UPDATE: I bought a #4 on ebay
I currently have a #6 and a 5 & 1/2 in my hand plane arsenal. These tackle most tasks with ease, however, I still have issues planing figured wood and wood with grain direction changes. I've set the 5 &1/2 up to take very fine shavings, adjusted the frog to close the throat down, and set the chip-breaker as close to the edge of the blade as possible, however i still get tear-out in the walnut and African mahogany i'm planing.
I now have the budget to buy one plane, from the wood river line, and i cant decide which to get. I want this plane to be my smoothing plane and to be able to smooth walnut and mahogany without tear-out.
Should i Get the 4 & 1/2 or the 62 with a 40 degree bevel blade?
..on a side note, if i buy the 4 & 1/2 i'll have some extra money to buy a couple new chisels as well.. but don't let that influence your suggestion.
Thanks!