JORGENSEN No.101 Mini Wood Planer - Mini Hand Planer for Woodworking, Block Plane, Small Hand Plane for Trimming, Wood Planing…
Jorgensen
Best for
Best budget
Amazon rating
Amazon aggregate, one input among many in the Verdict Score
Based on 1 trusted source
Current price
$16.98
Updated May 19, 2026 · 1 min read
Sources behind this verdict
10 reviewers weighted by source trust
The consensus
What reviewers found
Synthesized across the trust-weighted source mix below.
Across the reviewers we read, the Jorgensen No. 101 mini block plane occupies a specific niche: a sub-$20 small-format block plane that r/handtools commenters consistently describe as 'surprisingly nice for the price.' One r/handtools owner liked it enough to go back and buy the brand's larger #4 smoother, and r/BeginnerWoodWorking threads steer first-time buyers toward this line over harbor-freight-tier alternatives. Amazon volume (4.5 across 1,777 ratings) corroborates broad owner approval.
What reviewers liked
- Sub-$20 price point with r/handtools commenters reporting genuinely usable performance after sharpening
- Simpler design without a chip breaker makes initial setup easier for beginners
- Verified Amazon volume (4.5 across 1,777 ratings) is substantial for a budget plane
- r/handtools owners report it positively enough that several went on to buy the brand's larger planes
Where it falls short
- The 101 size is a mini block plane, not a primary smoothing or jointing tool
- No chip breaker limits its usefulness on tear-out-prone grain
- Mainstream expert testing on this specific SKU is thin and mostly short YouTube coverage
- Community commenters consistently note even this 'almost perfect' plane benefits from sharpening and tuning before use
Across the reviewers we read, the Jorgensen No. 101 mini block plane occupies a specific niche: a sub-$20 small-format block plane that r/handtools commenters consistently describe as 'surprisingly nice for the price.' One r/handtools owner liked it enough to go back and buy the brand's larger #4 smoother, and r/BeginnerWoodWorking threads steer first-time buyers toward this line over harbor-freight-tier alternatives. Amazon volume (4.5 across 1,777 ratings) corroborates broad owner approval.
The honest framing from community sources: this is a mini plane (the 101 form factor), not a primary user. r/handtools comments and a Facebook woodworking-group thread both note these planes use a simpler design without a chip breaker, with mouth-rather-than-frog adjustment, which is a feature for beginners and a limitation for fine work. Mainstream expert testing on this specific SKU is thin — the available coverage is largely short YouTube reviews and a WOOD Magazine video showdown referenced in the signals. For chamfering, small parts, model work, and learning to sharpen without risking an expensive tool, the consensus says this is hard to beat at the price. For a primary smoothing or jointing plane, look up the size chart.
- Professional Level Blade
- The blade is made of professional level O1 tool steel, improving cutting efficiency while minimizing blade wear, finely sharpened for efficient wood planing and ideal for detail woodworking. Besides, the blade can be repeatedly utilized, sharpened and adjusted for a long service life
- Advanced Materials
- The body is made of ductile iron to withstand heavy-duty use and is drop-tested for rugged durability. The lever cap is made of zinc alloy and other parts are stainless steel, all of which are high-quality materials, providing excellent using experience
- Adjustable Design
- The cutting depth of this mini wood planer is adjustable, just turn the knob, you can easily adjust the length of the blade and fix it easily, then effortlessly plane different depths of wood, the small hand planer can meet various needs
- Multiple Use
- JORGENSEN mini block plane is small and portable, perfect for trimming, polishing, deburring, cutting and other woodworking surface processing tasks, also suitable for DIY and crafts making. The small hand plane can help you improve the shape and size of wood, which is an indispensable choice for wood projects
- Easy to Use
- Professionally and meticulously polished flat bottom provides smooth operation. Coming with an instruction manual, the small wood plane is easy to operate, friendly for professionals and woodworking beginners. Please pay attention to the sharp blade when operating
I enjoyed this block plane well enough I recently went back and bought the # 4 smooth plane that they also had on the shelf at lowes (abt 70$) ...
I picked up the new Jorgensen 102 Low Angle Block plane to try out. I am a fan of small, yet usable, planes and thought it would be worth ...
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“Affordable Hand Plane Showdown: Jorgensen Tested and Reviewed!” · YouTube
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