#5 1/2 plane - Printable Version +- Woodnet Forums (https://cloudfront-origin.forums.woodnet.net) +-- Thread: #5 1/2 plane (/showthread.php?tid=7338781) |
RE: #5 1/2 plane - Cian - 04-15-2018 (04-14-2018, 08:48 AM)David Charlesworth Wrote: I have always had small machinery and did almost all my work over 40 years with a 5 1/2. David - My gravitation toward bigger and wider planes was from an article you had written when you stated you used your 5-1/2 much like a smoother, IIRC. Great to see you're still here. RE: #5 1/2 plane - Peter Tremblay - 04-15-2018 (04-14-2018, 11:39 PM)bandit571 Wrote: Stanley #3 and the Stanley #5-1/4 shared the same width irons. 1-3/4" wide. By the time one "dubs" the corners on a 2" wide iron, it would be down to 1-7/8" of USABLE width. A Stanley #4 and a Stanley #5 shared the 2" wide irons. Stanley 5-1/2 planes started out using 2-1/4" wide irons ( as did Union 5-A planes) before they were made using the 2-3/8" wide irons. Stanley only had to make a few sizes, so doing away with the 2-1/4" wide made sense to them. The more that I use hand tools (I'm well over 10 years) the more that I feel like I have a "tool personality" I like long saws. I use the longest saw that will reasonably work for the job. I like small planes. I use the smallest plane that will reasonable work for the job. I like short chisels. I use the... you get the point. When it comes to planes my favorite is a jack. For my current jack (a Veritas bevel up) I have at least 6 blades. I have three different grind angles, different cambers, different alloys (O1, A2, M2, PM-V11) With a bevel down plane I think I'll probably only have 2 or maybe 3. I'd love to find a source for a D2 blade or a source for a custom powdered metal blade. I'd also love to find a toothed blade. Any thoughts? RE: #5 1/2 plane - RB61 - 04-15-2018 (04-09-2018, 12:59 PM)Peter Tremblay Wrote: Hello all, Somewhat tangential to your question My 605 1/2 (Type 7?) has a 2 1/4" blade- works well for me. RE: #5 1/2 plane - Derek Cohen - 04-16-2018 (04-15-2018, 10:02 PM)Peter Tremblay Wrote: I'd love to find a source for a D2 blade or a source for a custom powdered metal blade. I'd also love to find a toothed blade. Hi Peter Why do you want D2? As it happens, PM-V11 is in the same family ... only much more refined. You are better off with that. Regards from Perth Derek RE: #5 1/2 plane - Arlin Eastman - 04-16-2018 Peter I have the 5 1/2 and it is harder to push unless it is skewed which I do. With the wide blade I can cover more serface or even a 2" board and still skew it. I only use that if I can not use my block plane that Rob Lee gave me way back when and I bought the handle for it and it is fantastic and even my wife uses it to shim the top or side of the door when it got tight. RE: #5 1/2 plane - Peter Tremblay - 04-16-2018 (04-16-2018, 02:43 AM)Derek Cohen Wrote: Hi Peter I have a D2 iron for my small infill plane that I made years ago and I love it. It does not hold a keen edge for longer than a moment but then the "just less than keen/sharpe enough" edge lasts a long time and never chips. That's why I like D2. I'd love a PM-V11 blade but I don't know where I could order them to my specifications. Right now I have 5 blades 3/16" thick, 1 7/8" wide, and 7 1/2" long. All in O1 I just ordered an A2 2 3/8" thick blade from Lee Valley during their free shipping. The blades are going into 4 smoothers, 1 jack, and one jointer (the 2 3/8" blade) RE: #5 1/2 plane - Peter Tremblay - 04-16-2018 (04-16-2018, 05:46 PM)Arlin Eastman Wrote: Peter Thanks, I think that since I'm making a jointer I'll have a wide plane for jointing and flattening a panel. So I'm going to build my jack for a more traditional role of heavy stock removal. But I will probably have two or three blades for the Jack: heavy cambered, square honed for shooting, and I'd love to get a toothed blade for the jack. I really like a toothed blade for heavy stock removal and tough grain prep without tear out. RE: #5 1/2 plane - Scoony - 04-22-2018 I had a 5 1/2 and it just seemed too bulky for me. I also had a 4 1/2 that I did not like. I have a #6 that is used on the shooting board. My #5 and #7 are used for 95% of the work. RE: #5 1/2 plane - Timberwolf - 04-22-2018 (04-16-2018, 05:46 PM)Arlin Eastman Wrote: Peter,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, "I have the 5 1/2 and it is harder to push unless it is skewed which I do. With the wide blade I can cover more serface or even a 2" board and still skew it." I "skew" almost every plane I own, because it is easier to "slice cut" than "push cut"..As you get older, that makes a huge difference in the amount of effort it takes. RE: #5 1/2 plane - Kansas City Fireslayer - 04-24-2018 I have always preferred 1/2 size planes over their smaller counterparts. I almost never use a size 4 or 5 plane. I own older and well tuned Stanley’s in these sizes but my 1/2 sizes are premium planes. As far as hard to push....that’s relative. Of course a sharp iron is the most important factor aside from the physical ability and skill it takes. Paraffin wax on the sole is a must as well. That said, I own an 8 but not a 7. Give me 20 years and maybe my opinions will change. |