I'm on the hunt for good woodworking planes available in Europe. With prices for brands like Lie Nielsen and Clifton reaching sky-high levels, I'm considering the Luban brand. In the Netherlands, I found Peaktool, which is made in the same factory, but I'm curious about other options as well. I'm primarily interested in getting a No. 5 1/2 plane. I would love to buy a Woodriver, but unfortunately, they don't ship outside of Canada. Any suggestions?
5 Answers
Have you thought about looking for vintage planes? Record makes some really solid options and their quality is impressive.
For a good deal, try eBay for vintage Stanley planes. They can be a real gem if you're willing to put in the effort to search!
Kunz Plus is decent, and if you're open to looking at Ulmia, they've got some solid options. Just a heads up, Luban, Juuma, and Dictum share the same base quality, but they're all made in China.
If you're okay with doing a bit of tuning, I've got a few Juuma planes from Dictum, and they work like a dream! I use a Juuma 5 1/2 and it's great for my needs. Just check their flatness and squareness before you buy.
ECEmmerich planes are really good and they have a wide range. You might also find one second-hand without too much trouble.