Krenov’s Hand Planes

Krenov’s Handplanes

Assorted woods and dimensions.

While Krenov’s biggest impact on woodworking would be made by his writing and his cabinetmaking practice, his championing of user-made wooden hand planes, such as those presented here, represent a secondary and wide-reaching part of his legacy.

Krenov referred to the hand plane as the “Cabinetmaker’s Violin,” indicative of his penchant for their use in his craft. In making his own planes, Krenov was able to fashion a wide range of tools for a variety of tasks used in the execution of his work, including their use in concave and curved pieces.

In nearly every class he taught, both those here at the school in Northern California and around the world over his five-decade career, Krenov taught his students to make these simple laminated wood planes, which many now refer to as “Krenov planes,” bestowing the tool with the name of its champion.