I'm considering buying a Lie-Nielsen hand plane and I'm stuck on which one to choose. I already have a good set of vintage Stanley planes (sizes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) that work pretty well for me. I'm particularly wondering if my #4 could perform better for smoothing, or if I should opt for the #5 1/2 instead. What do you all think? Which one would you pick?
3 Answers
If I had to pick just one, I'd go for the bronze #4 with a 50-degree pitch. It's super versatile and works great for most tasks.
The #5 1/2 is awesome as an all-around plane. If you get it, I recommend picking up a second blade – one with a camber for smoothing and another flat one for precision work like a shooting board.
Absolutely! I have a #5 and a vintage #4 and #7, but I only grab the others for really long boards. They also sell blades pre-cambered, which can save time!
I love my rabbet block plane; it's a bit niche but comes in handy when needed. It's definitely worth the investment! Check it out here: [Rabbet Block Plane](https://www.lie-nielsen.com/products/rabbet-block-plane-w-nicker?path=block-planes&node=4072)
Totally agree! Just keep in mind it's a bit heavy. I have one and it's perfect for truing up shorter boards. But yeah, there are lighter options if that's a concern.