hand plane

[Paul C]

I just bought a new small hand plane made by kunz no.102. a little rough out of the box but I polished and honed it up has a good feel to it. 28 bucks with the shipping.

[Dave Bagwill]

That's a good price, I've wondered about that brand. Let us know how it holds up?

[TonyinNYC]

I have two cheap hand planes. Both were purchased from eBay and neither cost more than $12 bucks. Initially, I thought I would learn how to use a plane then buy a better one. But after much reading, lapping, tweaking, sharpening and futzing, I have learned that a $10 plane can be made to work as well as an expensive plane. The one advantage an expensive plane has over a less expensive one is that you do not have to do any reading, lapping, tweaking, sharpening and futzing because they are ready to use right out of the box. I like to learn how to properly use the tools I own. If you don't know how to set up a plane, when your very expensive plane gets out of whack, you won't know how to get it back into whack and it will never work great again. I can now take paper thin shavings from a piece of hardwood with my cheapo Stanley block plane and my cheapo Ace Hardware jack plane and in doing so, I have saved myself hundreds of dollars that can be put to other things, like wood to use the planes on!!!

[Dave Bagwill]

Tony, I'm glad you've had such success with modestly priced planes.

I paid $139 for a Veritas standard block plane, which is not a lot of money for a tool that will last a lifetime or two. I recommend it highly. It is pure pleasure to use, has velvety adjustment mechanisms for really precise blade control, and stays sharp. It is a good investment.

[TonyinNYC]

A good plane is definitely an investment and will last a long, long time. My planes will last a long, long time as well but they have little to no resale value. One day I will get really good planes but that day is not today. Tomorrow is not the day either.

I was really, REALLY close to buying a Lie Nielsen plane when I took a shot on the Stanley eBay special. I am glad I saved my money because then a nice set of wood was offered to me. Had I bought the Lie Nielsen plane, I would not have been able to buy the wood I got. Maybe next year!

[Dave Bagwill]

I guess, to be more specific Tony, you - mi amigo, mon ami, - have forced me to say the following: a better plane does a better job, and does it more easily.
That's it, I'm done, what works for you works for you, I'm just sayin'.
I really don't want to upset a French Artiste! :-)

[ken cierp]

I lean toward tools with motors and hand tools with disposable blades (shame on me) so I add nothing to the discussion --- however, here's a guy and site I like a lot:

http://www.finefurnituremaker.com/woodworking_tools.htm