Question: what is the difference between a block plane and a smoothing plane?
Answer: A block plane is only 6 to 7 inches long. On a standard-angle block plane, the blade is set at 20 degrees. On a low-angle block plane is set at 12 degrees, as this is more suitable for adjusting miters and cutting end grain. Bench planes come in different sizes, with more specific names depending on the size.