Best Hand Plane for Beginners?

#shorts #woodworking #bench #rexkrueger #diy #woodwork #plane

[davidgee]

Back in early 70’s my school woodworking classes provided the whole class with Stanley 5’s for general work, there were a handful of 4’s for finer finishing and a couple of 8’s with shooting boards for jointing or end grain planing. A big stack of old wooden planes we never got to use were in the store room. 2/3 staff had missing fingers from the circular saw!

[busy]

I accidentally ended up with both of these. I kept bidding on used planes on eBay, only to be outbid at the end. So I started bidding on multiples. Ended up winning the bid on a Stanley #4 and a Record #5. Best thing that could have happened. I use as you described here. The Stanley is tuned to take paper thin shavings and leaves a beautiful finish. The Record does everything else. I added a Veritas low angle block plane and I’m very content.

[MemphisCorollaS]

I’m still enjoying the Grizzly hand planes I got at your recommendation. I’d really like to know if their new premium bedrock style options are worth the step up in price as an alternative to Woodriver or the premium companies though. They currently have a 4, 5, and 6 in the bedrock style. Any plans on reviewing one of those?

[MintStiles]

I think you need both. If you are using a very accurate jack for foreplaning, it's much easier to pull out a 20 dollar smoother than trying to put in a new set of blades and fiddle with everything. If you are using a jack for smoothing, your premise is that you've already done the foreplaning with something equally as accurate. You probably can get away with either, but get both.

[potatoturtleslife]

I inherited a 5 1/2 corrugated plane from my grandfather. I like it more than my other planes.

[agluebottle]

My #4 used to be my daily driver, but I too have mostly supplanted it with my #5 jack plane.

[halsti]

A 62 is also nice. Very long, bevel up, does everything

[markbarrington]

I agree, but I would keep an eye out for a decent stanley bedrock plane. Seems standard stanley planes are more often beat up and need a lot of work to get fine-tuned. Or I am a snob. Haha

[jan-reiniervoute]

Depending on where you are on this earth the one is easier found than the other, grab it if condition and price are agreeable. Don´t let a nr 3 or one of the halves slide if it is within budget. Yes, both is better, a combination deal can be very nice.

[toshn]

If I can't find a vintage one, should I get the Stanley sweetheart version? Or a clone from another manufacturer?

[robertgreer]

I just bought a 4 but now ya telling me I need a 5 too, I had a feeling it would be useful! (They had plenty of 5’s at good prices so I’ll just go back)

[zacredacted]

Where do you suggest shopping for a good hand plane?

[XOR]

If one can afford it, I'll argue low angle n5 is even better for beginner: no cap iron, easy mouth opening setup.

[outersketcher]

just found a Stanley #5 at an antique mall. Wasn't looking for it. But for 29 bucks... Will need blade sharpening, and polishing of the bottom. Can't wait to use it.

[OrangeGeemer]

What about the 5 1/2?? Could that be even better?

[fancraft]

I heard that you should get a 4 and a half instead of a number 4 because it has almost the same lengh but it's wider

[insanecomicdude]

My low angle jack is the one I reach for 99 percent of the time.

[jennessalynam]

I own two no. 5 Jack plane's and two no. 4 smoothing plane's. I absolutely love them both equally, but I would have to say my no. 4 likes me more then the no. 5 lol🤣

[chinh]

I see a Stanley Bailey no. 5, 14 inch bench plane sold for 53$. I dont think this is what you are talking about. How can I tell which Stanley no. 5 is the one you are talking about?

[LaraCroftCP]

Till now i didnt got my hands on s stanley so i use all the time my short wooden smoother, a cheap metal one as a short foreplane and besides my wooden scrub, my long jointer.
But i think about building a very long leightweight wooden jack too.