Synopsis: Garrett Hack keeps his two favorite two block planes close at hand whenever he’s working. He uses his Veritas apron plane set up for a thicker cut to remove the bulk of the material, and then switches to a larger, Lie-Nielsen No 60-1/2 to take thin, delicate shavings.

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Every handplane has its own personality. It may take a few months to figure out, but once you discover what a plane does really well, how best to tune it, how tight the throat can be, and which bevel angle works best on the blade, the tool really begins to sing. This is certainly true of my two favorite block planes, which are always close at hand. The larger, a lie-Nielsen No. 60 1⁄2, is set up to be precise. It has an adjustable mouth that I keep tight, a firmly bedded blade, and ample weight, making it perfect for…