Should I just not be getting a new plane?

[Eslader]

Very much a beginner woodworker here, pretty much starting from 0. I'm accumulating tools to practice with, and one tool I don't have that it seems I should is a plane. I see a lot of discussion here and on woodworker sites about how great it is to get an old plane and restore it, which I can very easily do. I also see a lot of talk about how good Stanley planes are.

But old Stanley planes, at least around here, start at around $45 and go up from there, whereas Amazon has a new Stanley plane which looks almost identical to the old ones for $20.

I assume the new ones are made of crappy materials and should be avoided, but want to verify that before I spend more than I might need to.

 

[M_George]

I see the Stanley 4 and 5 planes for around $10 at the local flea markets all the time.

 

[ScottsGT]

A new Stanley is no where near the same quality of a restored plane. Careful though. They're like Lay's potato chips. Can't just have one.

 

[Eslader]

It might be a good thing that I am space-limited. That should keep the plane count down to 20 or so But I figure I'll start with one until I figure out what I'm doing with it. Any suggestions on what a newbie should get as a first and for the time being only plane? I have plenty of time to find one, as I won't be doing much beyond assembling a tool collection until spring.

 

[ScottsGT]

My first one was a Stanley #4 I picked up off ebay. Yea, I paid way too much for it.
Me second one was a Millers-Falls 18C that I got from a close friend after his dad passed away. It was in a pile of tools and junk in his garage floor. When I restored it and started using it, he could not believe how good it worked again.
Last month I treated myself to a Lie-Nielsen low angle jack plane for taking down end grain on joints. Now that's a work of art!
EDIT: Forgot, I also purchased a new Harbor Freight to modify into a jack plane. It's still in the box, but I did learn to look at them carefully. The frog is not machined properly on some and the dual adjusters won't sit in the blade grooves properly if not. I had to return my first one. Keep the receipt! I had to have it, even for an exchange.

 

[Jim C.]

Yes, I think you should have a hand plane or two, or three, if you’re going into woodworking. Older Stanleys (pre 1950) are a great option, but there were other good brands too, like Sargent. As for currently manufactured planes, they’re not all junk. Actually far from it. Check out Lie-Nielsen planes. Most are based on old tried and true Stanley models. They’re GREAT almost right out of the box. Trouble is, they’re relatively expensive. Starting out, look for a #4 smoother, a #5 jack, and a low angle block plane with an adjustable throat, like a #60. Get user quality planes. If you shop a little, you could probably find all three I mentioned in good condition for about $60.

Jim C.

 

[theoldwizard1]

There are a couple of videos on YouTube about experienced woodworker "fixing" HF planes. It takes a fair amount of work and knowledge, but the results are a very serviceable tool !

 

[jd_1138]

Every handyman, carpenter, woodworker needs at least one plane. You need it for basic repairs and trimming materials. Though I guess power sanders can replace some of the functions of a plane.

 

[Bcom]

OMG! I came to this thread thinking you were gonna buy a new airplane! I was hoping to see pics. Ok now I feel dumb

 

[rsanter]

I like the old Stanley planes, they are not that valuable and easy to restore if all you want is a functional restoration.
Soak in Evaporust, sharpen the blade and repaint if you really want to.
The really old planes are valuable, the middle age ones are not valuable but work great once dialed in

Bob

 

[Robinson1]

I'd start with a Stanley #4 it's in my opinion the most versatile plane you can own. Next add a Stanley 220 block plane. As you get deeper into wood working you will tend to accumulate planes.

A Stanley 60 low angle block plane with adjustable throat is very nice if you do any cabinet or furniture work.

Other brands are good too but Stanley seems to be the most common. At least around here.

Keep an eye out for Miller's Falls and Seargent.

Fuller planes were pretty much exact Stanley copies and can be tunes to cut great as well.

Hope this helps.

 

[Eslader]

OMG! I came to this thread thinking you were gonna buy a new airplane! I was hoping to see pics. Ok now I feel dumb

Lol. Here:

Can't have you leave disappointed.

Thanks everyone. I'll start cruising estate sales and flea markets looking for a plane to restore. That'll be a fun project.

 

[jimreed2160]

If you want to know about handplanes, check out my Woodworking 101 thread. There enough posts to keep you reading for a while. As for planes, I would get a #3, #4, #5, #7, #93, #72, a good low angle block plane, and some Bedrocks. Good luck searching.

 

[ez-duzit]

You can start with a low angle block plane. Then add a jack plane, and then a medium sized shoulder/rabbet plane. Stanley or Record.

 

[gda659]

Buy your first plane new. Start out with the Veritas low angle block plane. Or, the Lie-Nielsen version if you have more cash available. Both are very well made and are a joy to put to work. Learn how to sharpen the blade. Sandpaper on plate glass or granite is one way to do it.
I made the mistake of trying a Lie-Nielsen #4 1/2 smoothing plane at a woodworking show. I could have planed that piece of cherry just to hear it make beautiful curls all day long. I will have one, some day.
Or, go with Japanese style planes for a different way of doing things.

 

[rnscustom]

I have a few planes but my most used is my Stanley low angle block , I have a Nelson low angle / angle blade block but I don't really like it , and 3 rabbet planes , Stanley bullnose , record stubby bullnose , and a Stanley 93 I believe . All those I really like . I have an old Stanley handyman jack plane that is real lite and a pleasure to use . I have a near mint Stanley dado plane that I never use and would sell . Other planes I use are Stanley hand router for dado checking and a bull nose scraper ( got a lipping plane so that isn't used that much anymore ) . Craftsmans old planes are nice also .

 

[Eslader]

If you want to know about handplanes, check out my Woodworking 101 thread.

I've been working my way through that thread as time permits. It's been very helpful!

 

[VoodooCLD]

The old planes were made much better, as those were the only tools available to work wood with. Whereas today a carpeneter or cabinet maker would own a $1500 table saw and nice electric planer/jointer, back then they owned stanley hand planes. The tools were made to very high quality standards as that's what the tradesmen needed.

The new Stanley planes are sold mostly for hobbyists, and the important components are not always machined correctly. That being said, it's not worth buying a totally trashed out vintage model either (or old, but not one of the quality units before the 1950's). Rust can be removed, but make sure the cutout in the sole of the plane is nice and rectangular and not all eaten away by rust. Make sure the frog is in good shape and will seat and adjust well.