Thread: Why would I want the half-sized planes?

Dunno really. I don't have a 5, but I have a 5 1/2. I suppose the advantage is mainly in the extra mass of the wider plane. You can get a nice wide shaving off it though...

Well firstly because it means you can legitimately own more planes than you possibly need.....

Secondly it's all about the 'heft' plus you get a bit more bang for your buck per stroke with the extra width (at least it feels like I do).

My favourite is the 5 1/2, it has a nice feel in my hands although I can see the attraction in the #6 too.

Edit: I think NZStu and I were replying at the same time abeit him quicker !

Ciao

A reading key could be the size of boards you have to work.
I use 4 1/2 plane for smoothing panels and 5 1/2 as jack for longer and wider boards.
I have a 5 1/4 plane too, but I never used it. May be it is good only as jack junior plane?

Giuliano

I have a 4 1/2 and a 5 1/2 and although I have bugger all experience using hand planes, I love the heft of the 1/2 sizes for flattening and smoothing large areas. To me the No.4 feels a bit small but is better suited to a narrower board or a small area. The No.5 is also quite fine (if you know what i mean) but is probably my favourite. (I say that because my No.5 has Blackapple tote and knob, a thumbsucker M2 blade and is soooo shiny )

That probably hasn't answered your question at all but you now want my No. 5 don't you. Well you can't have it.

I also like the extra mass in the 1/2 planes. My 4 1/2 is by far my favourite and most used. Would love to get a 4 1/2H or a nice infill smoother, but until i save up the regular one will have to do.

Everyone has there reasons, but still none of them appeal to me. Thanks for your input folks, I think I'll stick to what I already have.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by kman-oz

Title says it all really, what use do people find for the half sizes? I have a 4, 5, 6 and 7 (used for smoothing, scrubbing, shooting and jointing respectively) in steel bodied planes and I don't see the attraction to the half sizes.

I understand most of them are wider with next-size-up blades, but why would you want this?

reasons, reasons, reasons

1) mass, the 1/2 sizes 4-1/2 and 5-1/2 are slightly longer and SIGNIFICANTLY heavier than the whole sizes.
quoting the modern LN versions ...
#4 -- 4 lbs (length 24.1 cm)
#4½ -- 5½ lbs, (length 26.4 cm) 37% heavier,
as you can see the length difference is not much

#5 -- 5½ lbs (length 35.6 cm)
#5½ -- 7 lbs, (length 37.5 cm) 27% heavier
as with the 4s, the length difference is not much
However, the mass difference is substantial and in a smoother, mass is good


2) blade width
the #4 and #5 can share blades
the #4½ and #5½ can also share blades and also can also share with a #6 and #7
sharing blades is important if you use different cambers for different tasks, such as smoothing, shooting board, travessing (or as a scrub plane) and back bevels


3) MASS
have I already mentioned mass
the other day I was using my #4 and really regretting that I didn't have my #5 with me. the #4 was the right length for the task, but just too light -- the extra mass of a #4½ would have been ideal.


as to the numbers, I'm with Chris Schwartz and go with the principle that the plane number you select for smoothing, scrubbing, shooting or jointing should be based on the size of the project.
short lengths might be jointed with a #5, long lengths smoother with a #6