When you want to ensure the absolute best possible high quality finish to your woodworking jobs, then choosing the right tools for the job in hand is extremely important.
A low angle jack plane is a type of hand plane that is designed for use on difficult or challenging woods, such as highly figured or interlocked grains. It is similar in appearance and function to a standard jack plane, but it has a blade that is mounted at a lower angle, which makes it better suited for cutting difficult woods.
A low angle jack plane typically has a body that is similar in shape and size to a standard jack plane, with a long, rectangular shape and a handle and knob at one end. The blade, however, is mounted at a lower angle, typically between 12 and 15 degrees. This lower angle allows the blade to cut more efficiently as it reduces the amount of resistance and drag that the blade experiences as it cuts.
To use a low angle jack plane, the user grasps the handle and knob with one hand, and places the blade against the surface of the wood. The plane is then pushed forward, with the blade cutting into the wood as the plane moves forward. The blade can be adjusted up or down to change the depth of cut, and the user can adjust the angle of the plane to control the shape and profile of the cut.
One of the key advantages of a low angle jack plane is its ability to cut through wood more easily than a standard jack plane. This can be especially useful when working with highly figured or interlocked grains, which can be difficult to cut with a standard jack plane.
Another advantage of a low angle jack plane is its ability to produce a smoother, cleaner cut. Because the blade is mounted at a lower angle, it cuts more efficiently which can produce a smoother, more even surface. This can be especially useful when preparing wood for joinery, as it can help ensure that the mating surfaces fit together properly.
In summary, a low angle jack plane is a specialized tool. It has a blade that is mounted at a lower angle, which makes it easier to cut through difficult grains, and it produces a smoother, cleaner cut than a standard jack plane. If you work with a lot of difficult woods, or if you need to produce very smooth, even surfaces on your woodworking projects, a low angle jack plane can be a valuable addition to your tool collection.
As you probably know, there are many different types of woodworking bench hand planes to choose from, like low angle block planes, smoothing planes, and shoulder planes for instance, and that’s because there are some hand planes that are more suited to specific woodworking tasks than others.
When it comes to choosing the best low angle Jack plane to add to your tool collection there are probably certain features that each jack plane has that are more appealing to some people than others.
We’ve selected, and reviewed the best low angle Jack planes for you, the one’s we have chosen offer high build quality, excellent performance, and value for money.
Editor’s Award | Brand | Full Review |
Top Pick | Stanley 1-12-137 62-Low Angle Sweetheart Jack Plane | |
Runner Up | WoodRiver #62 Low Angle Jack Plane | |
Worthy Mention | Bench Dog Tools No. 62 Low Angle Jack Plane |
Click on the link below to jump to that section
The Best Low Angle Jack Planes Reviewed
Top Pick: Stanley 1-12-137 62-Low Angle Sweetheart Jack Plane
Top Pick
Stanley 1-12-137 62-Low Angle Sweetheart Jack Plane
This is the low angle sweetheart jack plane from Stanley, and you’ve got to admit that it does look absolutely amazing.
When you first cast your eyes on it, it immediately gives you the feeling that this tool is of extremely high quality.
This is the classic Stanley 62 sweetheart, it’s made from extra thick 3/16 inch A2 steel resulting in excellent edge retention.
One of the most striking things you first notice about this low angle Jack plane is the beautiful Cherry wood handle and knob which not only looks amazing but they actually do a fantastic job of providing comfort to the user when in use.
Featuring the Norris type adjustment, the adjustable throat plate means that many different types of wood can be worked on with this very versatile Jack plane.
The cutting blade has a thickness of 3/16 inch and a blade width of 2 inches. The length of this low angle Jake plane is 14 inches and the overall weight is 5.9 lbs, as you’d expect, it’s good to go right out of the box.
We all know that when we get our new tools, woodworking planes especially, we like to get them set up to our own specific level of perfection, that’s OK, it’s all part of what we like to do. With this high-quality Jack plane, you’ll find that right out of the box you really don’t have any adjustments to make.
What We Like:
- High-Quality Tool – This thing just oozes quality, just look at it.
- Nice Touches – With beautiful Cherry wood knob and handle, that not only looks amazing but are practical too.
- Works Right Out Of The Box – OK, so we like to get things set up just how we like them to be, that’s all part of the fun, but this Jack plane really is good to go, right out of the box.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Runner Up: WoodRiver #62 Low Angle Jack Plane
Runner Up
WoodRiver #62 Low Angle Jack Plane
This low angle Jack plane from WoodRiver is high quality through and through. Built to extremely high standards, and one thing’s for sure, you won’t be disappointed with this tools performance.
Although more expensive than our Top Pick choice, the WoodRiver number 62 is a firm favorite with tool collectors and is a tool to cherish. This low angle Jack plane weighs in at 4.6 lbs, it’s body is cast from ductile iron with a 12-degree bed angle.
There’s a 2 inch wide high carbon steel blade with a 25 degree angle that does all the hard work, and completing the set up is a bubinga tote and front knob that finishes the look off.
Size-wise this low angle Jack plane measures in just short of 14 inches in length, with a width of 2.4 inches.
What We Like:
- Fine Looking Jack Plane – This low angle Jack plane sure looks the part.
- Quality Through And Through – Not just one for the tool collection, this is a real workhorse too.
- Classic Plane – Faithful to the original design, but with a bit more weight to it.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Worthy Mention: Bench Dog Tools No. 62 Low Angle Jack Plane
Worthy Mention
Bench Dog Tools No. 62 Low Angle Jack Plane
We just had to mention this low angle Jack plane from Bench Dog, it really is a truly versatile hand plane and one that you should give some serious consideration to.
Weighing in at 4.85 lbs and capable of taking rough surface cuts right down to smooth fine cuts courtesy of its adjustable mouth, this truly is a Jack of all trades tool.
With a 2 inch wide, 3/16 inch thick hardened carbon steel blade which is set bevel up at 25 degrees and a low bed angle of 12 degrees, an effective cutting angle of 37 degrees is created. This low angle is perfect for grain and tricky end grain working situations.
Sole flatness tolerance from 0.002” to 0.004” and an overall sole length of 13-3/4 with a sole width of 2-1/2 inches, completing the attention to detail solid sapele has been used for the tote and knob.
Each and every plane includes a case, manual, sock, and a certificate of inspection detailing sole flatness measurements and blade hardness specific to your purchased plane, that’s a really nice touch.
What We Like:
- Attention To Detail – This is a high-quality low angle Jack plane.
- Versatile Hand Plane – Can perform a wide variety of tasks working with rough surface cuts to smoothing fine cuts, truly versatile.
- Value For Money – We all know that quality tools are not cheap, you get what you pay for, this is a quality tool.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a low angle jack plane for?
A low angle Jack plane is an essential piece of woodworking equipment, used by cabinet makers, carpenters, joiners, and DIY enthusiasts, in fact, if you are interested in or work with wood then the chances are that you own a woodworking plane or two.
A low angle Jack plane is quite different from other planes in the way that it is set up and also in its construction to cope with specific types of woodworking jobs.
The various types of woodworking jobs that you would do with a low angle Jack plane includes, sizing timber, working with end grain, shooting miters, and initially smoothing out and straightening rough or warped surfaces from the wood to be worked on.
Why is it called a jack plane?
The name Jack plane comes from way back when this particular type of hand plane was used to perform a wide variety of woodworking tasks.
The term “Jack of all trades” is a saying that you have probably heard hundreds of times, it became a nickname for this tool and it really stuck, the plane became known as the Jack plane simply because it was used to perform numerous woodworking tasks.
The Jack plane is such a useful and versatile hand plane that it can do the job that other hand planes do, such as smoothing, jointing, and scrub planes.
How long is a jack plane?
Low-angle Jack planes are typically around 14 inches in length, but because of the number of manufactures producing Jack planes, there is now a wide selection available.
This means that Jack planes ranging from 12 to 17 inches are available to suit an individual’s own personal requirements and preferences.
Jack planes are a very versatile woodworking tool and are very popular with woodworkers all over the world.
What is the difference between a jack plane and a block plane?
The main differences that you’ll find between a Jack plane and a block plane are, to start off with, that Jack planes are longer in length than a block plane, block planes tend to be compact which means that they can be used with one hand if required.
Jack planes are, (and some might argue, are not) a specialist woodworking tool, known as a very versatile hand woodworking tool, they are often used for removing warps and twists in wood or smoothing out rough surfaces and help to true up long lengths of timber.
Block planes really are the type of plane that you see around the most, most DIY enthusiasts will own a block plane or two because of it’s generally cheap purchase price and compact size.
Block planes are designed for cutting end grain, chamfering and shaping pieces of wood and are a great all rounder hand plane to have in your collection.
Leave a Reply