I’m sure that everyone (but perhaps my wife) who reads this blog has a block plane. This is the one plane that almost all woodworkers have even if they aren’t into hand tools and instead prefer the feel of power. The reason is that it’s versatile in it’s use. You can use it to fine tune a tenon, shave some length off an end of a board that would be risky to cut again because it’s a small amount, or take off some glue.
I’ve got 2 block planes and 2 smaller apron block planes myself. I find them very useful but…
I just came across a Rabbit Block Plane over a Lei-Nielsen Toolworks and have some thoughts. Here is a picture:
Now, I think that this must be an even more useful plane and unless someone can point out the limitations of this plane, I would think that it would be the better universal plane around. With the blade going from edge to edge, you have the option to shave shoulders and get up to the edge of rabbits when necessary plus it can do all the same things the traditional block plane can do.
What do you think?
UPDATE: I decided to get one so I’ll let you know what I think after I get this.
