Advice on buying a new handplane please!!

[Aledafis]

Can anybody advise me on which handplane to buy?

I intend to use the plane to do a number of jobs from converting sawn timber to smoothing finished work.

I currently have an old Stanley #4 1/2, and find it a bit small for even smoothing work.

Unfortunately my budget will only stretch to one decent handplane, so i'm torn between a Veritas #6 or Clifton #5 1/2, or even a Lie Nielson #5 1/2 if I can keep the reciept away from the wife.

For some reason Veritas don't make a #5 or #5 1/2, so I'm wandering whether the #6 will be too big and heavy to use for long periods.

Any comments would be helpfull.

Thanks

Aled

[Bob]

Did you look at the Veritas 5 1/4W? It seems like it would match the drift of what I think you are looking for.

Bob

[Denny]

Have you looked at the Veritas low-angle jack? It's more versatile than just a #5, by switching blades you can use it in a variety of ways, everything from end grain to highly figured, very well made...

[Jay Pique]

I very much agree with this post.

JP

**************** Benchbuilding.

[Aledafis]

The problem with the #5 1/4W is that it is narrower than the others, I must admit that I hadn't considered the low angle jack, has anyone used it?

[Denny]

[Aledafis]

Thanks for the posts, I'm seriously considering the LA Jack as it seems to be what I'm after, and it has had lots of good write ups.

Aled