Finishing Planes
Finishing planes are the connoisseurs of the hand plane world—specialized tools used for the final, most delicate passes that bring wood to its highest level of refinement. With tight mouths, low blade angles, and high precision, these planes produce whisper-thin shavings that leave wood surfaces silky smooth, often without the need for sanding.
Finishing Planes - Fast Facts
- Purpose: Final finishing of wood surfaces to near-polish
- Key Feature: Finely set, tight mouth and precision sole
- Classic Makers: Norris, Spiers, Lie-Nielsen
- Common Use: Final planing before applying finish or polish
Discover our Finishing Planes
Browse planes engineered for the final, flawless touch
Stanley No. 60 1/2
Finishing Plane
Finishing planes occupy a unique space in traditional hand tool woodworking. Often confused with smoothing planes, they take refinement a step further. Where a smoothing plane prepares the surface, the finishing plane perfects it—removing any lingering tear-out, burnish marks, or subtle irregularities left behind. The most sought-after examples feature finely machined soles, dense infill construction, and tightly adjusted frogs for unmatched control.
Renowned makers like Norris and Spiers of Scotland produced high-end infill finishing planes prized by craftspeople for their stability, weight, and ability to cut the finest possible shaving. Today, these tools are appreciated both as functional instruments and as heirloom-quality collectibles.
'When the wood sings under the finishing plane, you know the surface is ready for show.'
Historical Highlights
1800s – High-end infill planes crafted for precision finishing
Early 1900s – Widespread use in cabinet shops and piano making
Today – Revered by fine furniture makers and tool collectors alike
Today, finishing planes remain the domain of meticulous craftspeople, prized for their ability to render wood surfaces with an elegance that power tools simply cannot match. Their quiet efficiency, aesthetic appeal, and tactile satisfaction make them not just tools, but extensions of the artisan’s intent. Whether you're completing a showpiece tabletop or refining a delicate instrument, the finishing plane delivers the final word in surface perfection.