Block Plane

A block plane is a small, one-handed plane, distinct from a full-size bench plane mainly in how its iron sits: bevel-up rather than bevel-down, and usually at a lower overall cutting angle. That lower angle is specifically suited to slicing across end grain cleanly, which a standard bevel-down bench plane, set up for face-grain work, handles less gracefully.

It's the plane reached for constantly for small jobs a full bench plane would be overkill for -- easing a sharp edge, trimming a proud joint flush, knocking down a stubborn drawer front by a hair, chamfering an edge -- one-handed, often without even a bench to brace against. Its size and low price relative to a full bench plane set make it the one plane a lot of otherwise power-tool-only woodworkers still own and reach for.