I want to illustrate the genuine value buying reconditioned used high carbon steel planes offers. Stanley and Record used to make planes of the same quality thus gaining their reputations, back in the day they competed with companies such as Spiers, Slater and Norris so they had to be good but modern types are not made to the same standard.
* Donates to New Condition
| Series | *Lie Nielsen | *Clifton | *Stanley | *Record | Reconditioned |
| No 3 | Bronze | £263.00 | £20-30 | ||
| No 4 | £295.00 | £255.00 | £48.00 | £45.00 | £15-40 |
| No 4 1/2 | £318.00 | £310.00 | £63.00 | £30-55 | |
| No 5 | £320.00 | £263.00 | £66.00 | £50.00 | £25-50 |
| No 5 1/2 | £370.00 | £320.00 | £40-75 | ||
| No 6 | £370.00 | £328.00 | £40-80 | ||
| No 7 | £425.00 | £355.00 | £145.00 | £50-130 | |
| No 8 | £470.00 | – | £80-180 | ||
Note: Record SS or early Stanley bedrock planes can carry an extra premium due to being more desirable.
“Smoothing” Planes (for preparing for finishing)
- No.1 Smoothing plane – This is a tiny plane that is basically a miniature number 4 which is highly sought after by collectors due to its rarity and its limited production. These planes command high prices and as a result there has been some fakes created so buy with caution.
- No.2 Smoothing plane – This small plane is also sort after by collectors but has a much lower price tag than the No:1
- No.3 Smoothing plane – This smallish plane is perfect for confined areas & difficult grain.
- No.4 Smoothing plane – This is the most common plane size used for general purpose.
- No.4 1/2 Smoothing plane – This plane is a bit wider, longer, & heavier than the No. 4, it’s a plane that is often preferred by some woodworkers as it has more weight and its wider blade.
“Jack” or “Fore” Planes (for removing course material)
- No.5 Fore plane – Another common size because of its variability like removing a lot of wood like a scrub plane, smoothing, jointing edges & flattening faces.
- No.5 1/2 Fore plane – This for some is a better version multi-purpose plane than the no: 5, because of the extra weight and width.
- No.6 Fore plane – This is traditional size for a fore plane, used to flatten the surfaces. It also makes a nice edge “jointer” for people who find the No.7 a bit too heavy.
“Jointer” 0r “Try” Bench Planes (For flattening & truing edges)
- No.7 Jointer plane – The classic Jointer plane size and is perfect for jointing edges.
- No.8 Jointer plane – Longer & heavier and it’s slightly wider than the No.7 some prefer to have the extra length for increased accuracy.
