Dnorris1369 Posted July 9, 2014 Report Share Posted July 9, 2014 I'm looking to start exploring hand planes. Mainly like to use power tools but I am learning hand planes are a big must for many projects. I've tinkered with the cheap ones from big box stores but haven't had much luck. Looking suggestions on brands and types to get started. Thanks Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted July 9, 2014 Report Share Posted July 9, 2014 I have been real happy with the block plane I got from Lee Valley/ Veritas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Tarbell Posted July 10, 2014 Report Share Posted July 10, 2014 I'm also a beginner and my route so far has been to buy old stanleys. I'm sure the pricier brands such as Veritas or Lie Nielson are great but they're more than i can justify paying for a hand tool without having proper experience myself. The stanleys have a large following of collectors, which has the usefulness of lots of identifying information about each plane throughout the years. In piecing this together, i've come to lean toward buying stanleys made between 1885-1941. These ones can be identified by having a lateral adjuster, the solid-faced frog, and a keyhole shaped hole in the levercap (vs the kidney shape). These models supposedly had fewer issues with quality due to world war II. It's also worth noting that Stanely had offered cheaper planes under various names that you likely want to avoid(Handyman, Two-Tone, Defiance, Four Square, Victor). Bedrock models are the most sought-after, but this typically causes their price to be high. A standard stanley from before ww2 is typically only $20-50. They often require a bit of cleanup in that price range, but you know you have a solid foundation where you can make something nice - which is often not a possibility with the new planes in that price range. http://virginiatoolworks.com/tools/stanley-planes/bailey-type-study/ https://home.comcast.net/~rexmill/planes101/typing/typing.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted July 10, 2014 Report Share Posted July 10, 2014 Not sure where you are geographically D nor your budget but the higher end planes LV/LN/Clifton are superb. If you find them a little pricey you could go for the WoodRiver/Quangsheng planes which are also very good. There is lots of information on the internet, including this forum, showing how to renovate planes. If you own or have used a high end plane it does make it easier when you try to tune an old Stanley plane to that standard. You have something to aim for.It may be better to start with something which is great straight from the box, like the afore mentioned brands, as the popular types of plane (block, smoother) are not massively expensive considering the results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G S Haydon Posted July 10, 2014 Report Share Posted July 10, 2014 Lowest point of entry for something decent will be Wood River, above this LN, LV all have good offerings. As much as I was pleased with my version of the Wood River it's moved on and I'm using mainly wooden planes. However stick with a decent metal bodied plane, it will form a solid foundation to build from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted July 10, 2014 Report Share Posted July 10, 2014 I have three questions, before I give advise. :-) 1. what types of projects do you do most often? 2. what kind of budget do you have? 3. do you have sharpening media or do you need to buy that as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnorris1369 Posted July 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2014 Well I'm fairly new to woodworking. I've done a cabinet. A few tables and some small boxes and shop stuff. I'm doing a lot of the guild builds. I'm doing the greene and greene mirror next. And really wanna start a hope chest project around end of summer. My budget is not sky high but I don't wanna buy junk either I don't see myself ever being strictly hand tool also but I see it's an important part. I bought the work sharp system a couple months ago and used on some chisels but that is all I currently have Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted July 10, 2014 Report Share Posted July 10, 2014 since your doing a lot of small stuff right now, I'd recommend the LV apron plane. http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=46791&cat=1,41182,48942 You can use it for chamfering edges, and knocking dowels flush, etc. I'd recommend you get some more sharpening equipment before you move up bench planes, because in my opinion the work sharp and scary sharp combo, does get you a fine enough edge for smothing planes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie Posted July 11, 2014 Report Share Posted July 11, 2014 So many factors come into play with hand plane selection, all stemming down to you, the end user. I started off with a $20 stanley block from lowes, and didn't know how to properly sharpen or use for a couple years. Then I treated myself to a woodriver #4 one birthday, and sorta became interested in hand planes. Once I really wanted to learn how to properly maintain and use them, I finally discovered how great hand planes are. I now have a small fleet of Lie Nielsen and Veritas, and the best way to put it is that they are porn that you are legally allowed to leave out on display without receiving dirty looks. I still use my woodriver smoother set at standard pitch. I have my LN bronze smoother set at middle pitch. Yes, the woodriver has a bit of slop in the depth adjustment, but it's certainly not a deal breaker, or something that will prevent you from using the tool. I bring my cheap stanley block with me for all my trim jobs, its great to have. With a sharp blade and a lapped sole, it never lets me down. With that being said, even with a collection of more expensive hand planes, my less expensive ones do not collect dust in any way. Once you learn how to put a surgical tip on your irons, you will be cooking with whatever you plan to use, "plane" and simple. See what I just did there? Hand tool humor 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellardoor Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 From my standpoint as a new, but not too new, woodworker I'd say that you should at least try out a higher-end plane like Lie Nielsen or Veritas at some point. Not just hold and examine it, but work some wood with it. A hand tool event by LN is the perfect opportunity. I say this because I didn't really have a bench-mark for a hand plane's operability until I got a LN low angle jack. That gave me so much personal experience as to what a perfectly tuned up plane could do that A. the quality of my work sky-rocketed in a very short space of time and B. the tuning I have done on older planes has really taken off since I have a much better understanding of what I need to get out of the tool. I feel like I would not be continuing to pursue a hand-tool only shop if I'd stayed with older rehabbed planes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G S Haydon Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 Very sensible SW. One decent tool give you a benchmarch. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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