The World Doesn’t Need Plane-Adjusting Hammers

There are no less than a dozen “plane-adjusting hammers” on the market today. They are made quite well. They do what is asked of them.

Oh, and – ha-ha – they are unnecessary. Like saw-tensioning lube. Plane chapeaus. Chisel bolsters. And honing guide shock absorbers.

If you are looking for an historical plane-adjusting hammer, please first consult “Smith’s Key.” It’s the earliest-known complete woodworking tool catalog (circa 1816). It has everything, from drawknives to skiving knives to 247 kinds of dinner knives. But it has zero plane-adjusting hammers.

Huh. That’s weird. People needed to adjust their handplanes a lot back then. Why were there no hammers specifically designed to do so?

Because it’s a silly tool. It’s better at separating 21st-century beginners from their money than it is at adjusting handplanes.