Typically, woodworkers who make their own handplane find building and using their self-made planes an extremely satisfying experience. Not only because they build a tool for themselves, but they discover that the wood handplanes are more immediate and to-the-touch than metal planes. Of course metal planes have their many uses-no doubt. However, using wooden handplanes- especially ones you molded to your own hands - are unlike a generic manufactured metal plane in that they help a woodworker become facile, not only at planing and shaping wood but also with tuning the plane and becoming fluid in its use -- both "at-one" with the tool and the work at hand.

If you are interested in taking a class in making wooden handplanes, keep your eyes on the Internet. Some schools or individual teaching woodworkers teach plane making as part of a 2-day, one week or several month program. It's worth your time to go online and look around for a school that suit your needs. Although not a complete list-some courses are not yet listed, or were recently held-below is a sampling of what's out there at 7 different schools: