Hand Plane & Knife Making Kits – Build Your Own Tools

Hand Plane & Knife Making Kits for Woodworkers Who Build Their Own Tools

There is a particular satisfaction in using a tool you made yourself, and hand plane and knife kits put that experience within reach of any motivated woodworker. These kits supply the precision-machined metal components—blade, hardware, and assembly parts—while you supply the wooden body, handle, or scales, giving you complete control over materials, fit, and aesthetics.

The Hock Krenov-style plane kit includes a Hock high-carbon steel plane iron and chip breaker, allowing you to build a Krenov-style wooden body plane to your own dimensions and wood choice. Hock Tools is a respected American maker of premium replacement blades known for their superior steel and edge retention. The Hock Tools chef knife making kit provides a precision-ground high-carbon blade with a full tang, plus all hardware needed to complete a professional chef knife with your own handle material.

Hock Plane Iron Assembly and Replacement Blades

If you already own a wooden plane body or need to upgrade an existing plane, the Hock plane iron assembly is available separately. These irons fit a wide range of wooden plane bodies and are a significant upgrade over stock irons in most manufactured planes. For ready-to-use hand planes and spokeshaves, explore the hand planes & spokeshaves collection, or browse chisels and carving tools to complete your hand tool shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in a Krenov-style hand plane kit?

The Hock Krenov-style plane kit includes a precision-ground high-carbon steel plane iron and chip breaker with all the hardware needed to complete the plane. You provide the wooden body, which you make and shape yourself to your preferred dimensions and style.

What wood should I use to make the body of a Krenov-style plane?

Dense, stable hardwoods work best for hand plane bodies. Hard maple, cherry, beech, and rosewood are popular choices because they resist wear at the sole and hold their shape over years of use. The wood should be thoroughly dried and stable before milling to final dimensions.

What steel does Hock use in their plane irons and knife blades?

Hock Tools uses high-carbon steel for their plane irons and knife blades, ground and heat-treated to a hardness that achieves excellent edge retention while remaining practical to sharpen. Hock irons are widely considered an upgrade over the irons shipped with most entry-level and mid-range planes.

Can I use a Hock plane iron in a metal Stanley-style bench plane?

Hock plane irons are designed for wooden-body Krenov-style planes in the kit configuration. The Hock plane iron assembly is intended for wooden plane bodies; verify the specific dimensions and width match your plane before purchasing.

How difficult is it to make a hand plane from a kit?

A Krenov-style plane kit is an intermediate woodworking project. You need the ability to accurately mill flat, square stock and cut a precise mouth opening for the blade. The hardware and blade are pre-made, so the challenge is woodworking, not metalwork. Many makers complete their first plane in a weekend.

What handle materials work for the chef knife kit?

Virtually any stable hardwood, stabilized wood, G10 fiberglass composite, or other durable material can be used for handle scales on the chef knife kit. The full-tang design gives you a wide range of scale options.

Are knife making kits a good gift for woodworkers?

Yes. A hand plane or knife making kit makes an excellent gift for woodworkers who appreciate craft and making. Pair it with a quality chisel from the chisels collection or a finishing tool for a complete workshop gift.

What is the difference between a jack plane and a smoothing plane for beginners?

A jack plane is a longer, cambered-iron plane used for rapid material removal and initial flattening. A smoothing plane is shorter with a finely set, straight-edged iron used last to bring a surface to finish quality. Beginners often start with a smoothing or block plane for versatility. See ready-to-use options in the hand planes & spokeshaves collection.

How do I sharpen a Hock plane iron?

Hock irons are sharpened like any premium plane iron: flatten the back first on a waterstone or diamond plate, then hone the bevel through progressive grits until a clean burr peels away. The high-carbon steel responds well to both waterstone and oil stone sharpening. Visit the learning blog for detailed sharpening guides.

What is Infinity Tools’ return and quality policy on tool kits?

Infinity Tools stands behind all the products it sells. For information on returns, warranty, and quality guarantees, visit the quality guarantee page.

Hand Plane & Knife Kits