Thanks Andrey, thoughtful response!
The 5 1/2 serves as a good point of contention in the absence of a BLO vs. whatever finish thread or sharpening thread.
[person 1] I love my 5 1/2. It's my most used plane
[person 2] Funny how before year x, no professional woodworker ever owned a 5 1/2
[person 1] You're calling me unprofessional?
.... and on and on .... and on and on .... it's heaven and hell as the late RJD said.
But would Ronnie have preferred a #5 1/2 to a #5 because of the heavier metal?
Or one just can find my previous post. It gives knowledge, rather than someone's opinion.
Yes Andrey, your previous post is a good post.
The starting title of this thread is, "What was the purpose of the #5-1/2."
The purpose of the #5-1/2 plane is to remove a controlled shaving from a piece of wood, nothing more, nothing less.
Mine gets used in proportion to the shelf it is sitting on. If it is on a low shelf, less use. If it is on a higher shelf, it gets used more.
There isn't a 'magic bullet' among the plane sizes.
Some folks can find a plane of a size or weight they prefer for their style of work. That doesn't mean it is the right combination for everyone else.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Had to tune mine back up...gaposis between the iron and chipbreaker ( was packed full..) the chipbreaker needed work, iron needed sharpened...took about..1/2 an hour..
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Stanley #5-1/2, Type 17....a Stanley #4 sitting behind it. I do not camber the iron on the Jumbo Jack..have a couple #5s for that sort of thing.
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May use this to clean up a panel, now that it is out of the clamps..
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have yard chores to do, at the moment....maybe later?