Easy-to-Install Planing Stop

Tool: BT&C Planing Stop
Manufacturer: Brooklyn Tool & Craft
Price: $19

Traditionally, installing a planing stop on your bench involves a big square mortise and a recess for the stop to lay flush with the top when it’s not in use. I didn’t want to modify my bench that much, which is why the BT&C planing stop caught my eye. The stop itself may look simple, but there’s a fair amount of engineering at work. First, there are five teeth that are spaced to bite into the end grain of a board, both on edge or on its face (and to work with both thin and thick stock on edge). Second, the teeth are scalloped, so as you plane toward them, your board is forced toward the bench. Third, the hole spacing for attaching the dog means you can securely attach it to the top of a 3/4″ dog, which is the way I first used it (I didn’t have to modify my bench at all). The best mounting method I found, though, was their recommendation to use a machine screw and barrel nut. I can quickly loosen the stop and swivel it out of the way when it’s not in use.