Hi Gang
Well this is a bit of a first for me as I am not much of a hand tool user yet. However following a few hints I managed to get agreement for a nice plane for my birthday (I also got a No4 and some Footprint chisels but they will be reviewed later). This first review is just for the 60.5 and with the exception of using my dad's tools about 30 years ago is the first time I have used a decent plane so my comparisons are very much as a newby. I was very tempted with the LV/LV block planes but the cost just was a mental block for me and I would only have been able to have the one plane. I did take a look and I can see why they are popular but anyhoo, we are here for Stanley.
I think part of me has an affection for the Stanley name, it seems like a very traditional and reliable name, so when it was announced a while back that they would be releasing an updated range of planes, my interest was piqued, so much so that as soon as I had the new Tilgear catalogue I wizzed down there and purchased the 60.5.
Here it is in its box and packaging:
And in its paper wrapping
It seemed very heavy to me which feels nice and the shape of the dimple in the side fits the fingers well. The other thing that struck me was the quality of the casting and how well finished the ductile Iron body was.
The second item that impressed me was the thickness of the blade and how easy it was to disassemble the plane into its constituant parts, all of which are reallly well machined with smooth operation.
The adjustable mouth is a bit of a mystery to me, I can see how it works, I just don't know why? Or what determines how you set it. I set it about 1mm from the blade once I set the depth which seemed to work ok.
The adjuster is a Norris type I am reliably informed and it is fantastic, especially coming from el B&Q special. The adjuster is real smooth and the side to side adjustment is so easy to use I am very impressed. The Black thingy that holds the blade in place is an Aluminium alloy I guess as it is pretty light but the brass tightening adjuster works well and you can set it very accurately to allow for adjusting with some drag on the blade to get very fine settings.
The blade is chunky as I mentioned before and I have not sharpened it yet as my workshop is in turmoil due to major reorganisation. However the bevel was mirror like at the tip (not quite captured that in the picture but trust me it was) but the back could certainly use finishing off. Does one use a micro bevel on a Block plane - that would change the angle wouldn't it? Told you I was a newby!
I cleaned it up and set up for some shavings and this is what I got:
I was very happy with the planing along the grain but was struggling a bit with cross grain but that might be a combination of my poor technique and the blade not being as sharp as it could be although it cut hairs from my arm very effectively. Also the wood I had to hand was some rough old pine and Iroko, not sure if these are difficult or not.
I hope this has been of use to you all, I would highly recommend the plane with the caveat of my limited experience. No4 to follow soon I hope.
Well this is a bit of a first for me as I am not much of a hand tool user yet. However following a few hints I managed to get agreement for a nice plane for my birthday (I also got a No4 and some Footprint chisels but they will be reviewed later). This first review is just for the 60.5 and with the exception of using my dad's tools about 30 years ago is the first time I have used a decent plane so my comparisons are very much as a newby. I was very tempted with the LV/LV block planes but the cost just was a mental block for me and I would only have been able to have the one plane. I did take a look and I can see why they are popular but anyhoo, we are here for Stanley.
I think part of me has an affection for the Stanley name, it seems like a very traditional and reliable name, so when it was announced a while back that they would be releasing an updated range of planes, my interest was piqued, so much so that as soon as I had the new Tilgear catalogue I wizzed down there and purchased the 60.5.
Here it is in its box and packaging:
And in its paper wrapping
It seemed very heavy to me which feels nice and the shape of the dimple in the side fits the fingers well. The other thing that struck me was the quality of the casting and how well finished the ductile Iron body was.
The second item that impressed me was the thickness of the blade and how easy it was to disassemble the plane into its constituant parts, all of which are reallly well machined with smooth operation.
The adjustable mouth is a bit of a mystery to me, I can see how it works, I just don't know why? Or what determines how you set it. I set it about 1mm from the blade once I set the depth which seemed to work ok.
The adjuster is a Norris type I am reliably informed and it is fantastic, especially coming from el B&Q special. The adjuster is real smooth and the side to side adjustment is so easy to use I am very impressed. The Black thingy that holds the blade in place is an Aluminium alloy I guess as it is pretty light but the brass tightening adjuster works well and you can set it very accurately to allow for adjusting with some drag on the blade to get very fine settings.
The blade is chunky as I mentioned before and I have not sharpened it yet as my workshop is in turmoil due to major reorganisation. However the bevel was mirror like at the tip (not quite captured that in the picture but trust me it was) but the back could certainly use finishing off. Does one use a micro bevel on a Block plane - that would change the angle wouldn't it? Told you I was a newby!
I cleaned it up and set up for some shavings and this is what I got:
I was very happy with the planing along the grain but was struggling a bit with cross grain but that might be a combination of my poor technique and the blade not being as sharp as it could be although it cut hairs from my arm very effectively. Also the wood I had to hand was some rough old pine and Iroko, not sure if these are difficult or not.
I hope this has been of use to you all, I would highly recommend the plane with the caveat of my limited experience. No4 to follow soon I hope.
