Router Plane

[roughsawn]

Guys, I'm in the market for a new router plane. Mostly for cleaning up dados and rabbets, etc. I'll learn what else to use it on as I go.

Can you suggest one? Entry level or better. What size? Straight shank, or angled? Straight handles, or flared out? Material?

Amazon has several. I also looked at TayTools. All China sutff.

It is not beyond the realm of possibility that I would go Veritas, but I would not be using it a whole lot. Just occasionally. Is there one in the middle that I would be happy with? 

Also would entertain buying a used one from one of you guys wanting to get rid of one.

Any brands or models that you suggest that I research, or look into...I would be happy to look at. Thanks!

[h3nry]

For the middle ground see if you can find an old Stanley #71, and put a new (eg Veritas) blade in it, and it'll be a great tool.

The size of the 71 is good for most furniture joinery, but if you're mostly wanting it for small tasks, then a smaller size would make sense.

[Ron Swanson Jr.]

I can only offer this. I have a Lie Nielsen and it handles everything my limited skills can dish out. Just used it last week. Nice tool. 

But it's kind of a pain to sharpen.

From what i understand the foot of the Veritas blade detaches from the post, which sure seems like it would be easier to sharpen. So there's that. 

[wtnhighlander]

Woodpeckers and Blue Spruce released near identical router planes earlier this year. May require a bit more budget, but the rectangular base designs offer advantages over a Stanley-style base. Primarily the ability to relocate the cutter from center to one end, greatly improving the stability for cuts supported from just one side, like trimming tenons.

[drzaius]

19 hours ago, h3nry said:

For the middle ground see if you can find an old Stanley #71, and put a new (eg Veritas) blade in it, and it'll be a great tool.

The size of the 71 is good for most furniture joinery, but if you're mostly wanting it for small tasks, then a smaller size would make sense.

That' just what I did. I inherited the #71 from my dad, but the iron was about worn out so I got a new one from Lee Valley. Once I use it, I wondered how I had gotten by without one.

[Von]

I impulse bought the Katz-Moses Router plane and have been happy with it (it appears to be both on sale and out of stock). I don't know how unusual this is, but the blades attach to the end of the shaft with a small bolt, so they come off which makes sharpening them fairly straight forward.