Using a Plow Plane

Article 164: Using a Plow Plane

By: A Woodworker Who Loves the Whisper of a Groove

The plow plane excels at cutting clean grooves—great for drawer bottoms, box lids, or sliding panels. Once tuned, it becomes a joinery workhorse.

Key Parts of the Plow Plane

• Skate: rides along the wood

• Iron (cutter): various widths

• Fence: keeps groove parallel

• Depth stop: controls cut depth

Setup and Use

1. Choose Iron Width

   • Common sizes: ⅛" to ⅜"

2. Set Depth Stop

   • Typical: ¼" groove depth

3. Adjust Fence

   • Distance from edge = groove location

4. Cut Groove

   • Start with light strokes.

   • Keep the plane vertical and steady.

Tips

• Wax the skate.

• Sharpen the iron finely.

• Always test on scrap first.

Sketch – Groove Section

Edge View:
 ______________________
|                      |
|______________________| ← Groove cut into board
   ↑
  Groove: ¼" deep x ¼" wide