Thread: How long is a typical #5 Jack Plane and a typical block plane?

240mm is about right. But at that length the blades aren't normally quite so wide on a jack plane.

As for the smaller plane, the pattern they are using is a "German Jack" and seeing one as small as that is interesting. I think the handle will get annoying, I also think that should be easy to fix.

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Check out the "Craftsman Collection" on their home-page.


Oh, and to answer the question, "Would they be a good place to start my woodworking?" Sure, as good a start as any and cheap too.

Being Mujingfangle I guess they're wooden planes you're looking at. An iron No.5 would be 355mm (14") long, with a 2" blade, and IIRC 14" was a standard length for woodies as well. As for block planes, Stanley and others were mainly 1 3/8" or 1 5/8" wide.

But Seanz knows more than I about woodies, so if he gives his blessing then it must be okay .

Cheers, Vann

I have that muji (245mm) and it is not really my idea of a jack as it is on the short side and the blade and mouth would need some tinkering if you intend dressing rough sawn wood. It is however very good at smoothing with a tight mouth and a very good blade. You could say it is the wood equivilent of a stanly 4 1/2.
Regards
John

Have any of you tried Muijingfang's 350mm Hong Kong style Jack Plane? Or have any of you used this style of plane before?

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have you seen the plane with the naked sheila on it, normally i wouldn't be opposed to the idea of a naked female form adorning a plane, but using that one might look strange...

what were they thinking! the shavings come out her bum!


Russel, i have used a few of those, dont think that exact model though, so i'm not sure if it is the same as some of their others i have with a brass insert at front of mouth, some have HSS blades too, the high angle planes are about 60deg with no cap iron, that one you mention looks like its prob about 45deg (?) and has a cap iron (chip-breaker). the ones i've used/have from them after fettling the blade work as expected..amazing for the price really


cheers
chippy

Hey Chippy,

I hadn't noticed that! I'll get my Chinese friends to explain that one to me and get back to you...

Since you've been happy with their planes, I reckon I'll give the HK 350mm one a go.

Cheers!

I use woodies and love them. My concern with these is where the 'African ebony' comes from. I don't like to generalise but the Chinese aren't renowned for resource stewardship...

Originally Posted by Berlin

I use woodies and love them. My concern with these is where the 'African ebony' comes from. I don't like to generalise but the Chinese aren't renowned for resource stewardship...

Like most timber, it comes from trees. Woodworking is not for the squeamish.

A better answer would be 'Gabon'. Gabon appears to be a major exporter of a particular type of ebony.


Back to the original question "How long etc." The English pattern wooden jack planes are about the same length as a #5, the German jack planes are shorter, and a lot handier to use too.

Originally Posted by seanz

Like most timber, it comes from trees. Woodworking is not for the squeamish.

A better answer would be 'Gabon'. Gabon appears to be a major exporter of a particular type of ebony.

Umm. Yeah. I'm deinitely squeamish when it comes to 3rd world hardwoods.http://www.afrol.com/features/10278

It might be nice if we weren't all so flippant about where our timber came from.

Originally Posted by Berlin

Umm. Yeah. I'm deinitely squeamish when it comes to 3rd world hardwoods.afrol News - Forests and deforestation in Africa<br> <i>- the wasting of an immense resource</i>

It might be nice if we weren't all so flippant about where our timber came from.

I apologize for my flippancy. I can't help it. I've recently been seal-watching.


I too am concerned about where my timber comes from. But I'm not concerned about "where the 'African Ebony' comes from", I'd expect it to come from Africa. Being 'concerned' about Chinese resource management practices on an internet forum probably won't change much about African logging practices.

Most people prefer it when I'm flippant.

Originally Posted by Russell Cook

Have any of you tried Muijingfang's 350mm Hong Kong style Jack Plane? Or have any of you used this style of plane before?

Woodwell Woodworking Tools Manufacturing Ltd.

Hi Russell

Mujingfang planes are extraordinary value for money. I've had a couple of them for longer than I can recall, and raving about them for just as long.

I have one similar to this one on your list ..



At 11" in length it is a little long for a smoother (these are best at about 7-8" and typically 9-10") and short for a jack plane (14-15" is traditional). Consequently it languishes on a shelf and has not been used in years.

This one is the ideal length ......



..... for a Western plane. However we are dealing here with Eastern planes, that is, they are pulled not pushed. The Muji "smoother" I have has the mouth a little further forward than these planes, which have their mouths set pretty far back.

To be frank, I have no experience of using a plane like this, and no idea whether these can be used as a jack or what. They are much closer in design to a Japanese plane.

My recommendation would be to use planes that I understand, which are traditional Western designs, either woodies (see below) or Stanley (#5).

You could build your own. This is a Jack plane I built. It has a razee body 15 1/2" long, is 2 3/4" wide, and 2" high at the mouth. This keeps the centre of gravity low.



You will find guidelines here: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMad...JackPlane.html

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by seanz

I apologize for my flippancy. I can't help it. I've recently been seal-watching.


I too am concerned about where my timber comes from. But I'm not concerned about "where the 'African Ebony' comes from", I'd expect it to come from Africa. Being 'concerned' about Chinese resource management practices on an internet forum probably won't change much about African logging practices.

Most people prefer it when I'm flippant.

Man, i hate being the sad sack that whines on about this #### but this stuff is the thin end of the wedge and someone has to at least mention it.

Originally Posted by seanz

I apologize for my flippancy. I can't help it. I've recently been seal-watching.

Most people prefer it when I'm flippant.

Originally Posted by berlin

Man, i hate being the sad sack that whines on about this #### but this stuff is the thin end of the wedge and someone has to at least mention it.

I'm with you on this Berlin. I won't buy Chinese planes (amoung other things) for this and other reasons. But as Seanz says:

Originally Posted by seanz

Being 'concerned' about Chinese resource management practices on an internet forum probably won't change much about African logging practices.

Unfortunately...

Originally Posted by berlin

...but this stuff is the thin end of the wedge...

Pun intended?

Cheers, Vann.

Sure, it's not going to change much but I have a little more faith in the consumer as an agent of change. If through bringing this issue up on an internet forum a few more people think twice about where they're putting their money then that's already more than i could achieve shouting at the TV.

I keep my optimism in the same thimble with my puns though, so that was a rare treat