Small palm plane

A small palm plane, in cast iron, for finishing work and very hard woods: a small chamfer, fitting a tenon, shaping a curve, smoothing a piece of cabinetwork or instrument-making that bench planes cannot reach.

Green lacquered cast-iron body, 85 mm sole, blade 25 mm wide and 2 mm thick, held by a cap iron and a tightening wheel. A curved tail at the back sits in the palm: you push the tool with one hand. Made in Germany.

Set the blade to the smallest projection, tighten, and plane along the grain in very fine passes. The blade is sharpened on a stone; properly sharpened, it produces a continuous ribbon shaving. After use, a wipe with a cloth and a thin film of oil on the sole and blade keep rust away.