Thread: Newbie - looking for advice on planes

Originally Posted by derekcohen

I can only speak for the LN versions, of which I have the bronze #103 (standard angle) and the 60-1/2 (low angle). Of the low angle LNs, the cheaper non-adjustable version (the bronze #102) is just be best "bargain" going. Once you start using this plane you will be hooked. Big Time!

Price of the bronze LN #102? $149 at MIK. The LN # 60-1/2 Low Angle Adjustable Mouth Block Plane is $249.

The LV equivalent of the #102, the Apron block plane is $139. The larger adjustable mouth block plane is $180.

so given that the IRON LN #102 is less than $120, does that make it better than a bargin?

Ian

Whats been said about a jack plane sounds right. a no.5 is really all you need. An old plane is better than new. From E-bay or the markets. An old stanley or bailey is a good start. Cost you something like $40

But really, in my opinion, any plane will do, as long as you've got a sharp blade. The single, biggest, noticeable improvement you'll ever get in a planes performance is by going from using a dull blade to using a sharp one. 90% of the problem.

in my opinion.....concentrate all your energy and patience on learning to consistantly sharpen a blade razor sharp first. Only AFTER you've learn't a sharpening method,,,,after you've gone through the many frustrations it takes to get to that point,,,,think about what TYPE of plane is best. So you don't end up spending hundreds on a tool that you latter learn is not for you. cause learning to handplane can be very troublesome. Many think ......

What a waste of time !!

bloody power tool heads.....impatient buggers , arn't ya. eh

If it is a block plane you decide you are after then this thread should interest you.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...573#post201573

Originally Posted by Auspiciousdna

I've got an old one and have never had a problem with it? No plastic parts on my unit! Might even be a record can't remember haven't used it in while. I'll have to dig it out of the back of the ute and check.


P.S. The pic was to give our new friend an idea what they look like not a recommendation of this product!

Yes mine is a record!

Originally Posted by gsouth

I have also read about picking up some of the older planes 2nd hand on ebay - as I have no idea about planes I'm not that keen on that route...

Hi Geoff,

When I started, I already had a couple of planes passed on to me from my dad (Stanley #4 and #4 1/2). I learned a hell of a lot reading the posts on this forum and received great advice from the people here. I took them apart, cleaned and tuned them. I then bought a few old planes off ebay, took those apart, cleaned and tuned them (I did get to do some woodworking too...), bought new blades and chip breakers (Hock, LN) for two of them to try them out. One of the hard things when buying online is buying a plane you cannot take apart and physically look over first hand if you don't know about planes. Took me a while to be confident. When I go to a flee market, I take a screw driver with me.

If you want something great straight out of the box, then you pay big dollars to get that. You should have no issues with an LA, LN or HNT Gordon plane (no wondering whether you've bought a good or crappy plane, no cleaning, no tuning, man you know you have a high quality plane according to those that have them) and if you do you'll get great customer service. But if hand planes frustrate you to the point of no return, even with the best of planes, then you're stuck with a tool you don't enjoy and are out of pocket. We'll, you wouldn't have a problem selling an LA, LN or HNT Gordon plane, but not for the price you bought it (it may take a few years before you can sell it for more than the sale price).

I've gradually bought only used hand planes, with the exception of 2 mujingfang planes that were very cheap and are fantastic, and a nice LV LA spokeshave. It's a personal choice for me, because I can buy more on a limited budget.

For example, for the price I paid for some of the Stanleys I bought on ebay

#5 (jack), #8 (jointer), #40 (scrub), #53 (spokeshave), #60 1/2 (LA block adjustable mouth), #65 (LA block adjustable mouth), #93 (shoulder)

I'd end up with one LN #4. To me, it doesn't make sense to buy one plane, when I can get a few for different types of jobs. So, I don't buy the best, just work with what I've got which is good enough for me.

Well I might as well get into this......

If you want to go with metal body planes, like everyone else has said here, New, Lee Valley or LN, for wooden bodied planes, the fellow there in Oz that makes them, or the Chinese type. Recently I've been buying older Japanese ones and I'm tuning them up.

If you want to save money, and learn a thing or two about the tools you are using, buy an old Record or Bailey.

Here is my old Bailey, it is a Number four, I guess this would fall into the "Jack" plane range....
Old, not the nicest looking, but with a good tune up, it cuts wood thinner than paper!

The other plane is a block plane, LV makes a very nice one, so does LN, super stuff.

I have a record block plane, it is a POS, but I was given it as an Xmas gift, so I got to use it (If you know what I mean). It too got tuned up and now it works very well. This little plane lives close at hand, as I use it all the time, not just for endgrain.

Good luck!

I like many people have learnt a hell of a lot from all on this site. At this point in my life I think that "two" really well tweaked and sharp planes (my old 5 1/2 and a block) is better than the 25 or so blunt/semi sharp ones I have now...yep will tune all in the future (next 20years), love them all, and it gives me great pleasure in reading and listening to others who share my hobby.
Cheers
Timmy
Brisbane

Originally Posted by Timmy

I like many people have learnt a hell of a lot from all on this site. At this point in my life I think that "two" really well tweaked and sharp planes (my old 5 1/2 and a block) is better than the 25 or so blunt/semi sharp ones I have now...yep will tune all in the future (next 20years), love them all, and it gives me great pleasure in reading and listening to others who share my hobby.
Cheers
Timmy
Brisbane

Me toooooo. I've learn't heaps from this site too.

American Woodworking Forum......your the best .

Hey Timmy ! have you got your pilots licience yet..... I heard, THAT, you've been flying that TSC10HB without one !.....better pull your head in mate, before they ground ya.

(joking,,,,just joking Timmy,,, )

Makita make an excellent plane.
Sinjin

> Looks like a power station, Ivan?

Yep,

Seems like I LIVE there some weeks

apricotripper wrote:
Hey Timmy ! have you got your pilots licience yet..... I heard, THAT, you've been flying that TSC10HB without one !.....better pull your head in mate, before they ground ya.

(joking,,,,just joking Timmy,,, )

Yeh mate...couple of months back trying to move a small piece of waste, had it thrown at me at (mach 1)...didn't need anyone to ground me, did it myself. Thumb numb for 1 week.

Actually, the new shed is up, only small (3.3 x 5.5) but will put up some photo's when I have it set up. No building, just looking through old posts on how people have set up their shed. So currently the TSC10HB is a really great tool stand!
Cheers
Timmy

Originally Posted by gsouth

All,

I am just starting in woodwork and have been reading a lot here.
I have decided I would like to purchase my first hand plane, and don't know where to start.

I'm looking for one that will do most general tasks and once I have learn't how to use it look at others down the track (I have read this can be an addiction - given I'm a gadget person this could be expensive)

I have also read about picking up some of the older planes 2nd hand on ebay - as I have no idea about planes I'm not that keen on that route...

So, which planes do you recommend? Any brands to stear clear of?

Cheers
Geoff

I wish I had thought to ask for advice before I bought my first plane!{modern Stanley block}.I would have saved a lot of time trying to get it to work properly.If I factored in that time then a Lee Valley would have made much more sense costwise. Mine cost me $200 (the stanley cost around $130).The LV worked right out of the box and is a joy to use.
If you can wait until next August you will be able to get some good gear at Henry Black's tool sale (Concord High School). I bought a rusty but restorable Stanley No.5 for 10 bucks.With the Hock iron and a replacement cap iron from HB's it works as well as a LV or L-N,but again,if I factored in the time taken to restore it,it wasn't very cost-effective.Nice looking plane though (original tote and knob in perfect condition).Type "Patrick's Blood and Gore" into Google and you will find all you need to know about old Stanleys and take his advice that pre-war (that's WW11) are generally the best. Also,"Hans Brummer" have a good selection of users at pretty good prices.Hope this helps!
I also wish I had found waterstones before wasting a lot of time on every other type of sharpening stone although Googling "scarysharp" got me on the path to enlightenment.220,1000/4000 should get you off to a good start and your tools will love you for it.
Reviewing all my tool purchases to date (an angst-ridden process and not advisable) I would have been much better off to get decent gear in the first place,financially and emotionally.
Haven't (yet) tried HNT stuff but have never seen anything bad written about it and since experts rave about it, I'm looking forward to trying it.
I just have to get the courage up to tell The Accountant that we will have to live on roadkill again (just for a little while).