rautahöylä

Rautahöylä is a Finnish term that translates to "iron plane" or "metal plane" in English. It refers to a hand plane, a woodworking tool used to shave thin layers of wood from a workpiece. Historically, hand planes were made with wooden bodies, but as metalworking advanced, cast iron planes became more common due to their durability, weight, and ability to hold a sharp edge effectively.

These tools are essential for shaping and smoothing wood surfaces, achieving precise dimensions, and creating joints. The Rautahöylä typically consists of a metal body, a blade (iron or steel), and an adjustable mechanism to control the depth of the cut. Different types of Rautahöylä exist for various tasks, such as smoothing planes for general finishing, jack planes for initial shaping, and block planes for smaller tasks or end grain.

The use of a Rautahöylä requires skill and practice to achieve accurate and smooth results. The user pushes or pulls the plane along the wood surface, applying consistent pressure. The angle of the blade and the amount of exposure are adjusted to suit the type of wood and the desired outcome. Despite the advent of power tools, Rautahöylä remain popular among woodworkers for their precision, tactile feedback, and the satisfaction of working wood with hand tools.