AJBaker
Established Member
Part two on continental tool traditions: joinery planes.
This part likely isn't quite as interesting as the first, as it seems to me that there are fewer differences compared to the UK.
- Simshobel
This is the basic rebate plane. Basically the same as in the UK, except that the iron isn't usually skewed. Not much to say about this plane, other than that the UK version is probably superior. Personally I prefer a WS78 without a fence.
There is also a version without a sole in front of the iron which works as a chisel plane, but I would just cut up a worn out one instead.
- Doppelsimshobel
Same as before, but with a chipbreaker for finer cuts. The mouth is also adjustable. On the one hand this is necessary in order to take out the iron, but it also allows a tight mouth for little tear out. On tough cuts I find it to be a bit flimsy, as the wingnut can only hold it so well. I think of it almost as a rebate smoothing plane.
- Falzhobel
This is just a moving filister plane. It has fences for width and depth. The one in the picture has the iron square to the sole, but most of the ones I've seen have had a skewed Iron. I really like this plane for crossgrain rebates, I find it much easier to use than my 78 or Record 050. The big long crossgrain nicker is easier to adjust than the tiny nicker on metal planes. Otherwise, similar planes used to be made in the UK.
I've also seen wider versions with a fixed cutting depth that are for panel raising.
- Grundhobel
This is just a router plane. It has an angled iron like a 71, but has no fine adjustment. It works fine, but I much prefer my Record 071.
- Nuthobel
The plough plane. They used to make basically the same thing in the UK. It works fine, but I usually reach for my Record 050.
I've also seen versions with a fixed depth and fence that could be part of a tongue and groove pair, or fixed at the standard setting for making doors for example.
- Grathobel
This is the sliding dovetail plane. As far as I know, this wasn't common in the UK, but here it was a standard joinery plane for a professional woodworker. It's like a moving filister plane, but with a sloped sole.
This plane is used in conjunction with the 'sliding dovetail saw' (Gratsäge) to cut the corresponding housing joint. As far as I know, this is the only western pull saw. This is necessary for making stopped housing joints, as you pull the sawdust out of the cut. You chisel out a small portion on the stopped end, and then you make cuts by pulling the saw towards yourself with both hands. The depth of cut can sometimes be adjusted at the blade. The waste is then chiseled away, and the joint is finished with a router plane.
There might be more planes I missed, but this is what I can remember off the top of my head.
I personnaly use the Falzhobel for crossgrain rebates, and I use the Grathobel as there is no UK equivilant. Otherwise, I find I mostly prefer my WS78 (without fences), my Record 071 and my Record 050 for these jobs.
This part likely isn't quite as interesting as the first, as it seems to me that there are fewer differences compared to the UK.
- Simshobel
This is the basic rebate plane. Basically the same as in the UK, except that the iron isn't usually skewed. Not much to say about this plane, other than that the UK version is probably superior. Personally I prefer a WS78 without a fence.
There is also a version without a sole in front of the iron which works as a chisel plane, but I would just cut up a worn out one instead.
- Doppelsimshobel
Same as before, but with a chipbreaker for finer cuts. The mouth is also adjustable. On the one hand this is necessary in order to take out the iron, but it also allows a tight mouth for little tear out. On tough cuts I find it to be a bit flimsy, as the wingnut can only hold it so well. I think of it almost as a rebate smoothing plane.
- Falzhobel
This is just a moving filister plane. It has fences for width and depth. The one in the picture has the iron square to the sole, but most of the ones I've seen have had a skewed Iron. I really like this plane for crossgrain rebates, I find it much easier to use than my 78 or Record 050. The big long crossgrain nicker is easier to adjust than the tiny nicker on metal planes. Otherwise, similar planes used to be made in the UK.
I've also seen wider versions with a fixed cutting depth that are for panel raising.
- Grundhobel
This is just a router plane. It has an angled iron like a 71, but has no fine adjustment. It works fine, but I much prefer my Record 071.
- Nuthobel
The plough plane. They used to make basically the same thing in the UK. It works fine, but I usually reach for my Record 050.
I've also seen versions with a fixed depth and fence that could be part of a tongue and groove pair, or fixed at the standard setting for making doors for example.
- Grathobel
This is the sliding dovetail plane. As far as I know, this wasn't common in the UK, but here it was a standard joinery plane for a professional woodworker. It's like a moving filister plane, but with a sloped sole.
This plane is used in conjunction with the 'sliding dovetail saw' (Gratsäge) to cut the corresponding housing joint. As far as I know, this is the only western pull saw. This is necessary for making stopped housing joints, as you pull the sawdust out of the cut. You chisel out a small portion on the stopped end, and then you make cuts by pulling the saw towards yourself with both hands. The depth of cut can sometimes be adjusted at the blade. The waste is then chiseled away, and the joint is finished with a router plane.
There might be more planes I missed, but this is what I can remember off the top of my head.
I personnaly use the Falzhobel for crossgrain rebates, and I use the Grathobel as there is no UK equivilant. Otherwise, I find I mostly prefer my WS78 (without fences), my Record 071 and my Record 050 for these jobs.
