#6?
Never need one; don't own one; and won't own one.
Simon
#6?
Never need one; don't own one; and won't own one.
Simon
Good for shooting edges.
+1 For shooting! I love my #6 for shooting endgrain. It is long and heavy enough to do the job well!
Phil
I have a custom made #6 wooden Steve Knight plane. I use it all the time. Cocobolo body and a really great blade which I think is O1.
Super easy on the push and with a little wax, almost air lite.
I've several #5's but the Knight plane and the Swiss jack are go to planes to keep the effort requirements for rock maple or hickory type hardwoods
within my tired old bones.
Did I say they were good lookin' too? Hoot!
Enjoy the shavings!
Other than a few test swipes after I refurbished it, I don't think I've used mine at all. The same is true with my #7. They'll likely be part of the next tool purge.
Sharp solves all manner of problems.
My #6 was my favorite of all. Long Jack, short jointer, and even smoother when finished nice enough. I just retired all of my Stanley planes recently. Not because I don't like them but other reasons. I had a hard time giving up the 6. I actually believe that that 6 saw more use than all of the others combined. If your work involves say 3ft or less most of the time the 6 is great IMO.
Jim
I have to dimension everything by hand so it usually gets some use somewhere. I use it for a little of everything, but don't use it as much as I used to since getting a LN #8. I have my #5 setup for roughing, but like to keep the 6 fettled a little more towards the finishing side since I use it for smaller pieces.
I do, but that is mostly because it is what I have. It was my first rusty pawn shop find that I restored. Right now I have that and a 5.
No idea how much I will use it once I add a few more, but right now it gets a lot of use.
I was de-rusting a #6 Bailey yesterday. I have a Veritas iron and breaker on it.
I will buy a small can of black automotive paint to cover the japanning.
It does a great job.
I don't know why, but I have seven hand planes, including three Bedrocks, a 604, 605, and a 607.
Don’t have a #6. Only held one at a LN show.
Shawn
"no trees were harmed in the creation of this message, however some electrons were temporarily inconvenienced."
"I resent having to use my brain to do your thinking"
I think it is a very versatile plane. In fact, it is probably my most used plane of all.
It is my go-to for shooting board especially boards >3" wide. The extra weight is the reason.
I like it for face planing/flattening small panels.
I use 2 blade set ups:
1. Corners just rounded off and blade flat for edge planing and final face planing.
2. Very slight camber. For xgrain flattening a large panel.
My #6 gets a fair amount of use because of how I prep the blade. It's sharpened with a 16" radius.
So when my 5-1/2 with an 8" radius is a bit aggressive, out comes #6.
AKA - "The human termite"
Use it all the time. I am a big guy so it fits me well, good workout as well. Good for flattening things after the jack plane.