What’s your favorite hand plane?

[Jason White]

My current favorite is my No. 6 Veritas fore plane. I ground an 8” radius camber on it so I can flatten the face of a board before running it through my thickness planer. I don’t have a powered jointer anymore because I lost part of a finger on it (completely my fault) and it took up too much space in my shop.

What’s your favorite hand plane? Or which do you reach for the most?

[Maurice Mcmurry]

I have many. My short list is the Stanley block plane #1, the Ryobi power plane #2 and this guy #3

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[Jim Koepke]

Most often used is a #5 or #6.

Favorite maybe a #3 or #4-1/2.

Then again, it could be my Veritas Shooting plane in both categories.

Hard to pick a favorite since the are all great friends.

jtk

[Stew Denton]

Currently due to the projects I am working on, all remodeling projects, I am using two planes more than any others, a type 15 #4 Stanley Bailey plane and a #9 1/2 Stanley Rule and Level Company block plane (the iron has the arch type logo). So for right now, I have to vote for those two. This could change if I get on a different project.

Regards,

Stew

[Russell Nugent]

My favorite is an Edgerite No. 5C. Made in the USA, sold in canada. Owners name punched into the side, best tote of any plane I own. History and comfort.

[Ben Ellenberger]

I’ve got a #5 Stanley a friend gave to me. The chrome plating is more or less gone from the lever cap and the body looks a little rough and dingy. It has a camber of some radius that looked about right when I sharpened the blade last time. The mouth is all the way open and when this plane comes out a lot of wood is getting removed in a hurry!

[Rob Luter]

It depends on the day and the task at hand.

[Nathan Johnson]

Pretty hard to pick a favorite. My vintage Stanleys and Millers Falls are great.
But...I'll have to say LN bronze #3.

[carey mitchell]

Currently, my favorites are a Bedrock 606 and probably a 9 1/2. That could change depending on the project.

[Adam AR Brown]

My favorite is a Krenov-style scrub plane I made following John Wilson's book. Most used is my 605. Or maybe a cheap modern Stanley block plane I got from the big box store when I was first learning woodworking.

[Richard Coers]

Mine is a little 5" long Japanese style plane. Of course it's not for surfacing long boards, but it gets taken off the shelf 10 to 1 over all the others.

[chuck van dyck]

Same as above. My 48mm Yamamoto block plane is just so nice to use.

[steven c newman]

Favourite Hand plane? Usually the 2 or 3 I would be using on a given project...as long as thye are sharp, and fit the job being done....all that really matters.

[Mike Henderson]

Stanley 5 1/4 for many things.

Mike

[Ernie Hobbs]

My old Stanley Bailey 4 1/2 is my go-to if at all possible. I have some newer ones, including Veritas planes, but something about this one just feels right.

[steven c newman]

Latest Project..
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Stanley No. 118 Low Angle Block Plane...

[Daniel Culotta]

I have a type 9 #3 that just has such a nice balance and weight, like an extension of my hand. Happy every time I get to pick that one up.

[mike stenson]

I honestly have no favorite.

[James Pallas]

I think my LV rabbet jack is my favorite. It’s a little big for some rabbets but for those 1” and larger wide ones it is an absolute joy. Because it always has a straight iron it gets used for edges often, I don’t have to change irons on my LAJ. Clean up with the jack flatten with the RJ. Just remember “It’ll cut you”.
Jim

[Anuj Prateek]

Keeps changing but the two planes I always end up returning to are LV custom #7 and Wood river #5.

[derek labian]

I use my No 4 smoothing plane more than anything else, but the most valuable (hardest to replace) would be No 51.

[Tom Bussey]

I like keen Kutter K series planes. Probable I like the 4 and 5 the best.

[Tom Duboski]

My #4 answers the call every time I reach for it Sweet!

[Maurice Mcmurry]

I forgot this one. It is very fun to use. It may be a top contender for #1. I have another neat miniature plane that utilizes a twin edge safety razor blade for its Iron. I hope I can find that one...

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[Tom Duboski]

My #4 answers the call every time I reach for it. Sweet!

[Clifford McGuire]

Probably the Millers Falls No 9 that I found when we were cleaning out my grandfather's basement.

It's what got me started on this journey. I don't use it much anymore, but I display it prominently.

[Jim Koepke]

I forgot this one. It is very fun to use. It may be a top contender for #1.

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I've picked up a couple of small planes similar to yours. One is only used in the house and stays on a shelf above our wood stove:

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It is used to make shavings for starting a fire.

The other one stays in a drawer in the shop:

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It is the grey one at the top. It is stamped Millers Falls on the side.

jtk

[Thomas Crawford]

My most used is probably my Veritas LA Jointer. But I received a LN #3 a couple weeks ago and it really sings. Totally different tools.

[steven c newman]

IN USE today...
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Stanley No. 4-1/2c, Type 11...
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And, to level things on the edges..
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Millers Falls No. 11, Type 2

[David Carroll]

My favorite is an LN No. 9 Miter plane. I use it with a Shooting board and I trim nearly every crosscut I make with it. I bought the iron version with the Rosewood rear and side knobs, and I have the hot dog attachment too, which I like. I keep seeing them on Jim Bode's site selling for ~$1000 and I think about selling mine, but I really like it.

DC

[steven c newman]

Then, later...
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As it seems to have earned a spot on my bench...that Junior Jack is just about the right size..
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Does a decent job as a small jointer, too...

Shavings?
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Wood is Ash, BTW...

[steven c newman]

This one MIGHT come in handy...
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Maybe?

[Cameron Wood]

Seems like this one gets the most use lately. Set up as a scrub plane- crowned cutting edge, wide mouth.

Clean up for rough stock, preliminary shaping.

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[Maurice Mcmurry]

I've picked up a couple of small planes similar to yours. One is only used in the house and stays on a shelf above our wood stove:

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It is used to make shavings for starting a fire.

The other one stays in a drawer in the shop:

497363

It is the grey one at the top. It is stamped Millers Falls on the side.

jtk

Jim, That drawer (and its contents) is a thing of beauty! The fun thing about little planes for me is to be sitting down, working on Spruce, Mahogany, Koa, or Spanish Cedar. Making a few curls of Spanish Cedar is a good air freshener.

[Luke Dupont]

Seems like this one gets the most use lately. Set up as a scrub plane- crowned cutting edge, wide mouth.

Clean up for rough stock, preliminary shaping.

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I have a similarly set up Kanna. Not quite a scrub plane, but an aggessive jack, if you will. It's a cheap plane too, nothing fancy -- but I love it. I had never used Japanese planes for rough work previously, so I was pleasantly surprised.

Anyway, when I'm not using Japanese planes, I usually reach for a No. 3. The perfect size and weight for most of the work that I do, and less tiring than some of the larger/heavier planes when the mass or length isn't needed.

[Gary Focht]

My LV #4 is a great performer. My LV LA Jack plane is very versatile with its several irons. I just don’t really love the Norris adjusters. My Sargent 408 and 414 are great feeling planes, work quite well, and I enjoyed the restorations, but the irons seem to dull quickly compared to the PM-V11 in the LV planes.

But my LV shooting plane gets used even more than I thought it would and I love it. It is fantastic.

[Jim Koepke]

But my LV shooting plane gets used even more than I thought it would and I love it. It is fantastic.

+1 on that

jtk

[Derek Cohen]

My favourite planes (difficult to choose just one) each have a quality of being tactile. That is, they perform well and feel intimate.

Number one would be a very vintage Stanley #62 I restored 20 years ago. This was my introduction to BU bench planes, but it also led to meeting Rob Lee (who offered one of his LA Jacks for comparison), and we have since had a long friendship. It is a great plane to use as a precision short jointer as it is so light, and capable of the finest shavings.

Number two is a Veritas NX60 block plane. Not only is this one of the most stunning looking production planes ever made, but it is a top notch performer.

On the right …

https://i.postimg.cc/tX7Gt2Fm/Block3_zpseb1yzo2f.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

A third is the Veritas Small Shoulder plane. At 1/2” wide, it is a small plane, and perfect for fine tuning rebates. I love using it on drawer bottoms, where it tunes the 3mm rebate for slips …

https://i.postimg.cc/qJ4VL22J/5-B6510-AC-E786-40-E2-9-AE4-47-AD8-B952-FE5.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Rob Luter]

It depends on the day and the task at hand.

So today the task at hand was shooting a top and bottom for a box. The Veritas shooting plane was my favorite. The next task was a final smoothing on an aromatic cedar box bottom. The Lie-Nielsen #3 was the star. Shavings so thin they only had one side. ;)

[steven c newman]

Had bevels to do, today..
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And a Van Camp No.4 to do the work...
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Nothing fancy, of course..

[Rob Luter]

My favourite planes (difficult to choose just one) each have a quality of being tactile. That is, they perform well and feel intimate.

Number one would be a very vintage Stanley #62 I restored 20 years ago. This was my introduction to BU bench planes, but it also led to meeting Rob Lee (who offered one of his LA Jacks for comparison), and we have since had a long friendship. It is a great plane to use as a precision short jointer as it is so light, and capable of the finest shavings.

Number two is a Veritas NX60 block plane. Not only is this one of the most stunning looking production planes ever made, but it is a top notch performer.

On the right …

https://i.postimg.cc/tX7Gt2Fm/Block3_zpseb1yzo2f.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

A third is the Veritas Small Shoulder plane. At 1/2” wide, it is a small plane, and perfect for fine tuning rebates. I love using it on drawer bottoms, where it tunes the 3mm rebate for slips …

https://i.postimg.cc/qJ4VL22J/5-B6510-AC-E786-40-E2-9-AE4-47-AD8-B952-FE5.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Regards from Perth

Derek

The NX60 is a thing of beauty. As an Industrial Design professional I really appreciate the aesthetic and clear utility. I’m thinking it feels great in the hand. I’m tempted. I am thankful it’s both unavailable and cost prohibitive. My LN 60 1/2, while rather pedestrian by comparison will have to do.

[Jim Koepke]

The NX60 is a thing of beauty. As an Industrial Design professional I really appreciate the aesthetic and clear utility. I’m thinking it feels great in the hand. I’m tempted. I am thankful it’s both unavailable and cost prohibitive. My LN 60 1/2, while rather pedestrian by comparison will have to do.

Agree, the NX60 came out right after I spent money on an LN #60-1/2. Though my Stanley #60-1/2s tend to be used more often due to the weight and a bum hand.

jtk

[Frederick Skelly]

My grabndfather's Millers Falls #9.

[steven c newman]

have 4 of the No.9s...if you need a spare....

[steven c newman]

Mine get put to work....
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Millers Falls No. 11, Type 2....working as a small jointer....
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Van Camp No.4, working as a smoother....on Ash.
Was a busy day for both..
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Some of the smoothing, was to clean up after a resaw..
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Need the on one the left.....
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[Harold Patterson]

Type 11 Stanley #3. That plane is sweet.

[Aaron Rosenthal]

Current favourite is my Custom LV #5 with a 55 degree frog, since I’m working on dastardly tear-out prone woods for my latest project.
Agree with so many others, my shooting plane gets used A LOT!

[steven c newman]

Currently in use..
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Stanley No. 71-1/2 Router plane
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Since I was chopping out 1/4" wide Stopped Dados....in Ash

[William Fretwell]

Favourite plane has three categories in my shop. The most used workhorse, the most fun to use and the one that does what no other plane can do.
My Clifton 5&1/2 is the most used, my old wooden plane converted to a scrub is pure fun, my LV large shoulder plane is a gem.

[George Yetka]

Most used is my DX60. Very comfortable and weighty in the hand gives me alot of control

[Jon Barnett]

I'd have to choose a category; my Veritas bevel up planes. My most used plane as a carpenter was a Stanley 60 1/2. so I naturally gravitated to the bevel up planes as they always made complete sense to me. Still do.

[steven c newman]

Keep saying...it is the one in use at the moment...
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In this case..it would be the Van Camp No. 4

[Robert Hazelwood]

Not my most used, but does get used on every project- a Tsunesaburo chamfer plane. This makes repeatable perfect chamfers, which I have grown to use a lot in my work. Blade is good steel (Blue #1 I think, sharpens nicely on oil stones) and it has a chipbreaker so it can deal with reversing grain. Depth of cut is set by tapping the blade like any other wooden plane, and width of chamfer is set with the thumbwheels and wing nuts. You can even shift the plane body side to side within the main body to use a different area of the edge.
https://www.qy1.de/img/japanischer-hobel-323950-1a.jpg