Watched a guy scribe a full kitchen with just a block plane and a pencil in Nashville

I was at a cabinet shop in Nashville last month helping with a install and this older guy pulls out a #4 block plane and starts scribing a whole run of uppers to the wall. No jigsaw, no belt sander, just shavings and a sharp pencil. He got each piece within 1/32" in like 4 minutes flat. I've been using a oscillating multi-tool for years and it takes me at least 10-15 minutes per cabinet to get it right. Has anyone else ditched power tools for hand tools on scribing? It felt way cleaner and less dust too.

2 comments

2 Comments

thompson.xena15d ago

Whoa wait, he got it within 1/32 inch with just a block plane? That's wild, I can barely get that close with my Fein tool!

webb.stella15d ago

Yeah totally agree, the block plane method is just way more controlled once you get the hang of it. The shavings tell you exactly where you're hitting and you can feather the edge so much better than a power tool that just blasts material off. Plus no dust cloud in someone's finished kitchen, that alone is worth switching for me. I think people sleep on how clean a sharp plane cuts, especially on painted cabinets where tearout is a nightmare with oscillating tools.