Smoothing plane?

[MMUK]

Can anyone offer advice on a half decent smoothing plane? I'm not in the market to spend mega money (read - cheap as possible) but as long as the blade isn't made of cheese and the adjustment is good then I'm not too fussy. Maybe a #4 or #4 1/2?

I haven't been doing a lot of work that involves planing for the last few years so have been relying pretty much on my Stanley #5 Jack plane and a couple of spoke shaves. :shock:

 

[Dangermouse]

The best new is the Stanley Sweetheart no4 can be got for about £70 to £80 and is a premium plane for not much dosh. Second-hand I'd go for a pre 1970's Record preferably 1950's

 

[Jacob]

I agree with Dangermouse.
NB no planes have blades made of cheese BTW It's the one thing which always seems OK even on totally rubbish planes. It might not fit too well but thats another problem!
PS I never got on with a 4 1/2 but others seem to rate them. I prefer 4 or 5 1/2.

 

[bugbear]

I agree with Dangermouse.
NB no planes have blades made of cheese BTW It's the one thing which always seems OK even on totally rubbish planes. It might not fit too well but thats another problem!
PS I never got on with a 4 1/2 but others seem to rate them. I prefer 4 of 5 1/2.

This plane blade sounds cheesy:

Except it doesn't keep an edge for very long at all, just 2 passes down the board edge, making it quite impractical

BugBear

 

[morfa]

I got a no 4 for £20 off ebay last year. Just pick an old Record or Stanley. Most sellers will have plenty of pics on the listing and just have a good trawl through the listings to find something that suits.

 

[Jacob]

I agree with Dangermouse.
NB no planes have blades made of cheese BTW It's the one thing which always seems OK even on totally rubbish planes. It might not fit too well but thats another problem!
PS I never got on with a 4 1/2 but others seem to rate them. I prefer 4 of 5 1/2.

This plane blade sounds cheesy:

Except it doesn't keep an edge for very long at all, just 2 passes down the board edge, making it quite impractical

BugBear

Is that from the Grimsdale archive BB? Could we have more details? :lol:

 

[caroleb]

I don't post often as I don't have much to give in such esteemed company (I am a bit of a joinery newbie, and my work doesn't compare too well with the projects posted so...), but the incessant battle between Jacob and others is quite entertaining. The amount of effort made to score points is remarkable.

This plane blade sounds cheesy:

Quote:
Except it doesn't keep an edge for very long at all, just 2 passes down the board edge, making it quite impractical

How do you do it? Did you remember this, or trawl through and find it. Sorry, I just have to know!!

Caz

 

[Berncarpenter]

I have three no 4.5 smoothing planes two are old records 1960 s and a Stanley which is fairly modern with plastic handles that i paid £3 at the car boot.The Modern stanley looks cheap and nasty but i get really good results with it ,it has become my go to smoothing plane.Here she is with some nice fine shavings.

Cheers Bern.

 

[Max Power]

Whats wrong with the number 5 :?
It will do everything a 4 can do and more







"If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter." - George Washington

 

[bugbear]

I don't post often as I don't have much to give in such esteemed company (I am a bit of a joinery newbie, and my work doesn't compare too well with the projects posted so...), but the incessant battle between Jacob and others is quite entertaining. The amount of effort made to score points is remarkable.

This plane blade sounds cheesy:

Quote:
Except it doesn't keep an edge for very long at all, just 2 passes down the board edge, making it quite impractical

How do you do it? Did you remember this, or trawl through and find it. Sorry, I just have to know!!

Caz

Jacob was singing the wonders of a cheap plane, during which he mentioned that the blade only lasted two strokes.

"Wonders" indeed.

I found it amusing enough to be memorable, but I have a good memory, which came in helpful at exam time, back in academe.

BugBear

 

[MMUK]

Whats wrong with the number 5 :?
It will do everything a 4 can do and more

It can just be a little heavy and cumbersome at times. Also, having the Jack sized base can make some applications a little awkward (hammer)

 

[James C]

I would have a look around for a decent old Stanley. There are some good ones to be found that will perform really well with minor work and cost a lot less than the equivalent Sweetheart/Quangsheng planes.

I picked up a 1920's No. 4 for around £40 which is probably quite steep, but it came with almost all of the iron and in immaculate condition which as a beginner made it easier for me. It's already lasted 90 years and will probably do that much again.

 

[Jacob]

I don't post often as I don't have much to give in such esteemed company (I am a bit of a joinery newbie, and my work doesn't compare too well with the projects posted so...), but the incessant battle between Jacob and others is quite entertaining. The amount of effort made to score points is remarkable.

This plane blade sounds cheesy:

Quote:
Except it doesn't keep an edge for very long at all, just 2 passes down the board edge, making it quite impractical

How do you do it? Did you remember this, or trawl through and find it. Sorry, I just have to know!!

Caz

Jacob was singing the wonders of a cheap plane, during which he mentioned that the blade only lasted two strokes.

"Wonders" indeed.

I found it amusing enough to be memorable, but I have a good memory, which came in helpful at exam time, back in academe.

BugBear

I think you are making it up, you little troll you!

 

[RossJarvis]

Can anyone offer advice on a half decent smoothing plane? I'm not in the market to spend mega money (read - cheap as possible) but as long as the blade isn't made of cheese and the adjustment is good then I'm not too fussy. Maybe a #4 or #4 1/2?

I haven't been doing a lot of work that involves planing for the last few years so have been relying pretty much on my Stanley #5 Jack plane and a couple of spoke shaves. :shock:

The reviews on the new Stanley Sweethearts seem good, if that's not too expensive. I bought an Anant 4 a few years ago for £8, very good and no fettling required, but I'm not sure of the plastic handles. A friend bought a lot of faithful block planes recently for work and said they were miles better than the Stanley normal ones. So I think the cheaper ones are hit and miss, though faithful and Anant seem the best of the bunch, but they do make more than the odd dog. The problem with getting old Record and Stanley's is that they can often be c**p too, depending on what's happened to them so you're not guaranteed a good one. It seems that the new Stanley Sweetheart's and maybe the Qiangshen are cheapest new good ones, but some very cheap ones may be as good.

 

[bugbear]

I think you are making it up, you little troll you!

I gave a direct quote - a simple forum search will find it.

BugBear

 

[MMUK]

I spoke to my dad last night on this subject. He has a Stanley RB10 that takes the small replaceable blades. He rates it highly and it would save me the effort of trying to get a decent finish on the blade when re-sharpening. Does anyone know where I can get one of these? I know they're discontinued some time ago so new isn't an option.


Oh, eBay is out as I no longer have a Paypal account

 

[bugbear]

I spoke to my dad last night on this subject. He has a Stanley RB10 that takes the small replaceable blades. He rates it highly and it would save me the effort of trying to get a decent finish on the blade when re-sharpening. Does anyone know where I can get one of these? I know they're discontinued some time ago so new isn't an option.

It wouldn't surprise me if someone on the forum gave you one, so highly prized are they...

BugBear (who does't have one)

 

[Phil Pascoe]

:lol: I haven't one either - but you could have had it if I had.

 

[MMUK]

I spoke to my dad last night on this subject. He has a Stanley RB10 that takes the small replaceable blades. He rates it highly and it would save me the effort of trying to get a decent finish on the blade when re-sharpening. Does anyone know where I can get one of these? I know they're discontinued some time ago so new isn't an option.

It wouldn't surprise me if someone on the forum gave you one, so highly prized are they...

BugBear (who does't have one)

They're not that popular then? :lol:

TBH, it's not like I'll be using it every day, maybe once a week. Unless you can suggest something else of similar compact size?

 

[bugbear]

I spoke to my dad last night on this subject. He has a Stanley RB10 that takes the small replaceable blades. He rates it highly and it would save me the effort of trying to get a decent finish on the blade when re-sharpening. Does anyone know where I can get one of these? I know they're discontinued some time ago so new isn't an option.

It wouldn't surprise me if someone on the forum gave you one, so highly prized are they...

BugBear (who does't have one)

They're not that popular then? :lol:

TBH, it's not like I'll be using it every day, maybe once a week. Unless you can suggest something else of similar compact size?

It'll be just as good as any other plane, even a Holtey, for the times when you're not using it.

BugBear