Had to pick between a manual plane or a power planer for my first real job

Back in 2004 I was building a set of library shelves for a school in Portland (about 40 linear feet of oak). I had this old Stanley #5 my dad gave me and a cheap Ryobi power planer. I went with the manual plane because I was scared of taking off too much with the power one. Took me 3 extra days but the joints came out dead flat. Still have that Stanley actually (though I replaced the blade twice). Has anyone else had a project where going old school was the better call even if it took way longer?

3 comments

3 Comments

murray.robert4d ago

Wait, you replaced the blade on a Stanley #5 twice? Those old Stanley irons were made from decent steel, they usually last forever if you sharpen them right instead of grinding them down. I guess if you're using it every day for years it makes sense, but I've had my grandpa's #4 for 15 years and I've only sharpened it maybe three times total.

emmaking4d ago

Bet the real difference is how much pitch was in the wood you were planing.

theajohnson4d ago

The Stanley #5 is a beast for edge jointing on long boards like that. I used one on a maple countertop last year and it took forever but zero tearout. Power planers are great for rough stock removal but they can chatter on figured grain real bad.