I need a smoothing plane. Like a Stanley #4. Or should I be adventurous?
I am looking at a "Hong Kong-Style High-Angle Smooth Plane" at Lee Valley or Japan Woodworker (I think they are the same plane) for about the cost of a Hock blade & chip-breaker for the Stanley. I read a comparison test of a variety of different types of planes on various woods (shocker - the $2700 plane was the best!) that rated this plane (or one sounding identical) near the top. Could this unconventional (to me) approach actually be as good or better?
I am an advanced novice who enjoys learning. I have a vast depth of ignorance plus a Stanley block plane, a #5, and plan to get a #7.
Thanks for reading this far!
- Would it be a nice break for the hands and mind to change the motion completely for the final step, the smoothing or polishing?
- Would the results be comparable?
- Will the blades require constant sharpening compared to a stock Stanley or to an upgraded blade from Lie-Nelsen or Hock?
- What are the big questions that I'm too dumb to even realize I should be asking?