What size hand plane do I need?

My personal recommendation for a first hand plane is a number 4 or 4-1⁄2 because with a smaller sole it can take shavings readily almost anywhere on a board. If it comes time to joint a long surface, place a straightedge on the surface of the board. The straightedge will show where the highspots are on the board.

What hand planes do what?

A hand plane is a tool for shaping wood using muscle power to force the cutting blade over the wood surface.

What is an infill block plane?

A: At its core, Marvin, an infill plane consists of a metal body with wood components tightly fit (“infilled”) into the interior voids. These handmade tools come in different styles (smoother, shoulder, miter, and panel), and perform essentially the same functions as antique and modern cast planes.