Acoustic Guitar Construction

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.

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

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!!!

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.

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!

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! :-)

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