No. 01
The No. 4 Smoother
BENCH PLANE · No. 4 · 2-IN IRON
SMOOTHING · FINAL PASS
A nine-inch sole and a two-inch iron — the last plane to touch the wood before finish.
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- 1Tote (rear grip)
- 2Mouth & frog
Bench spec
- Sole
- 9 in · No. 4 bench
- Iron
- 2 in, bevel-down
- Bed angle
- 45° common pitch
- Best for
- Smoothing to finish
On the bench
The No. 4 is the default smoother: nine inches of sole riding the high spots while the cap iron, set a hair back from the edge, folds each shaving before it can lift the grain and tear. Close the mouth at the frog for figured stock, take a wisp of a cut, and it leaves a surface no sandpaper improves.
Common miss · ✗
Cap iron set too far back
Back the chip-breaker off the edge and figured grain tears out; close it to a shaving’s width and the same board comes up glassy.
Take it further
Read the deeper field guides, compare vetted picks, or carry the drawing as original merch in the shop.