​The Low Angle Jack Plane – An Overview

Easily one of the most useful bench planes, the low-angle jack plane is the one that almost any woodworker can use in their shop. The Jack is a wonderful tool whether you use hand tools, power tools, or a combination of the two.

The Goldilocks Plane

The jack is the perfect-sized plane for many different tasks. It is long enough to flatten boards and can save you from buying an expensive power jointer. The jack can easily flatten boards as wide as 500mm, creating a surface that can be used as a reference for the thicknesser.

That being said, it isn’t so long that the jack can’t be used as a smoother. You can reduce the depth of cut and take beautiful finishing shavings.

It can also be used to true up long grain edges, whether for glue-ups or as a reference surface for further milling. All machines leave subtle (or not-so-subtle) marks from their blades; a jack can be used on the edge to eliminate those unsightly marks. It doesn’t matter if the edge of the timber is right from the mill, off one of your machines, or a hand-sawn surface — the jack can make it flat, straight, and plumb.

Finally, the low-angle jack can be used on its side with a shooting board. A shooting board is handy on timber end grain. For example, you can cut a board slightly oversized and then bring it to the final length with a few passes of the jack. You can also use it to remove machining marks left behind by a power saw. And the shooting configuration isn’t only good for end grain. You can make custom workboards to joint thin pieces like shop-sawn veneers.

This is just the first in a series of articles about the jack because there is just too much to talk about for one entry. This series will also include videos you may find helpful as you learn how to use this valuable tool.

Enjoy your time working wood!

Vic Tesolin