Warm comfortable feel of wood
- Quick and easy to flatten the sole
- Durable if dropped
The infill plane was a design of grandure while remaining functional.
The infill jointer plane saw its popularity from the latter half of
the 19th century through to the 1950's.
The most famous maker of infill planes was Norris with the
Norris jointer infill planes,
there were a few of other infill plane makers however
the only other infill jointer plane maker I recall is Spiers Of Ayr.
- Grandure
- Collectable
- Long lasting sole flatness
- Blade fine adjustment mechanisms
The transitional plane was a plane design which was a cross between
the wooden jointer plane and the metal jointer plane.
The transitional plane saw its limited popularity from about 1900 - 1950
with transitional plane makers Sargent, Stanley, Union and Marples
being the big players.
The transitional plane combines some of the advantages of the wooden
and iron jointer plane designs.
- Sole glides easier
- Warm comfortable feel of wood
- Quick and easy to flatten the sole
- Blade fine adjustment mechanisms
In the latter half of the 19th century, iron jointer planes began being
sold. In 1870 Stanley began selling their
Stanley No. 7
and
Stanley No. 8 jointer planes.
The iron jointer plane became more and more popular and new manufacturers
stepped into the market in the 20th century, these included Edward
Preston jointer planes, Record jointer planes, Marples jointer planes,
Union jointer planes and a few others.
Today sees Stanley still making iron jointer planes plus a few new
makers of high-end jointer planes such as the
Clifton No. 7 jointer plane
and the
Veritas jointer plane.
- Long lasting sole flatness
- Blade fine adjustment mechanisms
- Standardised parts
A typical metal / iron jointer plane consists of the following parts:
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in good faith, any such information should not be solely relied upon and seen
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for the good health of your tool and property.
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