Thread: What is your favourite handplane?

OK just for Clinton
Here are some pix of the Anchor family.
The number 7 is obvious. There is also a number 4 and a number 78.
The totes on all of these just feel more comfortable than the corresponding Stanley models.
As you can see, the wooden totes are a little more upright than Stanley. I know my hand just sits them perfectly.
There is also a picture of the throat of the number 7.
Regards
SG

OK, just kidding.

There is a difference between "best", "most useful", and "favourite".

There is no doubt that the "best" plane I own is this Marcou smoother. It is in a class of its own.



and the "most useful" is a toss up between

Veritas LA Jack, for it versatility as a smoother, jointer and shooting plane:



.... or the Veritas LA Smoother, for it great "feel" and terrific performance as a smoother, doubling also on the shooting board:



However, when it comes to my favourite plane, hands-down it is the little LN bronze #103 block plane (on the right, below). Amazing heft for its size, amazing performance (especially when compared to the other two here - Stanley #65 knucklejoint and LN #60 1/2 - both of which are technically better performers).



Regards from Perth

Derek

i just recently bought a LN #102 same as the little bronze number except the iron version. love it......which is an absolute bargain...I think it was only about $120

thanks SG.

I'd have to say the LN LA jack (set at 50°) & the HNT Gordon Cooktown Ironwood smoother for all my hard timber.
The Stanley #8C (with LN blade) & the #2C for softer material

I'm not a handplane person, not by a long shot. But I definitely have a favourite plane, a Stanley 110. I'm slowly accumulating other types (I've some 5 or 6 now) as and when I have a need, but this li'l beasty is the only one I use on a regular basis. Not for finishing, of course, but whenever I need "just a wee bit more timber off there..." well... that's this old girls job. She may not be as pretty as any other plane in this thread, but I don't care! NYAAH! She's well loved just as she is... and coming from a confirmed electron-burner, that's saying a lot!

The 2nd pic is her orig state, as you can see I'm no restorer.... I simply flattened the sole, honed the blade and that's about it. The rust has worn off simply by handling. One day I might clean her up properly, probably the same day I finally buy the last tool on my wishlist.

I've got heaps of different planes, I could sell them all except for these four:
Stanley low angle block plane
Old record No. 5
Old stanley no. 78 rebate
Old stanley no.20 compass plane.

The most commonly used plane in my toolkit would be the Stanley/Bailey #4, followed by the handy little Stanley #130 double-ended block plane, which has a reversing option for the blade. Undo it and turn it around to face the "rear", and its a bullnose version...a great tool to take on site for final fittings.
My favourite plane though is the Stanley #113 compass or circular plane. I don't use it much but just love the mechanics of it, and the fact that it can do what no other plane can do (well there are other brands, like Kunz, but it's variable in radius, unlike a woodie made to suit). Here's a rather dark shot I just took of the 130 and 113, and another hint to fit a window over my bench!!

Cheers,

Most used plane: Record low angle block plane
Favorite plane: LV scrub plane. I find myself looking for any reason to feed it, it's a very hungry plane. And working it's way up the list is my new LV router plane.
I also have a dozen or so moulding planes that get projects designed around their profiles.

'Rosey' and 'jane'...my record 43 mods....little sweethearts.

'Dot'...my 140 block....but its got the not so great lever depth adjuster though...so she's a bit tippsy sometimes.

'Heeeenry !'...(must shout its name)....my stanley #6 with a redicularisly thick blade....best plane on the planet....beat the crap out of those LN models !

'Jenny'.... (must be pronounced with a southern accent) ..A transitional union 24(smoother)....

'Blue bugger'......my deep fenced birmingham 78 . Top plane.

'Firewood'......An old fillister I've got going recently I quite like...

'theoropy' .....For plough work, I like my no.50.....with double depth stops and flatterned skates and deep fence.

Heard some people like their planes so much they actually NAME their planes ....and say good morning and goodbye to them on a regular basis :eek: ..stuff like that(wankers )

Veritas apron plane with sharp blade for light chamfering and taking the arris off. And record rebate plane once in a blue moon.

Love my Veritas LA Block Plane. It is quickly displacing my router when it comes to rounding over or chamfering edges. It is just beautiful in the hand!

HNT gordon Shoulder plane is superb also but has less uses in h work I do.

SN

In order:
Stanley #60 block plane
Stanley #110 block
Stanley #8C
Stanley #78

I also have a Stanley Bailey 5 1/2 with EA Berg blade waiting to be tarted up...

My Sargent 708 (8" smoother) - its really user friendly... backlash is only 1/2 a turn of the top nut, manoeurvrable, very 'clean' blade advance, slices end grain cleanly.

Downside:
You can't adjust the position of the frog to close up the mouth. It's frog is just a plate that screws to 'wings' coming off the sides of the body. To overcome this I can pack a shim behind the blade, or behind the plate - behind the plate is better. Instead of closing the mouth, I find backing off the blade a touch works just as well with this plane.