Sam Maloof described their use in chairmaking: "Once I have roughed out the arm on the bandsaw, I use a Surform® (Stanley® model No. 295). This tool does about the same job as a spokeshave -- it can take off a lot of wood very quickly -- but I can use it without worrying about grain direction."

In farriery, surforms are used to remove excess hoof wall from a horse's hoof. They may also be used to "manicure elephants'