Throat Opening on a Block Plane

Controlling the throat opening of your block plane is important for easily switching between cutting on the end grain and long grain. Widening the opening when you are cutting on the long grain will yield thinner, consecutive strips so that the block plane doesn’t catch or get jammed. But, if you are working on the end grain, a simple turn of the knob allows you to close the throat and slice off smaller chips. In any instance, changing the size of the opening on your block plane will make your job easier.