WoodRiver #91 shoulder plane

Re: WoodRiver #91 shoulder plane

William Duffield

It depends on what you are planning to use it for, what you are comparing it to, and how much money you have to spend.

If you are comparing it to other 1/2" shoulder planes in comes in a close third behind the Veritas and the Lie-Nielsen. The best of the lot is the Veritas with the PM-V11 blade, but it is half again as much, but probably not half again better.

If you are comparing it to any other brand of new shoulder plane or an old shoulder plane, none of the others comes close.

If you are comparing it to a Veritas or Lie-Nielsen shoulder plane in another size, I have found that the large shoulder planes don't have any disadvantages over the 1/2" shoulder planes. Not everyone agrees with me. Many find the larger planes difficult to control in narrow rabbets and small tenons. I find the Veritas bull nose shoulder plane much more versatile, but less precise. Going further afield, it is more difficult to compare it to a rabbet plane, rabbet block plane or even router plane, which have overlapping functionality to a greater or lesser extent.

I don't own one but I have tried it, and I have and use several other shoulder planes, rabbet planes and router planes.

Re: WoodRiver #91 shoulder plane

TomD

Resale may be an issue depending on where you are at in your career. Hard to know what something is going to be worth, but chinese made planes are not likely at the top of the pile. When buying knives, there are knives made in china today that are complex, well executed, excellent quality. Price comparison could be 10% of the price. At that price one can contemplate different uses, it has a tactical effect. I place some mooring most summers, freediving. Very scary business even in relatively shallow water. I got razor sharp dive knives from CRKT for about 13 bucks, less than I paid for a dive knife around 1972. You can buy a half dozen and have then to hand everywhere.

But if I have to pay 66%, get a lessor tool, less pride of ownership, straight loss on resale. That starts to sound like a bad deal.

The reason chinese source stuff is unbeatable is because whenever I have been able to get behind the retail pricing, I find margins of 5%, give or take.

Re: WoodRiver #91 shoulder plane

ray newman

Gents: thanks for the information. I was looking for or am contemplating a smaller shoulder plane as my hands do not work as well as they once did. I now find my ol' Record #073 –AKA “The Beast” – a bit cumbersome to utilize at times. Looking for something smaller and lighter which might be easier to use. Was wondering about the Wood River plane, as I have heard the quality is hit or miss with Wood River, but the latter ones supposedly are better.

“Somewhere” I have a UK-made Stanley #93 and a Clifton # 410. Just have not been able to locate them after the move several years ago. The Squeeze claims there is small box in garage loft marked ”shop” and now wonder if that is where they are? Should get it down and see if I can find what was lost.

Thanks again. Enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday.

Re: WoodRiver #91 shoulder plane

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

If your hands are betraying you, consider the Lee Valley. I haven't handled the 1/2" LV shoulder plane, but I've got the 3/4" model, and the ergonomics are a delight. It's more expensive, but you might find it far more comfortable.

I too have a Record 073, and have yet to figure out how to hold it comfortably. With the work I've been doing, the 3/4" tool is the right size; if I started doing work calling for a larger plane, I'd probably be saving my pennies for the large LV, and the same if I needed a smaller one.

That assumes that the planes currently hiding from you stay in hiding...no need to spend money just to spend it.

Re: WoodRiver #91 shoulder plane

ray newman

Bill: thanks for the info on the L-V small shoulder planes. Am not worried about cost. More often than not you get what you pay for. And as my father and paternal grandfather often said: “cheap costs you twice as much.”

Don’t think the planes are hiding, it is just that I can’t remember where I put them! According to my physician – “I am at that age.”

I agree

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

If one is going to only own one plane, get the big one.

Agree on the Veritas Small Shoulder Plane

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

The small (1/2") Veritas is my go-to shoulder plane. It is an absolute delightful plane to use: beautifully balanced and comfortable to hold. Generally, one does not need larger than this size for most tenon shoulders or rebates. I have the Large and Medium, but tend to prefer smaller planes anyway.

Here is a link to a review I wrote: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolReviews/VeritasSmallShoulderPlane.html

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Agree on the Veritas Small Shoulder Plane

ray newman

Great review and very informative! Appreciate it.

Re: WoodRiver #91 shoulder plane

North of the Border

Among the Veritas small, med and large, hands down for me it's the medium. The large is out unless you do a lot of wide tenons and things like that. Skilled, you can do the job of a large shoulder plane with a med. size, while the medium is easier and more comfortable to handle. The small is too light weight for me and the feel is just not right.

Of course, before you choose, you should, if you can, handle all of them and make some test cuts.

Re: WoodRiver #91 shoulder plane

TomD

Or you could knock one of these out for a few bucks, the blade is from a 1/2 x 1/2 tool bit, they run around 4 bucks. Mine was pretty short, but you can get longer ones.

www.ebay.com/itm/HHIP-2000-0083-1-2-x-6-Inch-HSS-Extra-Long-Square-Tool-Bit/282241726895?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D38530%26meid%3D20b337e37d884795b8d85c031cb97085%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D351798109463

Since there isn't any mortising you can make one up in maybe half an hour.

Re: WoodRiver #91 shoulder plane

Andy Nichols

Have one, and have disabilities that impact my hands.the small plane is a delightful little gem, great design(copy of course) and the blade is exceptional.

Also have a Record 73 and still use it when required.

Don't think you'll regret purchasing the small Woodriver....

Regards,

Andy

Mos Maiorum