Good Quality Hand Planes Which Do Not Require A Lottery Win?

[Tom Lyons]

My go-to plane is an old Stanley 220. I think I have 3 of them now, each was no more than $20 US. Lots of folks I've heard from like the 60 1/2. I bought a new version, spent some time with it and then it was put aside. It just didn't do for me what the 220s do. Haven't tried upgrading them to a modern blade, though I've often thought about it. They work great and the old blades hold an edge.

I also have a Veritas low angle block plane for bigger jobs. Well worth the $ spent.

I'm a proponent of salvaging the old steel and giving it a second life. It'll take some time to true and tune, but will be well worth it in the end.

Tom

[Gilbert Fredrickson]

The new Stanley "Sweetheart" planes are very nice. Get the 9 1/2 block, the smothing plane, and the low angle Jack plane.