jack plane
Definition
Noun: A jack plane is a medium-sized, general-purpose carpenter's hand plane used primarily for the initial, rough shaping and flattening of wood. It prepares the surface for finer planes by removing material quickly.
Usage
The term jack plane is used to refer to the specific tool itself. It is a compound noun where "jack" implies a general-purpose or utility role. * The carpenter used a jack plane to remove the high spots from the old timber. * After sawing the board, the first step is to smooth it with a jack plane.
Advanced Usage
- In woodworking terminology, the jack plane is often considered the workhorse of bench planes, typically around 14 to 15 inches long. It bridges the gap between a longer fore plane (for flattening) and a shorter smoothing plane (for final finish).
Variants and Related Words
- Plane (n): The general category of tools for shaping wood. A jack plane is a type of bench plane.
- Smoothing plane (n): A shorter plane used for final finishing after the jack plane.
- Fore plane (n): A longer plane used for initial flattening, sometimes used before or interchangeably with a jack plane.
- Jack (n): In other contexts, this word can denote a device for lifting (car jack) or a playing card. Its use in "jack plane" derives from its meaning as a general helper or ordinary man.
Synonyms
- Bench plane (a broader category)
- Trying plane (a similar, often longer type)
Related Phrases
- To set up a jack plane: To adjust the blade (iron) and sole for proper cutting.
- Before starting, he spent time setting up his jack plane correctly.
Noun
-
a carpenter's plane for rough finishing
