Hand Planes #3: Lost in the woods

Buy a Veritas smoother?

Try the #3 to see how it feels in your hand?

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

What Kind of work do you do. If it’s smaller scale a 3 would be fine. But for general work I would go with the 4.

How big are your hands? that’s a factor too.

-- Make furniture that lasts as long as the tree - Ryan

I’m 5’0 so my hands aren’t the biggest. As for type of work, its all hobby work what ever I feel like making. Currently working one a jewelry box for my sister

-- Easy to use end grain cutting board designer: http://www.1024studios.com/cuttingboard.html

It might be worth checking out the #3….

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

#3 sounds like a winner to me then.

happy shavings.

-- Make furniture that lasts as long as the tree - Ryan

If you’re like me and pretty new I wouldn’t buy a plane (any tool really) unless I was sure it was what I wanted. I have to budget for my purchases with the wife so my money has to count. Even a small purchase I have found myself regretting a time or two much less a > $100 plane. I’m not trying to suggest you don’t get the #3, what I am trying to say is if you want the #4, then wait for it to get back in stock rather than “settle” for the #3. Just my 2c.

My suggestion was to try the #3 out. He may find he prefers it to the #3 given factors such as the size of his hand. I would agree not to settle for something.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

I’m into this late. A quality #3 is a thing of beauty but for some reason, I don’t reach for mine that often. Never settle on a plane. There are too many good ones out there to settle.

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

Not a wood river, but as Al says, a thing of beauty….

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

If I got the #3, it wouldn’t be settling.
The truth is I don’t know what plane I want.

I’ve picked up and held the #3 plane it feels nice.

What I want, is a hand plane that slides smoothly and produces thin shavings like I see in Wayne’s picture.

To add, from what I’ve read .. I think i do want a smoothing plane like a #3 (or 4).

I have a jointer/planer and I don’t really feel the need to square my boards by hand. But I would like to be able to shave off mill marks, shave off a small amount of wood for nice tight fits .. etc..

-jeremy

-- Easy to use end grain cutting board designer: http://www.1024studios.com/cuttingboard.html

603 with a full length Hock and chipbreaker. Wayne’s not at his first rodeo. Wayne’s plane above is going to set you back but if I had a 603, I’d probably reach for it more often:)

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

Wayne! what is that curious tanged and ferruled bladed beauty in the foreground, you scoundrel! I can’t take my eyes off that patina!

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

My early 3 with a SW4. Not Wayne’s 603, but beautiful nonetheless:

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

I would think the wood river would preform similar to the 603 or your nice little #3. I really love the look of the low knobs on the early planes.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Because I felt the need

As a word of warning hand-planes are addictive. (below is not my full collection). Grab the one you feel like getting and then start hunting for the next one you feel the need to possess. I may have a problem.

-- Make furniture that lasts as long as the tree - Ryan