MTC Low Angle Jack Plane

MTC Low Angle Jack Plane

A low angle jack plane is one of the most versatile members of the handplane family.low angle jack plane This plane is used for a variety of tasks from coarse flattening to fine smoothing. They are particularly good for working end grain, but also excel at cross-grain work such as chamfering and trimming fitted parts. This type of plane is usually fitted with a blade honed to a lower bevel angle for working figured wood, but they can easily be adapted for more conventional use by honing the first bevel to a higher angle.

Unlike regular bench planes, the frog and blade support are a single casting that makes these tools easier to set up and adjust. The body is made from fully stress-relieved, ductile cast iron with the sides machined square to the sole. This creates a very stable platform for the blade, which is likely to result in a more consistent cut and less vibration – resulting in smoother surfaces and fewer chatter marks.

The MTC low angle jack plane is supplied with a standard 25 degree blade, which, when combined with the cast bed angle of 12 degrees, results in an effective cutting angle of 37 degrees. This bevel angle is ideal for working across end grain - the short ends of timber where the grain runs laterally away from the main face. It is also useful for tackling wavy grain, but it is best avoided when aiming to achieve a smooth surface, as the aggressive cutting action of this plane can produce significant tear out in some timbers.

MTC's Low Angle Jack can be adapted to work at even higher cutting angles than this if desired by simply honing the first bevel of the blade to a greater angle. The benefits of a high bevel angle are improved ability to tackle wavy grain and the capacity to work highly figured woods without producing significant tear out. It should be noted that a high blade angle does require greater effort to drive the plane through the timber, so it is important to weigh up the pros and cons of different blade options before choosing a particular cutting angle.

Another feature that sets MTC's low angle jack apart from other similar planes is the ease with which it can be disassembled for maintenance and adjustment. A knurled knob allows the user to set the depth of cut by twisting it, and a lateral blade adjuster can be moved side to side to skew the blade within the plane mouth. Both of these features make the MTC low angle jack a simple tool to keep in tip-top condition.

MTC's low angle jack is a powerful addition to any woodworkers arsenal. It can be adapted to suit almost any kind of work, from reducing the height of a board to rough sawing to fine work such as chamfering and trimming fittings. Furniture maker Garrett Hack keeps several of these planes on hand, one with a cambered blade for tackling figured woods and the other with a more conventional bevel up blade for general use.