Jack Plane: The Ultimate Versatile Plane

The jack plane (No. 5 at 14 inches) is the swiss army knife of hand planes. It can smooth, joint edges, and dimension stock—hence "jack of all trades."

Why the No. 5 Is Special

Long enough to flatten reasonably sized boards, short enough to be maneuverable, with a 2-inch iron that balances speed and control. Many woodworkers use a No. 5 for 80% of their hand plane work.