Router Planes
The router plane is uniquely distinguished by its ability to cut at a consistent depth below the surface of the wood, making it an essential tool for fine joinery. What sets it apart is the downward-facing cutter, mounted at the base of a narrow vertical post, allowing the blade to reach into recesses that other planes simply can’t access. This makes the router plane especially useful for leveling the bottoms of dados, grooves, and mortises, ensuring an accurate and uniform depth across the entire cut. It’s often described as the woodworker’s “depth control specialist.”
Router Planes - Fast Facts
- Purpose: Leveling dados, grooves, and recesses
- Key Feature: Depth-regulated cutter
- Classic Makers: Stanley, Record, Preston
- Revival: Popular again with modern hand-tool woodworkers
Explore our Router Planes
Browse our curated selection of classic and rare router planes
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Router Plane
Sargent & Co.
Router Plane
Stanley No. 71
Router Plane
Preston
Router Plane
Historically, router planes emerged as a refinement of earlier hand-cutting techniques. Before the advent of powered routers, these manual versions were indispensable in cabinetry, furniture-making, and architectural joinery, where precision in housing joints was crucial. Craftsmen prized them for cleaning out the bottoms of hinge mortises, lock recesses, and even fine inlay work—tasks that demanded both finesse and accuracy.
Many traditional router planes, such as those made by Stanley, Record, Preston, and others, feature adjustable depth stops, interchangeable cutters, and open or closed throat designs—each suiting specific tasks. Open throats give better visibility and chip clearance, while closed throats offer extra support across the work surface. Vintage models are especially beloved today for their robust cast-iron construction and the fine finish they leave behind.
'A router plane is for cutting to depth with precise accuracy. They can be used to make the bottom of a table saw dado perfectly flat.'
Historical Highlights
1800s – Early versions used by cabinetmakers
1900s – Popularized by Stanley & Record
Today – Resurgence in hand-tool woodworking
Today, despite the prevalence of electric routers, hand router planes have experienced a revival among modern woodworkers. Their quiet operation, tactile control, and ability to finesse small or delicate areas have made them popular again, especially in hand tool-focused workshops. Whether used for restoration work, hand-crafted joinery, or simply the satisfaction of analog precision, the router plane is a beautiful reminder of both the ingenuity and elegance of traditional craftsmanship.