Originally created to replace innumerable wooden moulding and joinery planes, early combination planes were often over complicated and difficult to set up. However, a combination plane can be invaluable for restoration work and an ideal choice when you need to make a short run of moulding. It is often easier than taking the time to set up a machine.

Veritas designed their combination plane from the ground up to eliminate problems that made using the originals so frustrating. This modern example is precisely machined, quick to adjust and holds its settings securely.

The straight cutters used together with the fence mean it can tackle fundamental joinery such as rebates, tongues and grooves. With a homemade wooden guide, the plane can cut through dadoes. To prevent tear-out in cross-grain work, adjustable scoring spurs on both the main body and sliding section score the grain ahead of the blade.

The two-part design (a main body and separate sliding section) lets you accommodate blades of different shapes and sizes to make cuts ranging from grooves as narrow as 1/8" up to 1" wide rebates. The sliding section adds stability and support to the blade, and clamps securely in place on stainless-steel rods. You can position the fence on either side, allowing you to use the plane left or right handed to accommodate grain direction. The plane comes with 2 pairs of fence rods (125mm and 200mm). A micro-adjust thumbscrew allows you to fine-tune the position of the fence. The depth stops on the body and sliding section also have threaded adjustment.

A 1/4" straight blade is included with the plane, and a selection of blades for grooving, rebating, beading, reeding, and fluting are available separately.

You can use the blades individually or in sequence to create a variety of decorative profiles, from simple to complex, from furniture edge treatments to architectural details.

The 45° blade bed can also hold any of the right-hand blades of the Veritas small plough plane. It also accepts Record 405 and Stanley 45/55 blades.

The plane is 267mm long and weighs 1.8kg. Made of stress-relieved ductile iron with brass fittings with a torrefied maple tote and fence facing.