Advice on buying a new handplane please!!

Dec 30, 2004 6 Replies
A

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



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B

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

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D

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...

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J

I very much agree with this post.

JP

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

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A

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?

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A

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

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