drawknife

tool

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Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

A drawknife is a woodworking tool used for shaving surfaces of wood. It features a blade with a handle at each end, allowing the user to pull the tool towards themselves to remove material. While it functions similarly to a spokeshave by lifting shavings, the drawknife lacks the precise thickness control of a plane. It is considered a roughing tool, effective for quickly removing excess wood, but requires skill to use as the depth of cut is controlled by the blade's tilt. The drawknife is an older tool, with evidence of its use dating back to Viking times.12

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hand tool
Plane
The drawknife is a handled blade that is pulled toward the operator. It is a rather questionable relative of the plane, for, though it lifts shavings in a similar manner, it lacks the positive thickness control of the plane. The tangs at the ends of the…
Read More
The drawknife is a handled blade that is pulled toward the operator. It is a rather questionable relative of the plane, for, though it lifts shavings in a similar manner, it lacks the positive thickness control of the plane. The tangs at the ends of the…
Read More