I might be writing a blog for this particular website by I’m actually a woodworker and so I have first-hand knowledge of hand planes. So I thought I’d show you a series of short videos I made showing you the size of each of the most common hand planes.
The most common hand planes are:
- Stanley No4
- No5 Jack plane
- No6 Fore plane
- No7 Jointer plane
- No8 Jointer plane
The No4 smoothing plane is probably one of the most common hand planes available. It was the first plane I ever owned and it was the handyman model.
Length 9″(230mm) Width 2 1/2″(63mm) Iron Width 2 “(50mm)
No5 jack plane is a cross between the Stanley smoothing plane and a Stanley or Record ‘Fore Plane’. Stanley number 5 is slightly longer than the Stanley No4 but not as long as the Stanley No6 fore plane. A great compromise.
Length 14″(355mm) Width 2 1/2″(63mm) Iron Width 2 “(50mm)
The No 6 Fore plane is a long plain but not as long as the No7 but it is a very useful plane. I own both the number 6 and No7 but if I was to choose I would choose the No7 Jointer.
Length 17 3/4″(430mm) Width 3″(75mm) Iron Width 2 1/2 “(63mm)
The Stanley Bailey No 7 hand plane is almost the longest plane available at 22-in long or 56cm. I use my Jointer plane to make the edge of 2 boards which I want to join together perfectly true. When I use my Jointer plane I can join two boards together without a cap in the glue line.
Length 22″(560mm) Width 3″(75mm) Iron Width 2 1/2 “(63mm)
The Stanley all the record number 8 Jointer plane is not a plane that I home but it is longer than the Sandy Bailey or record number 7. the 8 is an ideal playing if you have some very long wooden boards to plane. Length 24″(600mm) Width 3″(75mm) Iron Width 2 1/2 “(63mm)
In this page, you will see some buy it now links for Amazon for the planes listed here are all the near best equivalent if the above Stanley or Record planes are not available. The planes in the videos embedded on this pain page are my very own planes I’ve collected over many years or restored.
History of Stanley
I’ve been using Stanley and record hand planes for many many years. The name Stanley was from the Stanley tool works and was founded by Frederick Stanley who originally made Ironmongery in a partnership with his brother.
The pattern that we are all used too was a written derived from a design painted by Leonard Bailey. Leonard was a great engineer but not necessarily a great businessman and met his match with Frederick Stanley. Eventually, Frederick Stanley took control of Leonard Bailey’s patents. When Leonard died Stanley tool works made homage to Leonard Bailey by casting the name of Bailey into the sole of their best hand planes. The basis of Bailey’s designs is still used in new hand planes today. In particular, the lever cab of the Stanley Bailey hand plane was an original Bailey patent.