Hand Planes

[Melinapex]

I watched a whole lot of Paul Sellers before I bought my first #4... I grabbed a couple from eBay and cleaned them up, but one had a crack hidden under the rust, so while it is useable, it's not what I thought I was getting.... buyer beware... my next one will be from Ed's or you can often find decent ones at Klingspor. Learning how to sharpen is step one, as everyone will tell you.
And if you like working with hand tools, be prepared, there are so many you NEED! And don't get me started on hand saws! Uh oh, too late!!!

 

[tvrgeek]

There are several on Amazon that look, again, look, like decent tools. Of course, they just say HC steel for the iron, not if it is O1 or A2.
Then there are the Grizzly and the newer Sweetheart but no direct experience. I have seen negative comments on the Sweetheart, but no actual justification.

Damn, now you have me Jonesing for a LN 5 1/2.
My notes
Bench planes

Old Stanley “Bedrock” is a sliding way for the frog
Bailey with or without adjuster, but skew is a problem
Record similar to Bailey
Screw cap or lever cap not important
Veritas frog extends into sole
L-N is Bedrock
Tote on some a bit small. L-N for instance.
Cheaper clones have poor iron steel and sloppy machining.
Baseline, #4 Bailey is $60. Add a Hock for $40.

Premium
Varitas Unique $230
Lie-Leilsen Bedrock improved $300 in iron
Clifton Bedrock clone $380
Kuntz Plus. (Highland) Unique frog slide $220
Wood River, (Woodcraft) $230
Primus. Wood. Said to chatter less

Middle ( #4 as an example)

Stanley Bailey $51
Record $60
Stanley Sweetheart ( Hock says no good. A2 iron) $150
Bench Dog, (Rockler). $150 Record. Solid chip breaker
TayTools, $80 Record

Some insane $1000 and up. Hotley, Bridge City, etc. Not sure they work any better.

E-Bay, Most are Bailey and sell for more than new. Old does not mean better. Finding a bedrock is harder. In other words, best to go new.

 

[Mike Davis]

All my hand planes are old Stanley. They all work well. People have used then for 100 years.
They are getting harder to find but I still find them from time to time.
Not that I'm really looking.
I have all I need for my lifetime and probably any grand kids lifetime.
Didn't pay over $100 for any of them except my #113 compass plane.

 

[Chris C]

Here's a Stanley Bedrock in Winston Salem...

Tools Tools Tools - tools - by owner - sale

Lots of mostly woodworking tools cheep have to move and no shop Antique tools too

winstonsalem.craigslist.org

 

[tvrgeek]

OOOh. Some good tools there.

 

[Chris C]

I would be very interested if I was closer....

 

[gmakra]

I'm going to take a stab st this.
I think taking a sharpening class or video will show you how a plane works. Once you know that, you can apply that basic knowledge to figuring out what and how to use the plane.

 

[smallboat]

Is that a compass plane next to the bedrock in the photo?

 

[Mike Davis]

Is that a compass plane next to the bedrock in the photo?

yes