Choosing Hand Planes

[iclark]

lots of good info already posted. I will just mention a few things that I did not see above.

the latest (version 3) Woodriver planes from Woodcraft are getting good reviews (even from the Schwartz). they are made in China but they are done to high-end specs and QA. they are essentially the old Bedrock flatsides. I did have a problem with one of the 4 (version 2) that I got and the local Woodcraft store instantly made it right for me with an upgrade to the version 3.

some of the other woodworking forums have swap and sell areas. I have had very good luck on the woodnet forum. one of the members there (tablesawtom) makes his retirement income by regrinding the bottom and sides of old planes. he typically achieves a bottom flat to within 0.0015" or better and sides perpendicular to the bottom. I have been very happy with my purchases from him. I can also highly recommend the offerings of admiral and daveparkis. there are others there that have treated me well, but these 3 are outstanding and I am not at the computer that has the other names on it.

do be warned that this is another one of those slippery slopes. one of the first things you will likely find is an itch to start building workbench(es) suitable for use of cordless tools. handplaning the wood does require something to hold - even if it is 2 sawhorses and a wall.

some people find it cheaper to build a sled (with shims/pins) for the planer to act as the first flat side in the rough-sawn to lumber process.

personally, I try to keep as many of the planes as possible in drawers with corrosion protection and out of sight of SWMBO whenever they are not actually in use. also, a flatside Bedrock 608 with a re-ground, truly flat sole is truly a thing of beauty to hold. mine arrived on Tuesday. my design for a neander bench is still in development. I am leaning towards a front leg vice with slider deadman and a twin-screw end vice with 4 rows of dog holes.

[fiatben]

This is what I love about this forum. I got the information I needed and a whole lot more. I love that I can ask an ill-formed question and you guys can answer the stuff I didn't even know to ask!!!

I can see where this hand plane thing can become another obsession. I'm now surfing info on making wooden planes, comparing sharpening methods/tools/stones, and trying to make a plane selection in the face of what I'm wanting to do next. I already know that as I reorganize the shop over the next few months that there will be a dedicated shelf/cabinet for my hand planes even though I only have one right now.

Any comments on building your own?

[JPG]

This is what I love about this forum. I got the information I needed and a whole lot more. I love that I can ask an ill-formed question and you guys can answer the stuff I didn't even know to ask!!!

I can see where this hand plane thing can become another obsession. I'm now surfing info on making wooden planes, comparing sharpening methods/tools/stones, and trying to make a plane selection in the face of what I'm wanting to do next. I already know that as I reorganize the shop over the next few months that there will be a dedicated shelf/cabinet for my hand planes even though I only have one right now.

Any comments on building your own?

Put a door on it!;)(keeps the dust out):) I prefer storing them on their side. Consider a drawer.

[nuhobby]

Any comments on building your own?

Building some planes has been one of my favorite projects. Here were some of my attempts:

For scrubbing/flattening:
http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthr ... 161&page=2

For fine smoothing:
https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=5799

Enjoy your obsession!

[fiatben]

Wow! Thanks, Chris, for the links and the inspiration and the new info. Again, I learn things I want/need to know but didn't even know to ask.

This is just "plane" fun.

[jimsjinx]

Just my opinion, but I can't afford $100=200 dollar handplanes. For my purposes, I buy middle of the road planes, or old "good" planes at garage sales, and dial them in. The old ones, if true, are my favorites. The trick with planes, is the blade steel, sharpening, and the set-up of the tool. Though the blade iron will dull quicker, a cheap Buck Bros. plane can be set up to shave perfect paper thin shavings with a wonderful finish. It took me forever to get this down pat. Try one from Home Depot, (Buck Bros.), and get a good honing guide and a search the net for plane sharpening and set-up. Good luck with it! jimsjinx

[fiatben]

Just my opinion, but I can't afford $100=200 dollar handplanes. For my purposes, I buy middle of the road planes, or old "good" planes at garage sales, and dial them in. ...

I feel the same way. I'd love one of those BEAUTIFUL works of art sold by Lee Valley, Veritas and others, but reality says I need to eat first. I have one old plane that I bought at a garage sale. I cleaned it up and it goes in my handyman bucket of stuff in case I need to shave a door down, etc. It's functional, even without a detailed tune-up. I also went yesterday to H.F. and bought a Windsor Design (brand) Model 33 bench plane. I really try to be picky about what I get from HF because I know the more money I spend, the less likely I am to be happy with the product. For $10 ($8 actually because I had a 20% off coupon out of WOOD magazine), I was quite impressed when I took it out of the box. I intend to tweak it before I put it to wood, but I like what I'm seeing. The handle is some beautiful wood that I can't identify offhand, although it is a bit small (guess it was sized for Chinese hands). It has two adjustment knobs to position the blade. I actually expect it to perform well when I get it dialed in. I'll let everyone know.

http://www.harborfreight.com/no-33-benc ... 97544.html

Meantime, I'm waiting for warmer weather so the garage sales will start up again, researching planes so I know what I'm looking at, how to fix it and how to use it properly, and really liking the idea of building a wooden plane (or a dozen). I think there would be something really satisfying about building a project from rough lumber that you worked with tools you had made yourself.

Which brings me to another subject (possibly should be another thread), that of metalworking as a means to an end in making your own hand tools, jigs, etc.

[jimsjinx]

I have been lucky with planes. I found 4 or 5 different Stanley/Bailey planes over the years, and after a good leveling of the sole, they were perfect. One is an old rabbit plane, but has no adjustible fence. I use it all the time. I bought a low angle 60 dollar plane from Lee Valley, and it sucks in comparison. Took hours to flatten the sole, and the frog is to flimsey. Works ok on softwood. I love watching the old masters smacking thier wood planes with a mallet to adjust them, and they are perfect. I have one, but I never get the iron right with a mallet!! jimsjinx

[terrydowning]

I got very lucky and inherited these.
[ATTACH]11384[/ATTACH]
I have others as well all inherited or scrounged from somewhere.
After researching the history of the planes in the photo, I am convinced that the most economical way into planes at present and to learn them as well, is to buy an older (Bailey style) one and recondition it.

Here is a decent site that covers reconditioning hand planes. He also tells you what to look for.

http://home.comcast.net/~rexmill/planes101/planes101.htm

[iclark]

terrydowning,

is that upper plane a Millers Fall #9 (Stanley #4 equivalent)?

it looks like you inherited some really nice planes.

Ivan