Two planes from A SMC member. . .

[Matt Evans]

Alright, I have had these for a grand total of 3 or 4 days. The Handyman plane was in decent shape, but had a bit of rust, and needed a bit of work, particularly to the Japanning. but, it was complete when I got it, and was pretty easy to turn into a scrub plane.


That being said, I mentioned in the sale post here on the forum that the #4 smoother needed absolutely nothing at all to get it working to my satisfaction. And, with the exception of tightening the tote screw, I haven't done anything to it except turn the blade depth screw.

Both of these planes are already in my user category. The #4 that John tuned up was a great surprise when it arrived. The Handyman that he threw in I wasn't sure about. I wasn't really certain that I could make a useful scrub out of it. This is the only Handyman plane I have ever seen, so I suspected its quality was a bit below par. And, to be fair, while it is pretty obvious that it wasn't one of the regular line of planes, it is a serviceable one. I wouldn't want to use it as a smoother, but now that the plane has been refitted as a scrub plane, it has a place on my bench!

(For the record, That oak is reclaimed, knotty, has more grain changes than Carter has pills, and is primed to tear out if you look at it wrong. Both planes handled it perfectly.)


*I just looked at the pictures. . .the planes look much better in person. . .

[David Christopher]

Matt, I have a # 5 Handyman, other that beeing a little light weight I like it

[John Keeton]

Matt, good to know you got that Handyman working!! I was hopeful it would make a decent scrub plane for you and that shaving looks great! Glad they worked out for you.

[Matt Evans]

David,

Thats about what I am thinking. I have had a few #5s, and the one I use now is a later English made Bailey. It is just as good after a bit of tuning as the Stanleys I have had. But, i wouldn't want to get any lighter. I like a lot of mass to most of my planes. Eventually I will go with infills, but for now . . .

John,

The scrub takes thicker shavings than I was ever able to get my old scrub plane to. In fact, I think that it works five times better in every aspect than my old scrub plane ever did.

BTW, the paint they used on the totes was a bear to get out. I never got it completely out of the wood, it had seeped in VERY deep, probably over a 1/16" deep, and I wasn't comfortable with taking more than an 1/8" off, just for refinishing. So, while it has two coats of Watco, that is about as far as I am going to take the finish.

Again, Thanks!

Now to get some cash together for a dedicated jointer plane. . .