Jack Planes

The jack plane is the workhorse of the bench plane family. Used across the grain, its weakest direction, it corrects the twists, cupping and bowing that surface once internal stresses are released from a sawn board, bringing timber close to its finished dimension before the smoothing plane takes over.

We stock jack planes from Clifton, individually machined and hand finished in Britain, and Quangsheng, whose bedrock pattern castings give full contact between body and frog for a more solid, adjustable setup than the traditional Bailey pattern. Mujingfang's wooden-bodied planes offer a lighter, more traditional alternative for those who prefer to work that way.

Within the range you will find:

• No.5 jack planes, the classic choice for general dimensioning and true jack work
• No.5½ jack planes, slightly longer and heavier for extra stability on wider boards
• No.62 low angle jack planes, a versatile bevel up design that doubles as a shooting plane

A blade honed with a camber is worth setting up specifically for this plane, as it leaves a scalloped surface that reduces the work needed from a longer No.6 or No.7 plane afterwards. Every jack plane we sell comes with our lifetime guarantee and the same honest advice we are known for. If you are choosing between the No.5, the 5½ or the low angle No.62, get in touch and we will help you find the right fit for your work.