Opinions on odd-sized jacks..

Re: Opinions on odd-sized jacks..

Wiley Horne--Glendora CA

>I use the 5-1/2 far more than the 5. It's usually set pretty fine, like a panel plane as opposed to a true jack. If you have a stack of drawer parts, for example, it will smooth and joint them at the same time. So will the 5, but I feel like the 5-1/2 is getting me there way quicker, and the extra inch of length is appreciated. I feel like the 5-1/2 is more in competition with the 6 as an all-around bench plane, than it is with the 5. Just my $0.02.

Wiley

Re: Opinions on odd-sized jacks.. *LINK*

walt quadrato

>I like the extra heft of a 5 1/2; bit more width too. Don't use my #5 much anymore.The 5 1/4 though I just can't figure out..I set mine up as a scrub and it works fine in that capacity.

walt q


old planes

Thinking outside the box...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>I make a lot of thin walled small boxes (1/4" and smaller walls) and I use a 5 1/4 as a mini jointer. It's easy to hold on to and keep level.

I use my 5 1/2 just like Wiley. A No. 6 works well here too.

Re: Opinions on odd-sized jacks..

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>I had to have a 5-1/4 just because they are a neat sized plane. Not sure why everything has to be useful; are you going to try and talk your wife into letting you buy it or what? I got the 5-1/2 because it was $20 at an auction, a neat war time model with a heavy casting and large adjuster knob. It looks pretty good hanging in the tool box; not sure why I would want to use it though, but it does have a nice weight when you have a large area to plane.

Re: Opinions on odd-sized jacks..

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>heh...

I don't have to convince my wife... she understands my need for new tools.

:)

I'm more just wondering about uses for them... I know what P. Leach says about them on the B & G. I'm wondering about opinions from here...

Re: Opinions on odd-sized jacks.. *LINK*

Todd from San Jose

>I went to a handplane class that had both standard and long "english pattern" jacks. Both of the instructors preferred the longer ones.

I use it to flatten rough stock, where I start with a scrub plane, then the english pattern jack, then a jointer plane, and finally a smoother plane.

I liked the school's so much that I bought one to use as my only jack plane. Check out the link at look at model 741-P...


ECE Primus English Pattern Jack

Re: Opinions on odd-sized jacks..

Tony Z.

>I picked up a 5-1/4 also just to have. Cleaned it up and swoosh, it just felt right in my hands! Put a Hock A2 and chipbreaker and it got even better! Like a lot of other things, maybe I'm not using it for what it was made for, but, my work is better because it and me are in harmony!

Re: Opinions on odd-sized jacks..

Rick W.

>I have both the 5-1/2 and 5-1/4.

The 5-1/4 was the first plane I really used in Jr. High shop class.

I used my 5-1/4 a lot when I worked at a cabinet company. I had it in my install kit. It was just the right size for my toolbox,and for those situations where I needed a bigger plane than a block plane.

I like the 5-1/2's additional weight, as others also have said.

If you don't have them, I think they would be worth having.

Rick W.