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Early Access Video: The Great Neck Smoothing Plane (Patreon)

Published:
2019-06-29 11:00:02
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Friends: 

This week, I'm trying out just about the cheapest plane I can find online. Well, the cheapest that has all the features, like a double-iron and good adjusters. 

You all supported this video, so I won't keep you in suspense: this plane is not the budget smoother I'd been hoping for. It's close, but no cigar. 

Still, I give a lot of tips and tricks for buying and evaluating new planes and I do find a way to salvage the old girl after all. It's about as much fun as you can have with a hunk of cast-iron. 

Happy Saturday!


--Rex

Files

Previews only

Reviewing the Great Neck smoothing plane

More video and exclusive content: http://www.patreon.com/rexkrueger Get my handplane buying guide: (available in August) Get this Great Neck Plane: Plans, t-shirts, and hoodies: http://www.rexkrueger.com/store

Comments

Eduardo

Hi Rex! Have you thought about change the position of the hole in the chip breaker? I have "moved" holes before in sheets of metal. You, as a blacksmith, may have an easier way, but what I have done was to cut a piece of metal that coarsely fits the hole and then lock it in place with a soldering iron. Afterwards, I drill the new hole.

Matthew Leigh

What do you define as affordable/inexpensive?

Henry Amador

I was going to suggest bending the little lever that's held inside the frog, or even making a new one that would have the right angle. I bought a Home Depot Buck Bros 9in plane and was able to fix that rattle and slop by taking some pliers and squeezing the two little parts that go around the adjustment knob.

A1BASE

I’d be interested to see if the position of the hole was a one-off error and they just have bad QC, or if they’re actually selling a flawed design that’s utterly unusable without modification.

Rex Krueger
>>24235576

I wish I was in a position to buy several, but this is hardly the only cheap plane out there. It really does make a good scrub, so I think that's a good use for this and we'll see what else is out there.

Rex Krueger
>>24235263

On this plane, that lever is cast. If I try to adjust it, it will just break. This is a huge bummer, because I LOVE the kind of creative solutions you just suggested.

Rex Krueger
>>24230381

That would be a great solution, but this hole is square. I think fixing it is too much trouble. We just need a better plane. The good news is, I'm going to keep looking!

Mark L

Rex, are you specifically limiting your search to "#4" sized planes? Please don't laugh at the sentence that follows. I have a #5 Stanley Handyman that's actually a fairly sweet little hand plane. While I primarily use it as a foreplane, I have a growing appreciation of the #5's versatility. My hand tool experience is limited, but I'm beginning to believe that if someone was going to be limited to only one hand plane, a #5 might not be a bad choice. Full disclosure: I am interested in acquiring a second #5 and turning the old Handyman into a dedicated scrubber. Being on a budget, I'd love input from you and anyone else in the community who has experience with "attractively priced" #5's..

James Boatright

So, this $22 option aisn B00BO67RXC which has a lever cap instead of screw...

Rex Krueger
>>24251292

Oh, I love the 5. LOVE IT. I think lots of people like them better. I just think the 4, with it's shorter sole and lighter weight is a tiny bit more versatile and easy to swing around the shop. I think most of the planes I'm reviewing are also available in a No 5 size, so anyone who wants that size can just order it.

Eduardo
>>24230381

It wouldn't be fun if the hole was round! The square hole makes it interesting! And I saw you make square hole before, ;D

Brad Stein

I live in San Diego and I spent 3 weeks scouring 2 different swap meets locally. I found only 1 transitional plane and 1 block plane but they were overpriced and basically roached out! So I researched the lowes cobalt and the great neck. I took them both out of the packaging to see if I could advance the blades, none of them were easy to advance and it looked like the blades would never protrude enough to take a shaving. With all that time invested I dediced that it totally justified me spending 50 dollars each on a #4 and a #5 Stanley bailey contractor grade plane. I sharpened them out of the box using glass and wet dry sand paper 400 grit, 800 grit, and finally 1500 grit. They now take beautifull full length shavings and leave a finish that looks pearl-esscent. I watched your video thinking... perhaps I overspent by $20 or so... but seeing your conclusion I am again justified in my reasoning. I thought about going up to the sweet heart line, but didnt' think the added expense would be visible in my final work. Keep up the great videos, you had me hooked from the begining. Here is the link to what I purchased: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-9-3-4-in-Bailey-Bench-Plane-12-904/203771412?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CG%7CBase%7CD25T%7C25-1_HAND+TOOLS%7CNA%7CPLA%7c71700000034127224%7c58700003933021546%7c92700031755124805&gclid=Cj0KCQjwu-HoBRD5ARIsAPIPendGmIhIC47OnCTBDThmv5_lON31kwSmeQp52RUZn276Rn0AcF6tJgYaAku1EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds But I am totally looking forward to seeing if you can find a decent one for under 50! Good luck brother!

Jim Williams

Here is another Stanley that I got off of Amazon. Stanley 12-204 No 4 Smoothing Bench Plane It took some TLC to tune it up, but it seems to be a decent plane. Of course, I am far from a plane master such as yourself. :)

Todd Fox

The way to move the notch back is to flatten out the oversized hump. You can pick up almost an extra 1/8 inch. Even if you did, it's still a better scrub than a smoother. Cheers.

Rex Krueger
>>24268644

I think we'll get there, but it's going to be a long trip. There are just SO many crap tools out there. I'll find the diamond in the rough, but there sure is a lot of rough.

Rex Krueger
>>24319668

Now THAT is an interesting solution. I think that would work! But still, I think it's a better scrub. I've been using it here and there and I actually really like it as a scrub. I'm using it when I don't have to.

Todd Fox

It's what I did to mine so I can vouch for it. It will also perfectly accept a normal Stanly iron assembly.

Todd Fox
>>24251607

That's the one Harbor Freight is offering isn't it? It looks like a direct copy of a #4 but rubber handles. Look at the lateral adjustment lever, it's not the usual bent stamped metal.

Todd Fox
>>24235576

I have one. Same problems. Rex nailed this review. I had to flatten the chip breaker down a little to extend its reach. I also decided to file down the base of the frog so it sits closer to 45 degrees instead of 55.