How to Make a Wooden Plow Plane

Use a router table to rabbet the bottom edge of the fence piece of beech wood. A rabbit is a notch cut into the edge of the piece. The router should be set to cut 1/2 inch wide and a 1/4 inch deep.

Mark a line at 2 3/4 inches on the edge of the rosewood piece. Place it on a tablesaw and cut the piece at a 113-degree angle. The larger of the two pieces will be the throat of the plane, which is the section in front of the blade. The smaller piece will be the bed, which is the section behind the blade.

Measure from the flat end of the bed piece on the longer side. Add a mark 2 3/4 inches down. Place the piece on the tablesaw and cut from that mark though the piece at a 57-degree angle.

Apply carpenter’s glue to one flat side of the end piece. Let the glue dry until it is sticky to the touch.

Place the end piece on the side of the fence piece that has the rabbet. The end piece should align with the end of the fence and the top, and slightly overhang into the rabbet. Apply a clamp.

Glue the throat piece onto the other end of the fence. Align it in the same way. This leaves a space between the end pieces and the throat into which the blade and wedge will go. Apply clamps and let both pieces dry.

Remove the clamps. Trace the shape of the cavity between the end and throat pieces. Copy the shape onto the smaller piece of rosewood you are using for the wedge. Use a jigsaw to cut out the shape.

Test fit the blade and the wedge into the cavity. It needed, you can use sandpaper to get the width of the wedge just right.

Use a pencil to draw a curved grip handle shape near the top of the wedge. Remove the wedge from the cavity and use a jigsaw to cut out the handle shape.

Apply glue to the faces of the end and throat pieces. Again, let it dry until sticky. Place the thin piece of beechwood onto the assembly so it aligns with the top and ends. Apply a clamp and let dry.

Use a drill press with a Forstner bit to cut a one inch wide hole just above the point where the end and throat pieces meet. This cut should be from both sides, but should only cut through the beechwood, not the rosewood.

Use a saw to cut a small gap at the bottom of the hole in the thin beech wood. This will allow wood shavings to escape.

Use a router to bevel the edges of your new plow plane. Sand the plane and apply a thin coat of oil. Once it dries, the plane is ready to use.