Why did nineteenth-century joiners use many different types of planes?

In the early 19th century, joiners utilized a wide variety of planes because they were responsible for creating all necessary components—such as moldings, rabbets, and joints—by hand before the widespread availability of machine-made stock and mill-planed lumber.1

Because a multipurpose tool cannot perform specific tasks as effectively as one designed for a single job, skilled craftspeople developed specialized tools to address unique requirements. For instance, while bench planes were used for surfacing panels or creating straight edges, the prevailing taste for decorative features like moldings and beadings in 17th- and 18th-century woodworking necessitated the creation of specialized molding planes with profiled irons and fluted soles. Consequently, a joiner’s kit often contained dozens of different planes to accommodate the specific profiles and joinery techniques required for their work.12