Shoulder plane recommendations?

[Garrett Lowell]

I'm in the market for a shoulder plane. I typically buy used Stanleys or Baileys. I'm new to the shoulder plane and I'd like some recommendations. Thanks.

[JimConlin]

There are several Stanley #92's on Ebay right now.
A good tool.

[Nicholas Carey]

I've got the Veritas medium-sized one. It's got some nice features:
Norris-style adjuster
Adjustable mouth.
blade position is dialed in/maintained with 4 set screws.
your choice of O1 or A2 blades.instruction book[-let] here (http://www.leevalley.com/shopping/Instructions.aspx?p=48437).

http://www.leevalley.com/images/item/woodworking/planes/05p4101s8.jpg (http://www.leevalley.com/images/item/woodworking/planes/05p4101s8.jpg)

[Bob Cleek]

The Stanley #93 or #92 are what you want. The 92 is about 5.5 inches long and the 93 is an inch longer. I'd go for the #93 myself. They come apart so you have a chisel plane that will work right up to a perpendicular without the nose getting in the way. A great little plane with lots of uses.

http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/92.jpg

These are still commercially available. The catalogs have them. You can also find them in the better hardware stores. I just saw them in my local hardware store the other day. I think they run just under a hundred bucks or so, but well worth it. If you find one used, grab it. Don't let somebody tell you it's a collector's item and pay them a premium for it. They aren't hard to come by at all.

[River Sailor]

Can't speak to the Stanley's — never owned one. But I have the medium Veritas that Nicholas mentioned. I love it! Feels great in my hand, and does a wonderful job on what I've used it for so far. (Now if I could only get far enough along on my Penobscot to cut those gains, I'd have it made.)

[pcford]

Stanley 90 series planes are very poorly engineered. Commonly break above blade.

There is a large LN should rabate plane on E-bay right now. I would guess it is a much better tool.

[kc8pql]

I've got a set of Stanley's (90, 92 and 93). I've used at least one of them almost every working day for 35 years. They aren't broken yet.

[Bob Perkins]

The new Lie-Nielson medium size is very nice.. The only knock is cost - not performance.

[pcford]

I've got a set of Stanley's (90, 92 and 93). I've used at least one of them almost every working day for 35 years. They aren't broken yet.
Another data point, I guess. Mine broke fairly quickly. Others have noted this problem here.

[Garrett Lowell]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the responses. The LN medium shoulder plane is $175.00, the Veritas medium shoulder plane is $159.00, and a used Stanley 92 or 93 are about $100.00 or so from what I can see on eBay. Choices, choices.

[pcford]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the responses. The LN medium shoulder plane is $175.00, the Veritas medium shoulder plane is $159.00, and a used Stanley 92 or 93 are about $100.00 or so from what I can see on eBay. Choices, choices.

My $.02:

The Stanley planes are fine and as others have testified, can work well for years. Having owned Stanley and LN planes, I can tell you that the engineering, finish and ease of use are much better on the LN.

They are a bit more expensive, but I have never regretted spending the money. Not for a moment.

[Robert W. Long]

I've had a record 073 since 1975, works great but that veritas pictured above looks way better to me and I think the record isn't made anymore. The record is large and heavy, a plus for jobs a shoulder plane is made to do.

[Nicholas Carey]

I've had a record 073 since 1975, works great but that veritas pictured above looks way better to me and I think the record isn't made anymore. The record is large and heavy, a plus for jobs a shoulder plane is made to do.Record has been, uh, "improved" by their new masters. no more useful tools like quality vises, shoulder planes, etc.

CLICO (aka Clifton Tooling LTD -- they primarily manufacture aerospace tooling I believe) bought out Preston some years back when they folded. They still produce some very nice, very high quality Preston-derived shoulder planes (models 400, 410, 420 and 3110):

http://www.thebestthings.com/newtools/graphics/clifton_planes.jpg

You can get them from The Best Things (http://www.thebestthings.com/newtools/clifton.htm).

Clifton produces Preston spokeshaves as well:

http://www.thebestthings.com/newtools/graphics/clifton_spokeshaves.jpg

Clifton also produces bench planes modelled on Stanley's Bedrock line (like Lie-Nielsen) -- models 3, 4, 4-1/2, 5, 5-1/2, 6 and 7. They come in -- what other color? -- British racing green :D

http://www.thebestthings.com/newtools/graphics/clifton.jpg

Cheers,

[Jay Greer]

The very best shoulder planes I have ever used are Japanese wood bodied planes. They come in many sizes and have blades that are skewed. The tools are deceptivly simple in appearance and light years above their Western counterparts.
http://www.hidatool.com/woodpage/plane/rabbet.html
Jay