What would be a good general purpose hand plane

If you don’t have any hand planes, I’d suggest getting a basic 6” block plane. They’re extremely handy. A #5 (14”) “Jack” plane can handle several of the jobs other planes do…it’s sort the general purpose blade of hand planes…”jack of all trades, master of none” sort of thing. A block and a #5 are the two I’d want to have if I had to thin the heard down to the two “must haves”.

I tend to prefer the older Stanleys, Millers Falls, or Record Planes, for their bang for the buck. If your budget allows, the Lie Nielsen and Veritas as very highly regarded.

really depends what you plan on doing with it, but i’d say a jack/#5 or block plane.

I would say an old Stanley #4 bench plane would be a great place to start if one was looking for a single all purpose hand plane.

-- Scott, Colorado

stanley number 4 and a good low angle block plane. thats a great start.

-- Roper - Master of sawdust-

my jack of all trades is my fav no41/2 and block plane but saying that i carry most my tools with me everyday anyway

-- cut it saw it scrap it

as pommy points out.. a 4 1/2 is a great plane giving its weight and width… tough call.. I do own three #4’s.. and three # 4 1/2.. so its a tie w/ me. can’t go wrong w/ either. :)

-- Scott, Colorado

#4 or #4 1/2 Record is my go to.

-- Dave- New Brunswick

a low angle block plane….......without a doubt!

-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/

Thank you all for the replies. I will be buying a couple of different planes. I don’t know what I am doing, but I am sure I will learn.

Have you thought about giving Japanese planes a try?

-- http://timberwerksstudio.blogspot.com/

As roman says above, “a low angle block plane……....without a doubt!”. Would be my plane if I only could have one mines a Stanley 60 1/2 and I really like it.
The second one would be a standard angle Stanley block plane.
The a Stanley 4 next, I have a #3 Stanley that I am partial to as I have been building small things lately.

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

My first plane: Stanley #5 Jack Plane … I didn’t choose it … my Dad gave it to me … but I use it on just about every project. I use it as a fore plane for rough preparation.

My second plane was a low-angle block plane. Mine is a lower quality Stanley ‘contractor grade’ tool that lives in my apron pocket … I use it a lot.

My 3rd plane was a Stanley No 82 Shoulder Plane. Since then, I have a acquired several vintage Stanley planes … a No 7 Jointer, No 3 and No 4 smoothers, and a Craftsman Filister Plane.

-- The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. -- Vincent T. Lombardi

Stanley #3, it just feels “Right” , its the one I grab when I have a little planing job to do. I also have upgraded it with a Hock chip breaker and blade that is scary sharp…Its a beautiful little contraption that you can work one handed like a little block plane or two handed for more power and control. Really a great “Do it all” size.

-- Jerry, "Some people are like Slinkies, They aren't good for much of anything, but they put a grin on your face when you push them down a flight of stairs"