The Handplane Book

Garrett Hack

Reviewed by:

Ken Greenberg

Garrett Hack’s first coffee-table book of more types of planes than you ever knew existed (unless you are a famous tool dealer or tool book author), suitable for drooling. Beautiful photography by John S. Sheldon of beautiful tools – what more do you need? But of course there’s more. There are good explanations of the application of the many specialty planes included, so you can justify acquiring them. Covers history and mechanics of planes, tuning and planing, and separate chapters for truing stock, joinery, surfacing, scraping, shaping, and other specialized uses. Also includes some information on contemporary plane makers and how to buy planes.