Mujingfang Mini Smoother—A Mini Review

by Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia

The Mujinfang “mini smoother” is a fantastic little plane. Nearly identical (but a fraction of the cost) of the HNT Gordon “palm smoother”. 1⁄8" O1 or HSS (could be either, likely to be the latter) blade bedded at 60°. Finish is about 90% of the HNT Gordon.

It is about the same size as the average block plane (that is a 4" square in the image below). It can be used like a block plane for cleaning up small areas, trimming or chamfering face grain, and removing tearout on small sections of gnarly wood. I hone the bevel at 30°. As with the HNT Gordon planes, the blade can be reversed and it used as a scraper plane. I have not found a wood that this plane cannot tame.

Mine is built of ebony and has a tight, brass edged mouth.

Setting the blade is the same as with all woodies, but I do find mine to be a little more sensitive to the amount of malleting it receives—it is easy to overdo it. It is possible to set it with finger pressure alone, then firm the wedge with a very light tap.

At its price (about $25 AUS locally) it is just an absolute bargain. Everyone should own one! I have used the Mujingfang and HNT Gordon minis side-by-side. They feel the same, look the same, taste…The blades are the same size and thickness, the bodies are the same size and shape. The HNT Gordon is better finished, but the difference is not much.

Here is the HNT Gordon Palm Smoother in ironwood…

Cost no object? I would have the HNT Gordon. But at $165 versus the $25 for the Muji…

You may want to try the following idea for setting up this plane. The mini smoother ideally should be set for a very fine shaving. Terry Gordon has recommended using a flat hardwood setting block upon which the plane is rested as the blade is inserted, etc.

For about the past year now I have been using a setting block that consists of a sheet of glass. While this may at first sound as if it could damage the blade's edge, it does not do so—possibly because the surface is so smooth. The hardness limits the blade's projection, and the result is a very fine shaving. You can always deepen it with a tap from a mallet.