Make Your Own Grooving Plane

Experience Level: Beginners

Instructor: James Wright (Wood By Wright)

Class Size: 5 in person and 20 virtual

Sessions: 1 sessions at 4ish hours 

This course is being offered in person (Rockford, IL) and via Zoom. 

Photo of James Wright holding a wooden Grooving plane

Course Description

This is a beginners-level build and the pace of the class will be set to the newer woodworker’s speed. The Grooving Plane is designed to be as simple as possible but still deliver a working tool you can use for the rest of your life. This is the first plane I ever made, and it is one I still use today. 

We will cover how to make a grove without an engraving plane, making a wedge, and fitting and tuning the plane. If you are more advanced, we will provide other embellishments that you can add to your plane to improve the fit and finish. The class will be on 3-4 hours session, and you will also receive measured drawings to reference. 

Tools/Materials Needed

Required Tools*:
-Chisel Set 1/8″, 1/4″, 1/2″
-Mallet
-Rabbet Plane or moving fillister plane
-Tenon saw (rip cut teeth with over 10 ppi)
-Sash saw, or Carcass saw (Crosscut teeth with over 14 ppi)
-4″ hand file rasp or collection of files and rasps.
-Bench plane (No. 4 or 5)
-Block plane
-Miter square
-Try square
-Stiff ruler
-Marking knife
-Bevel gauge
-Marking gauge
-Bench with woodworking vice

Optional Tools:
-Router Plane
-Combination Plane
-CNC

Required Materials (Maple pack included in course cost):
–3.5″ X 1.5″ X 10″ hardwood body 
-.25″ X 1.25″ X 5.5″ Hard Wood Wedge 
-.25″ X .125″ X 6″ Cutting Iron (O2 Steel hardened and sharpened)

*If you qualify for free courses and you do not have the tools to participate in this course, please let us know in the Additional Comments of the registration form. We may be able to get these supplies for you. To see if you qualify, click HERE.

Course Cost*

Price includes the maple lumber pack and cutting iron. 
-Virtual = $100 (material pack will be shipped to you prior to the course)

-In Person = $100  (Tools, Materials, and Pizza will be provided) – Location is in Rockford, IL. The address will be sent closer to the start of the course.

Save up to 25% on our courses by becoming a Plane Wellness Patron, learn more here. 

*If you qualify for a free course you will not be charged for anything. Application steps are in the registration form or click HERE to see if you qualify

Course Dates

August 24th from 9:00 a.m. CST (10:00 a.m. EST) to 1:00 p.m. CST (2:00 p.m. EST)

This course will be recorded for students to reference later. If you have any questions, please email us at Jamie.Harpster@PlaneWellness.org. 

Register/Apply Below!

Paid Students
Mission Students