Plow plane?

[Brian]

Does such an animal exist by way of the Japanese makers?

I'm considering a few US makers but I prefer Japanese blades.

[Chris Hall]

You mean a tool for cutting grooves?

They are called kikai-shakuri kanna 機械作里鉋

They are dedicated units, a separate plane needed for each size of groove you wish to cut - generally sized in the same increments as chisels.

Here are some examples:

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For the smallest sized grooves (3 and 4.5mm), the sole is usually brass:

kikaisakuri5.jpg (23.65 KiB) Viewed 2139 times

[Brian]

Thanks Chris,

I've seen these but did not know if there was another variety around. I guess I'm looking for something that doesnt actually exist as I'm looking for something in the way of an American plane in the way that the fence works (like a center wheel plow), but built like a japanese plane.

I feel like a range of modified Dado planes, much like the ones you posted but with self maintaining fences, would be a best of both worlds.

This is the kind of fence I am looking at;