#5 1/2 vs #6

Re: #5 1/2 vs #6

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>Is this trend of finding #1's just limited to people with the first name Todd?? ;-)JR

(just seems like where Todd H. would look too)

Re: Dumb question

joel

>if you use a 5 as a real jack plane the narrow blade is perfect. With a cambered blade you want to take a heavy cut with a jack plane and narrower is better. Less work to push the plane.

the 5/12 works better for the next step.

for smoothing the smaller the sole of the plane the more effective it is as a smooth plane as it will follow smaller variations in the timber.

However of course the STanleys are bigger overall than their wooden cousins so overall they are less effective as smooth planes.

From a user

jim_reed@marietta

>I agree that more planes is better than fewer. As a user, the reason I like lots is that sometimes I get busy on a project and do not want to stop to sharpen blades. Going up or down from one to the next does not make alot of difference in function.

Good idea.

Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL

>

Fat Planes

Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL

>Hi Joel,

I think I must have a preference for fat planes. My wife got me a 5-1/4 for Christmas, and it looked impossibly skinny to me. I traded it in for a fat plane. ;-)