Thread: 5 or 5 1/2

Originally Posted by IanW

As the other Ian (& others) have said, plane sizes are matters of personal preference, dictated as much by your physical size & strength (or lack thereof!) and what you do.

The point of this long-winded ramble is just to re-enforce how personal tool choice is - like sharpening methods, everyone has his/her prefernces. Part of the fun in the woodworking journey is finding out what suits your methods & products best, so if you think a particular size or type of plane will be good, try & give it a go.

Hi Gents
Sorry I haven't replied sooner. I was away last week and just got home last night.

I've had a good look at the Derek Cohen site since I joined a few years ago. I like his sense of curiosity. Derek seems to be prepared to experiment to achieve a result. It seems to me that as usual the answer to this is whatever works for you will usually do the job. This thread a few weeks ago highlighted this point.

Ian W I'm going to Make Me a Plane too later on this year. It seems to me that It will answer some questions and raise a whole lot more .

TT

If I had to choose just one, I'd go the 5. The extra width doesn't matter on the majority of tasks and it's easier to find a 5 in good condition than a 5 1/2. I used a 5 as my scrub, jointer, jack and smooth just adjusting the frog and blade depth for the better part of half the year and got on just fine.

The 5 1/2's been restored for the better part of 3 months and still hasn't made it to the workbench...

Thanks Paul and TT

The picture Paul posted was Mk I. This was subsequently upgraded ...



This BU smoother is based on a Stanely #3 body, and has a 25 degree bed. A 35 degree bevel thus creates a 60 degree cutting angle. The plane has really superb performance ...



http://inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeToo...mootherII.html

Now to the question of a #5 or #5 1/2 ...

It depends on what you want, as others have said. Personally, if I am using a high cutting angle or taking a deep shaving, I want a narrower blade. The wide 2 3/8" blade of the #4 1/2 and #5 1/2 is hard work in these conditions. A narrower #5 works better.

David Charlesworth sets up his #5 1/2 as a "super smoother". However it needs to be recognised that he uses machines to prepare all his timber, and a long smoother does not affect the dimensions as much as it might for someone preparing rough timber by hand. Personally I prefer a short plane as a smoother as it affects dimensions less.

Chris Schwarz (ex-edtor of PW mag) loves his #5 as a jack plane with an 8" radius blade, and he keeps a second blade with a fine camber (ala smoother) to use as a short jointer.

I rarely pull out my Stanley #5 1/2 any more. I built a dedicated jack plane ...



This has a razee body 15 1/2" long, is 2 3/4" wide, with a 2" wide blade in D2.

Link: http://inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeToo...JackPlane.html

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

The picture Paul posted was Mk I. This was subsequently upgraded ..

Wow, that is a thing of beauty. It must be great to create something like that to take the perfect shavings with. I guess you created it rather than built it.

TT

I have the LN 3, 4 1/2 and the 5 1/2. I personelly like the extra width and weight of the planes. Mine also have 55 deg frogs.
For me at any rate they work very well but there are other on here way more qualified than myself to give you advice

Hi Sinjin

I took these pics yesterday to illustrate the difference in size betwen a #3 and # 4 1/2.

The #3 is easy to push with the 55 degree frog, while the #4 1/2 is hard work. However it does become manageable if you wax the sole.



Regards from Perth

Derek

Derek you are killing me!!!
Not one, but two bronze LN's

One day i'll get my Anniversary 4 1/2....


Andy

Sorry Andy. The #4 1/2 is about 5 years old now ... while the #3 was acquired a few months ago.

I plan to do a review of both ... actually started this a few years ago when Ian lent me his iron #4 1/2 for comparison.

Regards from Perth

Derek

as originally posted by Derek Cohen

These pics illustrate the difference in size betwen a #3 and # 4 1/2.


The #3 is easy to push with the 55 degree frog, while the #4 1/2 is hard work. However it does become manageable if you wax the sole.

Good tip, Derek

I have all three (5, 5-1/2, & 6) -- I probably use the 5-1/2 the most followed by the #6 then the #5. Sharp irons are always important but even more so when you get to those wider irons.

Hi Derek, bit of a long winded story but i actually have 2 no.3's one with 45 deg and the other 55 deg both Bronze. I ordered the 55 from LN and it took so long to arrive i thought they had forgotton. something like 9 months. So i ordered a std 45 deg from another supplier. Bugger me dead they arrived within 2 days of each other.
What was i to do.....anyway i'm surprised just how often i reach for them. I personally tend to go for them over my block plane....but give it time and i might swing back the other way.
I nearly bought the NO 2 but after reading Christopher Schwarz article and e-mailing an old cabinet maker in the US a couple of times i agreed the NO. 3 was what i wanted. Not needed mind you just wanted.
Interestingly this old cabinet maker told me in his day the number 3 was a very popular plane for making on-site kitchens in the 50's and 60's. He also said he pre ordered his number 3 the minute he heard LN was going to tool up to make them he was so fond of them. I also agree with Derek about the weight when I was a boatbuilder whats seems a 100 yrs ago it was a big jump the std no.4 down to a block plane. I truly wish the No. 3's were around in the 70's and perhaps they were, but no one i new had one.

Originally Posted by derekcohen

Sorry Andy. The #4 1/2 is about 5 years old now ... while the #3 was acquired a few months ago.

I plan to do a review of both ... actually started this a few years ago when Ian lent me his iron #4 1/2 for comparison.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I'd really like to see you do a review of a LN.

I never really considered a no.3 but after reading how useful they can be, especially with a HAF I might consider getting one in the future. I don't need it ofcourse but you know how it is.

I also believe Lie Nielsen are making the 4 1/2 in bronze again with cherry handles ($695) or cocobolo handles ($745). I think I might still wait until an Anniversary 4 1/2 comes up on eBay for a decent price.

Andy

Those prices make me gasp, though from the hushed tones used around here I know LN means quality.

Are they really that much superior to a well restored old Bailey type plane that the cost is justified?

Originally Posted by andrewr79

Those prices make me gasp, though from the hushed tones used around here I know LN means quality.

Are they really that much superior to a well restored old Bailey type plane that the cost is justified?

The timber probably doesn't know or care the difference . I have LN planes but I also really love giving another life to 100+year old tools -- much the same as I appreciate Derek using salvaged timber for most of his work.