I've decided I want to increase my usage and proficiency with hand tools where possible, instead of always turning to a power tool.  To that end, sometime around the first of the year, I intend to purchase one of the customizable hand planes from Lee Valley.  They are pricey, so which should I get for my first and maybe only bench plane?  I have a low angle block plane from LV, which I like and find myself turning to more and more frequently, and I know I also want their medium shoulder plane.  Right now, I am leaning toward the #5 1/2 jack plane, in their standard configuration.  Keep in mind I have almost no experience with full size planes such as this one.  Any recommendations?

Edited November 21, 20178 yr by Ron Dudelston
tags added

My recommendation would be to not buy one of those for a first plane. Consider getting an older Stanley #4 or #5 that has already been rehabbed by someone, use it a while then decide what's next. Planes are kind of like routers, you can never have too many and after the first one the pile just keeps growing. Understand, I'm not knocking those Veritas planes...they are really nice, unless it's your first one.

Edited September 26, 20169 yr by Fred W. Hargis, Jr

You might also check into WoodRiver planes,  if you just have to have a new plane.  

 

The #5-1/2 tends to get a bit heavy after a bit of use.   Not as heavy as the larger jointer planes, but....compared to a common #5 Jack.    I have a few of each type, from a #7 on down to the #3 sizes.  I am missing the #4-1/2.......not.   Just an oversized, and overweight #4. 

 

Might get either the WR #5 ( for a new plane)  or a rehabbed Stanley or Millers Falls jack plane.  The #5 can do a lot of different jobs, and not wear your arms out doing them.

I have to agree with Fred and Steven. Don't count out a used plane. You can see what I did with the Stanley #5-1/2. A #5 Stanley or an equivalent Millers Falls, or other brand can be found at flea markets and yard sales for cheap. $5-20 and a little work (which will get you familiar with the plane) will yield you a very usable plane. You can further enhance the Stanley's with the addition of an aftermarket plane iron and chip breaker.

 

If you do this, even if you were, say, replace the iron with a Hock or other aftermarket iron you will still have less then half the price of a LV. The end results will be the same...a Volkswagen Beetle will get you there, but so will a Mercedes. See the point?

 

A #5 Jack Plane is a good universal do-all. When you really need to refine the work then you go up (#6, #7) or down (#5-1/4, #4 or even a #3). The #5 is the real workhorse for most chores

 

Once you get familiar and comfortable with the plane you can really up the game with a Veritas or other high end plane. They will be pricey but are a joy to use. I hear that the NEWER Woodriver planes are pretty good. However, a lot of folks complained about the older WR's. Those issues seem to have been address and no longer exist. So, be careful if you find one used. It may not be a non-frustrating experience for you.

You have some great advise posted already. Especially the used plane and replacement blade suck as a Hock. By the way Hock wrote a very good book on planes. The one thing left out here is ....What do you plan on using this plane for?   Finishing cuts, rough cuts, squaring. All these can be done with one place but it is better to have one that is suited to the work being done.

 

Here is a site that is very interesting about old Stanley Planes...  Patrick's Blood and Gore

Gerald, sorry it took me so long to respond.  I was under the weather yesterday, and spent all day in bed.

So...

22 hours ago, Gerald said:

....What do you plan on using this plane for? 

That is the question isn't it?  As I said, I have very little experience with anything bigger than a block plane.  To start with, I would like to learn how to flatten a board or a glued up panel.  How to dimension a board is also on my list, and maybe smoothing.  So I guess what I am saying is I am looking for the plane equivalent to a good combination table saw blade.  I understand the reasoning behind starting out with a used plane, but the opportunity to buy a good one from LV may be a one time deal.  What I was really asking for was which of those planes, from Lee Valley, I should start with.  Although, the idea of rehabbing a used plane does intrigue me, but maybe a little bit later, once I am comfortable with what is worth the work, and which ones to walk away from. 

Hmmm, there MIGHT be a couple people on here that can rehab any plane you might find......

 

I MIGHT even have a spare Stanley No.5 Jack plane........either in plain sole, or the C model.     Cambered iron?   Or more like a smoother's and straight across?    Have 1 of each that I used a lot.

 

Maybe pick up an older, but rehabbed plane?    Might be a few available out there.....

If you are hard over on a LV new, then go for the #5 sized jack. Again, it is the "jack of all trades", in this case operations. It will do in a pinch to joint or to smooth. It will dimension and flatten a board if needed.

 

If you are doing a small surface area it will do, a larger/longer piece is better served with a jointer. If you want to finish off a board (smooth) look to the #4, or #3. Also, don't discount a #5-1/4.

 

Buy the LV to get started and then be on the lookout for the other sizes to refurbish while you are learning to use the LV.

 

The key to everything is to learn how to get a "SHARP" iron in the plane. Most first timers give up because the iron is not right and they get frustrated.

Tom by all means get the LV plane! If you can swing it, get it. The planes made by LV are sweet, beautiful planes, with thick irons, thick bodies, they are akin to great gunsmithing. I am in complete support of going big and going nice with planes if you can swing it and especially if you are a new user.

 

Why? The planes work out of the box, you will be in love with hand tools more than if you had to struggle by rehabbing an old plane, and trying to get it just right, and more than likely since you are a new user, you will not get it just right, and you'll be frustrated that you don't see the micro thin beautiful shavings that you'll get with a plane out of the box from the likes of LV, Lie Nielsen, Clifton and other great plane makers.

 

Sure there is a lot to be said and learned by rehabbing the old planes, and more than likely you will eventually, but learn to use a plane that will grab your attention, and turn you into a lover of hand planes with your first successful SWOOOSH of the plane, and that long micro thin shaving comes curling out.

 

I know we have our Stanley and older plane fans here, I am one of them for sure, but there is no comparison to the quality of an old Stanley, and a new Lie Nielsen or LV. The newer planes are heavier, they register beautifully with the work, the irons are light years better than the thin 1/8" Stanley irons, the body thickness is twice that of the older planes, and the new planes are just flat out beautiful. The fit and finish of the new planes by the makers I mentioned above, are incredible, you'll be in love with planes as soon as you pull it out of the box, read the simple instructions that come with the plane, and make some test runs on your board.

 

Go for it Tom!!!!

 

EDIT: Just know folks, I am not looking down upon the older planes or the Stanleys, I have mine too, I find my self reaching for my No.5 quite often, it's one of my favorite planes, it just feels good. So please don't take it that I was slamming your Stanley's or other older makers, they are wonderful too.

The new planes by the good makers, are just a different plane, you have to use one to know what I am talking about.

Cheers!

On 9/26/2016 at 8:16 AM, PostalTom said:

I have a low angle block plane from LV, which I like and find myself turning to more and more frequently

I have this plane too, I reach for it all the time, I use it for many purposes, it's a great plane, it loves end grain and I use it all the time to chamfer edges.

John, you couldn't have put it better. If he starts out with a good quality plane he will be further ahead. Less frustration and better results. I would trade all of my Stanley's, (and others) for equivalent LV, Lie Nielson's, etc. They can get pricey, though!

 

Until the day when I can comfortably replace my Stanley's with planes like those, I'm happy with a well tuned Stanley. It took awhile to learn and get there with these tools, and they can be made better with some aftermarket components. They function well for me. Would I trade them in...yup, but that is not going to happen right away.

 

I, say, go for the LV and while learning to use the plane find, fix and play with some used ones. Build the "group" and determine what you really need. Then upgrade when you can.

1 minute ago, schnewj said:

I, say, go for the LV and while learning to use the plane find, fix and play with some used ones. Build the "group" and determine what you really need. Then upgrade when you can.

Perfect advice.

Well, on THAT note.....I guess I can keep the jack plane I WAS going to send him.   Was going to give him a choice, too.   Oh, well, easy to spend other people's money for them...

Older shot.  Red one is the scrub jack.   Sold the left  Millers Falls, and the Sargent.   So, nowI have 1 Millers Falls jack, that Red Jack, and two older Stanley #5 jack planes.  The far left?   ParPlus No.5......also sold.    For some reason, Sargent planes don't seem to stick around the shop very long. 

This is the #5c stanley.    The other is a bit newer, and has a smooth sole.   The c model has the schwarz camber, the smooth sole just the corners,

2 minutes ago, steven newman said:

Well, on THAT note.....I guess I can keep the jack plane I WAS going to send him.   Was going to give him a choice, too.   Oh, well, easy to spend other people's money for them...

Steve, don't get bent and close your heart. I would still send Tom the plane, so he can see, touch, and feel the difference, and get to know the Stanley line up too.

Thanks everyone for all the excellent advice.  I should probably explain my position.  In January 2017, I will start receiving my social security checks.  I will still be working for a time, hope to retire sometime that year.  My wife and I discussed this, and she fully supports me, that I should use the first check to get some of the tools that I have been putting off for a long time, as this might be the last chance to spend that kind of money without busting the bank.  And as was mentioned earlier, I don't want to experience the frustration of a used tool that isn't ready yet to be used again, and wind up giving up on the whole idea.  That's why I want to go with the concept of buying the best you can possibly afford the first time, and you only cry once.  And believe me, when, not if, I start looking at older tools to rehab, I will be back on this subject, looking for that advice.  So unless a catastrophe hits me, I will be getting the #5 jack plane from Lee Valley. Thanks again, and if I offended anybody by sticking to my original plan, I apologize.

Speaking for me, I thought the plan was to get one of the custom planes from LV; that would be the bad idea (IMHO). If you get a standard jack, go for it (still think the rehabbed Stanley or others is a better idea) but the custom planes have features that are of use to experienced plane users only (again, IMHO). Having the frog at some uncommon angle or some of the other user-choice items is usually useful only to someone who is experienced with hand planes. If that's the case why pay extra for something you don't (probably) understand? Anyway, not trying to prolong the debate/discussion.... just clarifying.

4 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis, Jr said:

Speaking for me, I thought the plan was to get one of the custom planes from LV; that would be the bad idea (IMHO). If you get a standard jack, go for it (still think the rehabbed Stanley or others is a better idea) but the custom planes have features that are of use to experienced plane users only (again, IMHO). Having the frog at some uncommon angle or some of the other user-choice items is usually useful only to someone who is experienced with hand planes

Fred, that's a good point.  I just realized that I lumped in the standard config planes with their customization options.  I was considering some of the options, but not the frog angle.  You're right about that.  But, in my defense, LV does sort of lump them all together on their web site, until you look at them the way you just did.  And now, me too.  If my original post came across like I was going to put together a "Mr Potato Head" kind of plane, (and it probably did), I really didn't intend to go that far afield.  Thanks for pointing me in the direction to clarify that.

An off the shelf LV is the best choice Tom, like Fred stated, I would stay away from the custom options at this point. In my commentary above it was in the context of purchasing an off the shelf LV or other fine maker.