Smoothing Planes - For Fine Finishing
Smooth planes are used for the finest finishing work on the surface. Before sandpaper was in common use, such surfaces as veneers were not rubbed down but "smoothed" with the smooth plane. It was essential to set the iron with extreme precision and to work with the highest degree of skill.
All the smooth planes listed here have a 48 mm (approx. 1-7/8 in.) wide iron and a cap iron. The cutting angle of the ECE planes is 50°. The length of the body is 220 mm (approx. 8-5/8 in.)!
Planes with mouth adjustment are known as "reform smooth planes". An adjustable plate in the sole of the plane permits the mouth to be reduced in size, either for particularly fine work or at the stage when the sole of the plane has been worn and has had to be trimmed.
Even if there is note in the box to say a new plane is sharpened ready for use, this must be taken with a pinch of salt. You need to get to know a new plane, and sharpening it will rapidly deepen the acquaintance. Your plane will repay you with good work. Whether or not the manufacturer instructs you to do so, sharpen the iron, and hone it, and do the same with the cap iron. This is the only way to ensure that no shavings will get between the cap iron and the blade, clogging up the plane.
It will also not hurt to smooth the sole of the plane a little further, by placing 600-grain sandpaper on a dead flat surface and going over it with the plane a few times.
Click images for enlargements!
Sole: hornbeam
Body: beech
Maker's number 104S
Order nr. 301023
Price € 67.00
ECE Smoothing Plane with wedge
Sole: lignum vitae
Body: hornbeam
Maker's number 104SP
Order nr. 301025
Price: € 86.00
Instructions for wedged planes
Replacement blade
Order nr. 301215
Price € 17.30
Sole: hornbeam
Body: beech
Maker's number 104SL
Order nr. Lefthander! 301063
Price € 67.00
ECE Smoothing Plane for lefthanders!
Sole: lignum vitae
Body: hornbeam
Maker's number 104SPL
Order nr. Lefthander! 301065
Price € 86.00
with blade adjustment
Sole: hornbeam
Body: beech
Maker's number 704
Order nr. 301003
Price € 118.00
with blade adjustment
Sole: lignum vitae
Body: hornbeam
Maker's number 704P
Order nr. 301004
Price € 137.00
with blade adjustment and mouth adjustment for finest smoothing.
This is the most famous ECE plane.
Magnified view and operating instructions!
Sole: lignum vitae
Body: cherrywood
Maker's number 711
Order nr. 301047
Price € 170.00
Replacement Blade for all ECE Primus Planes
Order nr. 301216
Price € 22.60
with blade adjustment and mouth adjustment for finest smoothing.
Sole: lignum vitae
Body: cherrywood
Maker's number 711L
Order nr. Lefthander! 301067
Price: € 170.00
