Recommend a Japanese plane

[transatlantic]

I want to try out a Japanese plane to see how I get on with them. However, a quick google search leads me to see they're MUCH cheaper than I'd thought they'd be. I was expecting to see them for around the £100 mark, but the ones I've seen are under £50?

I guess it makes sense considering their simple nature, but simple doesn't alway smean cheap.

Anyway, I guess I'd start with something small, analogous to a No.4 or smaller? and was looking at :

http://www.workshopheaven.com/tools/Muj ... Plane.html


Thoughts?

 

[Harbo]

Strictly speaking that's a Chinese plane in the Japanese style - I have one and they work really well and apart from adjusting the iron they work straight from the box.
I also have a Japanese one I bought from Dick - they are great too but you do have to set these up following the enclosed instructions, but not hard to do.

Rod

 

[transatlantic]

Great, thanks

 

[NazNomad]

I always liked the Nakajima B5N2

 

[lanemaux]

I picked up a very small new in package (5 inch or so) Japanese plane on that auction site of world repute for 10 Canadian dollars 8 or 10 years back. With minimal fettling and surprisingly little sharpening , I find it to be a great little workhorse. It fits easily in a coat pocket and retains it's setup under fairly rough handling. Now I take it with me when I salvage rough wood . A quick couple of strokes lets me see what is under the weathered surfaces. At home I find the small size handy for my shop apron and it handles 1 and 1/2 inch edges and surfaces beautifully. My recommendation is for that price , the Mujingfang is not to be missed. If you use it as much as I've used mine (and I bet you will) you get a lot for your cash.

 

[lurker]

Anyone tried this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... DD9XKSYJIG

 

[Sir Percy]

I want to try out a Japanese plane...and was looking at :

http://www.workshopheaven.com/tools/Muj ... Plane.html

Thoughts?

Strictly speaking that's a Chinese plane in the Japanese style
Rod

Strictly speaking, that's a Chinese plane in the Taiwanese style (not that I know anything about them, it mentions the difference on the page linked to.

Anyway, have you seen the kits for making Japanese-style planes?
http://www.fine-tools.com/japaneseplane.html (See menu on RHS)