Steve Diesel Posted June 14, 2023 Report Share Posted June 14, 2023 Was trying to look through the backlog to see if these have been discussed, but it's not letting me get off the first page of this topic, so.... Has anyone had any experience with the Bench Dog planes, especially the #4 smoothing plane or jack plane? I'm looking into one as a general purpose plane as well as a block plane for use on the road, and don't have the budget currently for the upper brands, but also don't want to go with duds from Harbor Freight or the box stores. Also, any thoughts on their chisels? Mainly I wanna know how much work I'll be doing to tune these, and if they hold a good edge for a reasonably decent period of time 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fcschoenthal Posted June 14, 2023 Report Share Posted June 14, 2023 Steve, I don't have personal experience with the Bench Dog planes, but Rob Cosman did a review about a year ago on the Bench Dog 5½ here. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Diesel Posted June 14, 2023 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2023 Steve, I don't have personal experience with the Bench Dog planes, but Rob Cosman did a review about a year ago on the Bench Dog 5½ . Thanks. Checked out the video, and rethinking my options Sent from my motorola edge plus 5G UW (2022) using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted June 14, 2023 Report Share Posted June 14, 2023 Driver. Try Ebay, you can pick up a decent #4 from Stanley at a reasonable price, you might have to spend a little time cleaning and sharpening, and setting it up, but it won't break the bank. And it'll give you some experience in how to make it do what you want. Patience is the clue in working wood. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Diesel Posted June 14, 2023 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2023 Driver. Try Ebay, you can pick up a decent #4 from Stanley at a reasonable price, you might have to spend a little time cleaning and sharpening, and setting it up, but it won't break the bank. And it'll give you some experience in how to make it do what you want. Patience is the clue in working wood.I had considered that idea, but due to the very limited time I have to do things outside of work, I'm looking for as close to working "out of the box" as I can get. Looks like Wood River is a solid option for not much more. As far as learning to tune planes, I recently cut my teeth on a cheap Dreyco #6, which consumed an entire weekend. Got it to decent but still not impressed with it as the steel in the iron just plain sucks and holds an edge like a piece of tin foil Sent from my motorola edge plus 5G UW (2022) using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted June 14, 2023 Report Share Posted June 14, 2023 I have applied the 60% rule to things for many years. If a version of something that will "get me by" is 60% of the cost of a "good" one I just save a little longer and get the "good" one. The pain of the price is quickly lost in the joy of using a quality tool. Even quality planes can require some setup out of the box but something like a Veritas will be pretty darn close for $70 more than the Bench Dog. That being said, both of my #4 size planes are Millers Falls. I popped a Veritas PM-v11 iron in each and never looked back. Saved about $100 per plane by using a quality used body and an after-market cap iron and blade. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted June 14, 2023 Report Share Posted June 14, 2023 Fwiw I started with a Woodriver #5 several years ago and while I now have probably 2-3 dozen planes from Lee Nielsen, Veritas, etc I still love that WR plane and hold it as one of my favorites. If you can go to a store where you can try them and get what feels good and performs how you would like for the cost you want to spend. I find hand planes to be a very personal decision so get what feels good! I know many like low angle planes I have tried three, sold two, and would sell the last one if I had the opportunity I much prefer to be able to adjust the blade while planing over any benefit the blade angle provides. Again its just a very personal thing so get what works for you! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Diesel Posted June 14, 2023 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2023 Fwiw I started with a Woodriver #5 several years ago and while I now have probably 2-3 dozen planes from Lee Nielsen, Veritas, etc I still love that WR plane and hold it as one of my favorites. If you can go to a store where you can try them and get what feels good and performs how you would like for the cost you want to spend. I find hand planes to be a very personal decision so get what feels good! I know many like low angle planes I have tried three, sold two, and would sell the last one if I had the opportunity I much prefer to be able to adjust the blade while planing over any benefit the blade angle provides. Again its just a very personal thing so get what works for you!Thanks for this! Definitely eyeing that #5, and the reviews I've seen mostly rave over it, so unless I can finesse the extra amount for a Veritas this is probably the route I'm gonna goSent from my motorola edge plus 5G UW (2022) using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted June 14, 2023 Report Share Posted June 14, 2023 On 6/14/2023 at 5:51 AM, Steve Diesel said: I had considered that idea, but due to the very limited time I have to do things outside of work, I'm looking for as close to working "out of the box" as I can get. Looks like Wood River is a solid option for not much more. As far as learning to tune planes, I recently cut my teeth on a cheap Dreyco #6, which consumed an entire weekend. Got it to decent but still not impressed with it as the steel in the iron just plain sucks and holds an edge like a piece of tin foil Sent from my motorola edge plus 5G UW (2022) using Tapatalk What are you using for sharpening? Later today I plan on sending you a PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post fcschoenthal Posted June 14, 2023 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 14, 2023 Steve, if I remember correctly, you're currently in the DFW area. I have an old Stanley Bailey #5 that I would be willing to donate to you if you'll meet me in the Arlington area. It's in good shape and will only need to be sharpened. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Diesel Posted June 14, 2023 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2023 What are you using for sharpening? Later today I plan on sending you a PM.Currently a mix of sand paper and diamond plates Sent from my motorola edge plus 5G UW (2022) using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Diesel Posted June 14, 2023 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2023 Steve, if I remember correctly, you're currently in the DFW area. I have an old Stanley Bailey #5 that I would be willing to donate to you if you'll meet me in the Arlington area. It's in good shape and will only need to be sharpened.Yes, I live out a bit east of Dallas. I'm not currently accepting donations, but I'd be happy to give you a fair price for itSent from my motorola edge plus 5G UW (2022) using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fcschoenthal Posted June 14, 2023 Report Share Posted June 14, 2023 On 6/14/2023 at 5:31 PM, Steve Diesel said: I'm not currently accepting donations, but I'd be happy to give you a fair price for it I'm sure that we can come to terms that are acceptable to both. PM me and we'll figure out arrangements. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chestnut Posted June 19, 2023 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 19, 2023 I really like the vintage Stanley planes but don't really consider them a budget option. Any time i buy one and tune it up I also grab a PMV-11 replacement blade and cap iron. It adds $80 to the cost but it makes the plane function much close to a LN or LV plane. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ron Swanson Jr. Posted July 8, 2023 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 8, 2023 Steve I have the #4. It's .. ok. Definitely required a fair amount of work out of the box. The lateral adjustment lever and blade advance knob are very cheap. There is a LOT of slop in the blade advance knob and that detracts from the experience of using it. You have to spin and spin and spin to make incremental adjustments to the blade projection. The sole was pretty flat out of the box. The blade is decent. The chip breaker wouldn't seat correctly and took a fair amount of effort to correct. The paint was chipped and the L.A. lever and B.A. knob are garbage. Once i got it sharp and tuned, and got the bugs worked out, it works pretty well now. But it took a good amount of effort to get to that point. I would recommend Wood River instead. Similar price point but much better fit and finish. Just my opinion. Good luck. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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