I'm gearing up for a class next month where we'll be making bamboo fly rods, and I've been advised to get a Stanley 9 1/2 block plane. Since I'm brand new to hand planing, I'd like to practice a bit before the class. I've heard mixed things about the quality of newer Stanley planes—some say the Sweetheart line isn't as good. Can anyone suggest whether I should look for a different brand or maybe a vintage option? What about blade recommendations? Thanks!
1 Answer
If you're on a budget, definitely consider getting a vintage one! There are still great planes being made by smaller companies like Veritas and Lie Nielsen, but they're premium models and can get pricey. Vintage block planes are easier to find, often cheaper, and while they might need a little tuning, they're pretty straightforward to fix up. Just clean them up, sand the face flat, sharpen the blade, oil the threads, and wax the sole to help it glide.
Great point! I also find that a standard angle block plane tends to handle difficult grain better than a low angle one. You can mimic a low angle effect by skewing the tool as you cut.