Best Size Bench Plane To Use With A Shooting Board?

[seanz]

Any opinions on what would be a good all-round plane to use with a shooting board?

A nice long #7? A nimble #5?

I'll be selling the bulk of the 'non-user' metal planes I have to make some room and I'd like to know what I should keep to use as a shooting board plane. Anything between a #3 and a #7.
Note, amongst a great many other things for the workshop, I haven't built a shooting board yet. What size plane should I start with?

[McNulty]

Hi Seanz,
I think the no 5 pane has the right combination of weight, straightness and length. Bigger planes will tire you out.

Alan

[goodwoody]

Groovers, I find the choice of plane depends on the size of the timber being shot. For large, wide end grain I choice a #8 and of course for smaller pieces I choose a smaller plane. Possibly a # 5 or #4. Usually find , what ever suits your work, what you have in your tool collection and your physical status. Damien.

[NCArcher]

I like to use the #6. The weight really helps drive it through the end grain. Yet it's not so big that your movements are cramped.

[Vann]

Hi Seanz. I have only used my shooting board a few times (I ought to use it more, or get out more, or something...). I tried my LV LAJ (which is supposed to be good for shooting) but found I had difficulty gripping it, and kept pulling the lever cap askew with my fingers. So I grabbed my unrestored Record T5 and put the double iron out of my No.4 smoother into it and had a better result.

Of course, if you're selling off surplus planes and wondering which one to keep, you probably don't have a T5 to hang on to (nor an LAJ) so that's not much help. I found the side handle on the T5 invaluable, so whatever you keep for the job, I recommend something you can attach a hotdog to (or if it's an old wreck you could drill and tap a hole for a side handle).

A T5 is about the size of a 5 1/4 or a No.10. I know you have both of those but don't go drilling holes in either

Cheers, Vann.