buying hand planes

[Phil Pascoe]

Never found a use for a 4 1/2 - too close to the 5 1/2, but the 5 is a big step away and very useful.

It's all a matter of choice/taste - I've never seen the need for a No.5, which is probably the commonest of all, and most people's starting point. I've got 4s to an 8 and use the 4 1/2 (a frankenplane ) most, followed by the 5 1/2.

 

[Jameshow]

No 4 the most common followed by no5 then 3,4 1/2, 5 1/2, 6,7,8

Most of the junk is no4 too.

Some no5 are cheap too, but make good scrubbing planes.

No 3 678 are old££ + neo planes£££ + faithfull£!

Cheers James

 

[Bm101]

Well if you want I have a Record 5 for sale. I think It's an old school one. Not Old Skool! Old school. From a school. It has green paint on the back. Everything works well. I have fettled all the matching metal etc. It's sharp and works well. I have never used a 5 1/2 but if I could only have one plane I would choose a 5. It does everything ok without specialising too much. It would come ina box ready to take shaving rather than trying to learn to fettle a plane etc.
I can post pictures etc. £35 plus post PM me if you fancy being assured of a good user.

 

[MJP]

-and when we are finally free again, don't forget boot sales - I picked up a very nice No 3 for a fiver in one of my local ones just before lockdown, and I often see No 4s knocking about for much the same price.
Martin.

 

[JohnCee]

If I buy a plane that needs flattening, I send it to Ray Iles for surface grinding. He does a lovely job and is very reasonably priced. With a nice sharp blade installed, the Stanleys/Records he's done for me work every bit as well as a "premium" plane.

 

[shed9]

If I buy a plane that needs flattening, I send it to Ray Iles for surface grinding. He does a lovely job and is very reasonably priced. With a nice sharp blade installed, the Stanleys/Records he's done for me work every bit as well as a "premium" plane.

I didn't know they offered that service, good to know.

 

[smackie]

To me, a different tool, the no.5 plane seems tippy in comparison.
I really love the no.5 1/2.

Definitely agree on the 5 1/2 as solid plane for the length. I like my No 5 but if I need something that size, the width of the 5 1/2 feels a lot more stable on the work.

I’ve cleaned up quite a few No 4s. I’m not sure if we’ve plumbed the bottom of the old plane well yet but the last few “restoration” ones I’ve seen listed were pretty grim and still north of £25.

 

[okeydokey]

Another vote for No 3, I bought a wreck a few years ago and after cleaning sharpening and repairing the handle its a lightweight dream, does the smaller tasks with ease.
Have too many others all bought used in need of tlc some still haven't had the treatment yet.

 

[shed9]

If you don't have one already, I would also be looking at a decent block plane and personally I would start out with a Luban / QS adjustable mouth plane. It gives you some indication of the quality of that tooling without too much investment but you will equally get your money's worth. It will also give you some level of comparison in the difference between a used tool that requires fettling to a new one requiring less.

 

[msparker]

I can't see any mention of tooltique in there so I thought I'd throw it in. Used tool site that refurbishes all the tools before selling including grinding flat to a very small tolerance.

Their planes come in a fair bit more than on eBay but a hell of a lot less than buying a premium brand and it's a good way to know what you're getting is going to be set up perfectly. From what I've seen the more popular sizes sell quick but they put up new stock most days it seems.

 

[msparker]

If I were starting from no planes I'd buy these three on day 1 which will do everything then buy more as I fancy it.
1) Super cheap and nasty #5 with cambered iron for rough stock removal
2) Nice 5 1/2 with straight iron for almost everything else
3) low angle block plane for misc little jobs

You could also use a 5 or 5 1/2 for both rough and fine work with a 2nd iron but I like having both. I don't think you can skip the cambered iron option though if you ever want to remove any decent amount of material, it's 10x faster and easier plus loads of fun

 

[Oraclebhoy]

Look at the edge of the cap iron ( USA = chipbreaker ), where it presses onto the blade. It will need to be flat along its length so the whole length presses onto the blade. If the edge cannot be made flat enough to press fully on the blade then the blade may flutter, affecting the quality of the cut.

Wish I knew this last month, looks like the previous owner was using the middle of my cap iron as a cold chisel, not straight one bit in the middle.

 

[Jacob]

I can't see any mention of tooltique in there so I thought I'd throw it in. Used tool site that refurbishes all the tools before selling including grinding flat to a very small tolerance.

Their planes come in a fair bit more than on eBay but a hell of a lot less than buying a premium brand and it's a good way to know what you're getting is going to be set up perfectly. From what I've seen the more popular sizes sell quick but they put up new stock most days it seems.

Knowing how long it can take to get an old plane up and working, Tooltiques prices look pretty reasonable.
I'm at it at the mo trying to thin out my collection and get them on ebay in usable nick. I like doing it but there's not much profit in it!

 

[Oraclebhoy]

Anyone bought a plane from here? - K & M Wholesale Suppliers Ltd

I bought a BK3 MK2 bandsaw fence from them and it looks ok and does the job. Was thinking of buying one of their value planes to see if it’s better than the eBay scrap I currently have

Edit: just notice these are faithful planes. Now if I remember right, I’m sure I read that the Jack plane isn’t too bad but the smaller ones aren’t that good??

 

[Jacob]

Wish I knew this last month, looks like the previous owner was using the middle of my cap iron as a cold chisel, not straight one bit in the middle.

Flat and slightly undercut so that the front edge stays tight on the blade. If there's a little gap shavings can get jammed in.
Also helps if its polished up at the front as it reduces friction as shavings get forced over it.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

If you don't have one already, I would also be looking at a decent block plane ...

We can go around in circles here - I've a perfect older Stanley block plane and I think I've used about three times in thirty years.

 

[Jacob]

We can go around in circles here - I've a perfect older Stanley block plane and I think I've used about three times in thirty years.

On the other hand, while I was doing a lot of site work my block plane was the most used of all. For all sorts of little finishing off touches and scribing things to fit. Stanley 220 - the older pattern with a wooden finger rest - dead basic and very good, lighter than the later version.
n.b. There's a myth that block planes have something to do with butchers blocks and end grain but it's nonsense - they just share the name "block".

 

[shed9]

We can go around in circles here - I've a perfect older Stanley block plane and I think I've used about three times in thirty years.

Yeah, but there will never be a one size fits all answer. People need to find what works for them and the basis of this thread is collating those opinions.

 

[Daniel2]

We can go around in circles here - I've a perfect older Stanley block plane and I think I've used about three times in thirty years.

Which demonstrates just how different we all are
My block plane is the only one that never even gets put away.
I use it so much and it lives on a shelf just behind the bench.

 

[JohnCee]

Knowing how long it can take to get an old plane up and working, Tooltiques prices look pretty reasonable.
I'm at it at the mo trying to thin out my collection and get them on ebay in usable nick. I like doing it but there's not much profit in it!

I think that unless you enjoy restoring old planes (and nothing wrong with that) and/or you don't place any monetary value on your time, the Tooltique planes look like a no-brainer for the money. If they are indeed restored/flattened to the standard they claim (and I see no reason to doubt that).