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  1. #1
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    Default If you could have only 1 plane, which plane would it be?

    Simplicity (aka Matt) asked me this question a couple of months ago.
    Without hesitation, I said a #4, which was the only plane I had access to when I visited my in laws in NZ. I did all I wanted with just that one plane. It was small enough for me to pack in my bag on a trip. The iron for a #4 is common and easy to get hold of.

    I subsequently gave it more thoughts. The common planes that I use are #4, 5, 5 1/2, and 7. I have three 4 /12's but am never really entirely comfortable with them. They just feel a bit short with those wider blades. Of course a lot of people swear by their 4 1/2s.

    So which is that only one plane if you could have one. is it a stanley # 4, 4 1/2, a block plane or some exotic plane from a premium manufacturer? and why would that be?

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Melbourne, VIC
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    75

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by justonething View Post
    Simplicity (aka Matt) asked me this question a couple of months ago.
    Without hesitation, I said a #4, which was the only plane I had access to when I visited my in laws in NZ. I did all I wanted with just that one plane. It was small enough for me to pack in my bag on a trip. The iron for a #4 is common and easy to get hold of.

    I subsequently gave it more thoughts. The common planes that I use are #4, 5, 5 1/2, and 7. I have three 4 /12's but am never really feel entirely comfortable with them. They just feel a bit short with those wider blades. Of course a lot of people swear by their 4 1/2s.

    So which is that only one plane if you could have one. is it a stanley # 4, 4 1/2, a block plane or some exotic plane from a premium manufacturer? and why would that be?
    Prob my low-angle jack (assuming I can have a few blades). Can use it for flattening, jointing, and smoothing if required. It's square enough to use for shooting even without a lateral adjustment lever. All the others just make life easier; but please don't show this to my wife.

    Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
    50 characters? What use is a signature of 50 char-

  4. #3
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    Mar 2015
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    Melbourne, Vic, Australia
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    Default

    This is a really horrible question. Like asking someone with a lots of children to pick one!

  5. #4
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    Mar 2015
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    Default

    If I had to pick only one, it would probably be one I don't currently have; The Veritas Jack Rebate plane. You could use it as a smoother, jack and small jointer as well as a rebate plane and even with a shooting board.

  6. #5
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    Oct 2014
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    Caroline Springs, VIC
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    1,645

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by justonething View Post
    or some exotic Australian made plane from a premium manufacturer? and why would that be?
    SPORTSCAR because it's AWESOME

    ok ok, back in my box I go

  7. #6
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    Jul 2004
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    Adelaide
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    768

    Default

    My Veritas Low Angle Jack, with 25deg and 38deg blades.

    Regards
    Keith

  8. #7
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    May 2008
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    BELL POST HILL, 3215
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    2,332

    Default Which One ??.

    Hi All,
    Not much of a Woodworker, but I have a nice Stanley No.3, that always seems to work OK for me, at what I do sometimes.
    Regards,
    issatree.
    Have Lathe, Wood Travel.

  9. #8
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    Feb 2003
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    back in Alberta for a while
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by justonething View Post
    So which is that one plane if you could only have one.
    for me it's a toss up between a #5, #6 or #62 (low angle jack) -- it really depends on what sort of work you are most familiar with and what you use a plane for.


    but, given this is a survey of sorts, my answer would have to be #62, low angle jack, with at least two blades -- one of which would be a toothed blade.
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  10. #9
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Australia
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    2,357

    Default

    #5 with a slight camber.

  11. #10
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
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    Oct 2010
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    1017m up in Katoomba, NSW
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    Default

    Veritas LA Smoother.......with extensions
    Regards, FenceFurniture

    COLT DRILLS GROUP BUY
    Jan-Feb 2019 Click to send me an email

  12. #11
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by FenceFurniture View Post
    Veritas LA Smoother.......with extensions
    what extensions?

    hair?
    the bed?
    a laser guide?
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Whangarei, New Zealand
    Age
    70
    Posts
    282

    Default

    My home made (from Tassie Blackwood) low angle 320x60 mm "Krenov style" jack.
    I've used it for truing edges, for finishing cross-grain on difficult table tops, for a scrubber .... it just does everything I want in a hand plane.
    When I need to plane anything by hand, 85% of the time this one will come out.

    As well, it's ergonomically shaped to fit MY hands.
    I really need to clean it up and give it some more oil - the spiders in the roof have been leaving visiting cards - that, and dust and grime ...

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Perth
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    Default

    My Hammer A3-31








    Regards from Perth

    Derek
    Visit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.

  15. #14
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by derekcohen View Post
    My Hammer A3-31
    Harrr, yeah true, and the extensions work better on that...(and they're actually available).
    Regards, FenceFurniture

    COLT DRILLS GROUP BUY
    Jan-Feb 2019 Click to send me an email

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
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    Perth
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    Default

    OK, if I could only take one plane on a trip, it would be a Veritas Jack Rabbet Plane (and one extra blade) ...




    This is a true Swiss Army Knife kind of plane. Review here: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRev...bbetPlane.html

    Jointing ...





    Planing across the grain to flatten a board.




    Smoothing …




    Panel raising (and rebating) ...




    Even shooting ...







    Not bad, eh!

    Regards from Perth

    Derek
    Visit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.

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