I'm considering whether to invest in a No. 5 and/or No. 7 plane, but it's crossed my mind that a No. 6 might actually be the best middle ground. Am I overthinking this, or does the No. 6 really offer the best of both worlds?
3 Answers
Think about the longest board you plan to joint. A No. 6 can definitely act like a longer version of a No. 5 1/2. I’m actually planning to put a heavy camber on mine so I can use it as a fore plane. Might be a good option!
The No. 6 is often seen as a "short jointer," and it works really well for boards that are 4 to 5 feet long. It’s also called a "panel plane" since it’s great for surfacing. Honestly, it’s underappreciated in the tool world! I use mine all the time and love it. That said, I do have a No. 7 as well—just because I could, you know?
In my experience, the No. 6 is a solid fore plane, although it can be a bit heavy. That’s kind of why Stanley created the No. 5 1/2 later on, to give users a wider plane without the extra weight. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to modify something, you could even buy a No. 6 and trim it down to a No. 5 length—there’s a thought! ?