Why arent wood planes all rebate type?

[Glenbirnie]

I have never needed a rebate plane until the weekend past so at least have an excuse for a new tool!

But why dont standard sized general purpose planes have a blade that goes right to the edge?

Whats the pros n cons?

Cheers

 

[Dave54]

You can get planes like that. Smoothing plane size with the sides cut out and the appropriate blade. Don't really know why they're not all like that. I'd assume that the body of the plane is quite a bit weaker though for everyday use. Also the blade may be more prone to damage on the corners for general use.
I seem to remember my dad buying a replaceable blade Stanley plane some time in the late 60s early 70s and IIRC that was a rebate as well.

I had a look they still make them. I remember he was pleased with his.

http://www.stanleytools.com/default...RTNUMBER=12-100&SDesc=Replaceable+Blade+Plane

 

[Jackrae]

"Old" cabinet makers will tell you that a smoothing plane blade, used to plane wide areas, should be ground with a slightly convex form so that the edges of the blade doesn't produce a set of tramlines on the wood.

If you want a rebate plane with open edges to permit cutting against a rebate edge then that is what you buy, but it's not a smoothing plane.

 

[Norcon]

One of the pro's is when using the shooting board.

 

[Dave54]

"Old" cabinet makers will tell you that a smoothing plane blade, used to plane wide areas, should be ground with a slightly convex form so that the edges of the blade doesn't produce a set of tramlines on the wood.

If you want a rebate plane with open edges to permit cutting against a rebate edge then that is what you buy, but it's not a smoothing plane.

I'd agree that it's better to get a rebate plane and keep it for that use. Apart from anything else the all iron type rebate plane has a forward blade position for cutting into corners, and scribing cutters, as well as depth stops and so on.
I'd always assumed that the smoothing plane sized rebate was more for joiners who wanted a bigger, wider, plane.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I'd always assumed that the smoothing plane sized rebate was more for joiners who wanted a bigger, wider, plane.

I have a "smoother-sized rebate plane" in my extended kit like this one:

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• Deleted member 174758
• 23 Oct 2014
• 1

they are called carriage rebate planes and are used to enlarge existing rebates such as you get in window or door frames. They are completely useless as smoothers because (as pointed out above) the blade has to be ground squared cornered, whereas a smoothing plane need to have the corners slightly cambered to reduce the tendency to leave tram lines all over the place. Whilst I have one it's not a tool I have much call for.

In general I carry a bull nose rebate plane:

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• Deleted member 174758
• 23 Oct 2014
• 1

because much of what I need a rebate plane for is touching-up and correcting mistakes - and the bull nose allows me work almost into corners which makes it really useful for site work. It's a bit like the bull nose position of your rebate filletster plane but has the advantage of fitting in a toolbelt pocket - on the other hand you'd never work a full length rebate on a double door set with one. To actually cut rebates on site, though, I use either a router and bit or a power planer - much faster and a lot less sweat!

 

[Deleted member 174758]

One of the pro's is when using the shooting board.

You use a rebate plane on a shooting board?

 

[Norcon]

One of the pro's is when using the shooting board.

You use a rebate plane on a shooting board?

The question relates to standard sized general purpose planes.
Pay attention!

 

[xerxes]

I'd assume that the body of the plane is quite a bit weaker though for everyday use.

It's not unusual to come across secondhand rebate planes which have been welded together after an accidental drop on a hard floor; probably a difficult weld to make successfully, and maintain the straightness of the plane.