Fall 2003
Center for Essential Education
Page 12
School of Woodworking Newsletter
The Frog Adjustment
The main body of ninety percent of hand smoothing planes is made from
two metal cast parts held together with two set screws. The larger
part is called the sole and the minor part is a block of cast iron
called the frog. This frog can be moved forward towards the toe of
the plane or moved back towards the heel. The frog holds the cutting
iron assembly which facilitates the forward movement of the cutting
iron in the mouth of the plane body.
Generally speaking, once you find a setting you are happy with you
will probably never adjust this feature, but you do need to know it’s
there. The main reason for the frog is to enable you to close up the
mouth of the plane which then reduces, though only fractionally, the
possibility of ripping the grain fibers from the wood being planed.
