I recently picked up a WoodRiver 4 plane on sale as my first one, and while I've managed to sharpen it, I've noticed it's not performing as well as some of my other planes. After trying a Lie-Nielsen plane, I was amazed at how much better it worked, especially since the adjustments were so much tighter. Despite putting in the effort to sharpen my WoodRiver, even my old Stanley 5 seems to be smoother. I'm wondering if a Lie-Nielsen or Veritas blade would fit in my WoodRiver plane, as I'm looking for ways to make it more usable. Otherwise, I'm considering splurging on a new Lie-Nielsen, but my wallet definitely wouldn't like that!
4 Answers
I got a Veritas iron in my Wood River #3, and it fits perfectly. Just a note, though—I keep the mouth tight on that plane. Not sure if you'd be able to adjust it fully open without issues.
I'd say a Lie-Nielsen blade should fit your WoodRiver fine. The two are pretty similar, but Veritas blades are a bit different since they use Norris adjusters and come with round holes. Just make sure to get the right width! Also, be aware that Lie-Nielsen blades are often thicker than Stanley's, which can affect the fit. Their chipbreaker is definitely a game changer.
I swapped a Hock iron into my WoodRiver 4 and it works like a charm! Just a heads up, you'll need to make some adjustments to the frog to fit it properly.
If you're thinking about other options, Hock makes some fantastic plane knives and chip breakers. They're thicker and top notch! I have them on my Stanley and Bailey planes, and they've improved performance.
Veritas also makes blades and chip breakers in PMV11 steel for standard style planes like Stanley's. I have one in my Bailey style #7 and it works great!