I know next to nothing about hand-planes. I want to use a hand plane to joint the edges of some boards before gluing them. There are a lot of different planes, but I'm not really sure which one is a) best for my application, or b) which one would not only work for this, but also for other applications. I don't want to break the bank on this tool purchase either. Any advise on where to lookup some good info or tips on what to get would be appreciated.
Get a #5 - you can joint with it adequately and do lots of other stuff too. It's
light enough to use with one hand for chamfering and stuff like that too.
I use a #4 a lot too, and often with one hand like most guys would use a
block plane, but the #4 is no good for jointing edges.
A good #5 is kind of the general purpose hand plane….if you're only going to have one or two, a #5 (or 5-1/2) is a good choice. A block plane is really handy to have too.
The WoodRiver planes are nice planes for a reasonable cost. I have the #4 smoother and once I got it tuned, it makes a real nice cut. But a scrub plane is good to have around. I would recommend starting with a block plane. Learn how to sharpen, tune and use that first. They're relatively inexpensive and very handy to have around and it doesn't break the bank if you really screw it up. lol
So it seems like #5 might be the best first plane to get then? Thanks for the help! Now that I have a starting point I can read up a bit more on the #5, watch some youtube videos, and compare other future planes to this one.
As a side note, what does the numbering represent? Larger number=
Edit: looks like I may have jumped the gun. I think I might be able to get a grasp on a number system, but how does a block plane fit into this? And the angle? low angle vs. standard? I think I need to do some reading, is there a website that breaks down which ones are used for what purpose, and why?
a) What length of board are you trying to joint?
b) A #5 would be a good plane for multiple uses (hence the nick name "jack plane"), but if you're regularly trying to plane the edges of fairly long boards (i.e. 48"+) than it may not be the right plane for the job.
The numbering system overall doesn't make a ton of sense, but as far as the typical bench planes the numbering system is sequential (mostly) by size. 1, 2, 3, 4, 4 1/2, 5, 5 1/4, 5 1/2, 6, 7, 8 were all bench plane numbers from the tiny little #1 to the aircraft carrier of planes, the #8 jointer. Many, but not all, of the older manufacturers numbered their planes following Stanley's planes.
Go here for more information than you ever needed (or maybe wanted) to know about the Stanley plane numbering system.
The boards I'm trying to joint right now are relatively short - between 8-24 inches.There is a possibility that I'll have some longer ones ~45 inches coming up too. I agree that on longer boards, a different plane may be a better option, but for my current plans and knowledge base a more "standard" plane would be better for me and my wallet. I'll do some more digging around, and thanks for the link!
When jointing, there are a few things that you want to watch - grain direction, overall width, and squareness of the boards. It is more than than just making a good fit - edge to edge. If the board's edge is at an angle to the piece, it could give it an odd look, unless it is desired.
The book "Handplane Essentials" by Chris Schwarz (the editor of "Popular Woodworking") would be a good investment.
That said, a plane will normally joint the edge of a board that is approximately three times the length of the plane's sole. A #5, with a sole length of 14 inches will thus joint an edge up to about 42 inches long.
You can find a great many used Stanley/Bailey #5's at antique stores, flea markets, garage sales, ect. at reasonable cost. Bying a used plane will likely require some clean-up and sharpening, but this is an excellent way to become familiar with how a hand plane works.
Again, the above book will shorten your learning curve considerably.
Put my vote in for the #7. It's a great jointer and I actually find myself using it more often for jack-type work over the #5. The length & heft helps me with flattening obliquely relative to the grain. I wouldn't rush out & buy a #8 yet and the #5's a more than reasonable starting point. Good luck!
My vote would be for a No 62 low angle jack. It's a good, general purpose plane, and might be easier to start out with than a bevel down (traditional bench) plane.
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