WoodRiver 5 1/2 Jack Plane Passaround

[Peter Sefton]

This is a passaround for the new WoodRiver 5 ½ Jack Plane V3

I will pull an unopened box off the shelf and send it out with the Pinnacle - IBC Matched Chip Breaker and Blade Set, 2-3/8" for WoodRiver #4-1/2, 5-1/2, 6, 7.

I am sure you will be very happy with the WoodRiver blade but this gives you something else to try out Ed.

If I send it out to Richard first; he can send it onto Ed, and so on.
If anyone else is interested please copy and paste the list into your reply and add your username at the bottom, then send a private message with your real name and postal address, to the person named before you on the list.

Here is a link to my YouTube video of me unboxing a WoodRiver 4 ½ to give you an idea of what to expect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDYM-4i45tI

To have a play with the plane you need to have been a forum member since the 1st October 2014 and have posted at least 50 posts to date.

I will send out the plane and then each participant will need to send it onto the next on the list by signed for delivery and to be fair to other users only within mainland UK Zone 1. Feel free to have the plane for a few days, give it a good workout and let us know your thoughts and post any photos and reviews of its performance. To keep things moving along for everyone please only have it for a few days.

Here is the list so far

Wood Workers Workshop
Riclepp
Ed Bray

Cheers Peter

 

[Ed Bray]

Thanks Peter, really looking forward to this.

 

[Peter Sefton]

All packed up and on it's way to Richard, thanks guys for taking part.

Cheers Peter

 

[riclepp]

Hi Peter

Many thanks, it arrived this morning, will play at the weekend and send on it's to Ed on Tuesday.

Many congratulations on your prestegious award.

Regards


Richard

 

[Peter Sefton]

I hope you have playing with it, and thanks for the good wishes.

Cheers Peter

 

[David C]

Peter,

I am keen to see it please, not sure if I have done the list correctly?

David Charlesworth



Here is the list so far

Wood Workers Workshop
Riclepp
Ed Bray
David Charlesworth

 

[Peter Sefton]

That all looks fine David, just a reminder to send a private message with your postal address to Ed Bray so he can forward it to you when he's finished playing with it.

Cheers Peter

 

[Ed Bray]

Hmm, I might have to visit North Devon the weeks after next so it may time in nicely with my passing the plane on.

Really appreciate the opportunity Peter, really looking forward to trying it out.

 

[Peter Sefton]

Hmm, I might have to visit North Devon the weeks after next so it may time in nicely with my passing the plane on.

Really appreciate the opportunity Peter, really looking forward to trying it out.

Sounds like a damm fine excuse to go and see David's setup.

Cheers Peter

 

[David C]

Good idea,

David

 

[matt_southward]

Hi All,

I'd like to add my name to the list too. I'm interested to see how the Woodriver compares to my No 5 Clifton (particularly after the recent Cliffie thread!) and funds permitting I'm hoping to be in the market for a jointer sometime soon and unfortunately can't justify the price of a Clifton so it would be really useful to see the Woodriver.

So that would make the list:

Wood Workers Workshop
Riclepp
Ed Bray
David Charlesworth
Matt Southward

Thanks to Peter for the opportunity to try it out.

And as I'm only an hour and a half a way from DC's I might be able to make the relevant excuses for a day out to N. Devon myself for the hand-over!

Cheers, Matt

 

[Peter Sefton]

Just to let you know the WoodRiver 5 1/2 is now with Ed who will be passing it onto David C when he is finished with it after the weekend.

Cheers Peter

 

[G S Haydon]

Warning - Follow the link and loose 18mins of your life you won't get back! :lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOIzhdE ... N6dlbXU0mw

In the main I’m a user of vintage planes although a few new ones have also passed through my hands. If folks like Peter or Matthew want to offer around the latest stuff I'll gladly give it a try. Throughout my time with the plane I contrasted it with what I normally use.
The plane is made in the very familiar “Bedrock” pattern. The quality of the casting and general finish is exceptionally high and it does seem care and attention have been used throughout. Although the neat black, brass and crisp surfaces don’t guarantee good performance when combined here the aesthetic for me at least is pleasing.

The position of the tote is right on the money with no stretching of the finger to reach the adjustment wheel. For my medium sized hands there was plenty of room and I felt no issue with comfort at all. The tote is a little thicker than my Bailey style planes so if you wanted to tweak it you could.

For normal use I found it a little more comfortable than my Bailey. One of the most pleasing aspects of the tool for me is the cutting Iron. For those who like spec sheet comparisons it’s a T10 steel hardened to RC 63 but I’m not that kind of person and the bottom line is T10 is excellent and perhaps deserving of more widespread praise. The cap iron is also good but I did add a secondary bevel to the front edge to enable the best results when the cap iron is set very fine. The only issue with the whole blade/cap iron set up is the screw. With the cutting iron done so well by WoodRiver it was a shame not to have serrations on the cap iron retention screw. Perhaps it’s just what I’m used to but Bailey style planes have this feature and it makes it easier and more comfortable on the fingers when setting the cap iron close. Although my wooden planes do not have serrations the screw head is deeper allowing more grip. It’s a small issue and not prohibitive to good work and could be improved by the user or perhaps even better by WoodRiver in the future.

The lateral adjustment lever has the bearing set up like one of my older Record planes and the depth adjuster has a rounded end. It is anticipated that this will reduce wear. Time will tell on that one. All my irons are sharpened on an India stone and lightly stropped.
The most pressing issue though is what happens when the iron meets the wood. Well all I can say is its very good. Adjustment of the blade feels very smooth and there is a very pleasing amount of backlash in the adjuster, about a quarter turn. My vintage tools have much more and I can forgive them that as it does not pose a problem but it’s nice to see a modern plane with this attention to detail. The size of the adjustment wheel allows one finger to advance or retract the cutting iron while in use allowing very precise setting to be achieved easily. I don’t feel limited by my existing planes or indeed feel the need to change them but I have to be honest and say it was "easier" to get fine settings with the WoodRiver when compared with the Bailey.

While I don’t have the means to test flatness to engineering standards I am able to put typical woodworking hurdles in the way to see if the tool will do what is expected of it. Edge jointing was easily done, tearout was tamed and end grain was shot. At no time did I find any issue causing a problem and the WoodRiver felt very tight and crisp. To be fair though my other planes also do what I ask of them. There is a significant weight to the WoodRiver that lends itself well to refining, smoothing, jointing and shooting. However if you use a plane in a looser way for working at odd angles, shaping or for any volume of stock preparation from the rough you might prefer to add a lighter vintage plane to the list.

As a vintage tool user I know how to get the best out of them to suit my needs but I often feel for someone totally inexperienced the biggest hurdle would be knowing just what that means. What the WoodRiver does very well is provide superb value hone and go experience that can be used with no extra fettling allowing the user to get on with making things. It comes with the back up of a guarantee and the ability to get help at the end of the phone if you have and issue or even send it back! It also could provide a benchmark for people new to vintage tool restoration. I wish this option were there for me when I started work in the late 1990’s. As I pack the plane back into its box and send it back my thoughts are well done WoodRiver, if the cap iron screw was to be improved I’d find it hard to find fault.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Are you a vintage tool user or a user of vintage tools? ...just a thought...

 

[G S Haydon]

:lol: I wish I knew Philp :lol:

 

[Ed Bray]

I really enjoyed your review Graham. I agree if you are looking for a new plane you could do a lot worse than a Woodriver.

 

[G S Haydon]

Thanks Ed, I think you have it in a nutshell!

 

[Peter Sefton]

Thanks Graham for taking the time to do your great review and the You Tube video as well, what a Brucie bonus!

I am pleased you found the T10 steel preformed as I would have expected and that the plane was ready to go pretty much out of the box. I loved the fact you used the WoodRiver to flatten the sole of your Woody which then was very good indeed.

WoodRiver have been asking for my feedback on the planes in the UK, I will pass on your comments regarding the cap iron screw to the design team and this will filter through to the quality inspector who is based in the factory.

I look forward to hearing how the other forum members get on with the planes, if any one else would like to play please just let me know.

Cheers Peter

 

[G S Haydon]

No worries Peter, thanks for offering this in the first place and yes quite the irony with the wooden jack!

 

[matt_southward]

Well that was a great summary Graham - I haven't 'wasted the 18 minutes of my life' on the youtube video yet, but I'm about to

I don't have the experience or the technical knowledge (but I'm learning fast) to be able to compete with your review, but I'm looking to offer a comparison to my Clifton which might help others appreciate the amazing value these planes offer (leaving aside the arguments about where it is made for now). I was really keen to try the WoodRiver after seeing some of the youtube videos that Rob Cosman put out and even from the videos the fit and finish looks pretty impressive - and that's relative to my Clifton (maybe I got a duffer?). Anyway, we'll see how that goes - hopefully it'll arrive from David fully 'Charlesworthed' so I will get it in it's prime!