Just realized the difference 30 years makes in a hand plane

I found an old Stanley No. 5 at an estate sale last weekend for $15. It was rusted and the tote was cracked, so I spent an afternoon cleaning it up and flattening the sole. Compared it to the modern plane I bought 3 years ago and the old one cuts like butter. The blade on the vintage one is thicker and the adjuster just feels smoother. Anybody else notice this gap in quality between old tools and new ones?

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2 Comments

christopher_coleman171mo ago

Yeah totally, I've got a couple old Stanleys and the difference in machining is night and day. Check the frog on that No. 5 to make sure it's seated tight, that's usually the first thing to loosen up on those.

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hannah_price791mo ago

@christopher_coleman17 nailed it. That frog is always the first thing to wiggle loose and mess up your cut.

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