STANLEY Hand Planer, No.4, Contractor Grade, Smoothing Bottom, 14-Inch (12-905)

I'd previously tuned up and used a few Stanley planes, so I assumed I knew what I was getting myself into. My assumptions were incorrect. br>br>The lateral adjustment lever is made of a single sheet of sheet metal and has a cheap feel to it. The bottom part of the lever that fits into the iron protrudes too far, preventing the iron from resting against the frog. Back in the 1990s, Stanley began using a plastic/resin material that resembled wood for the knobs and totes on their planes. The plane's handles are made of hard ABS plastic, so I guess that was too expensive. I honestly expected some of these issues, because Stanley's contractor grade planes aren't so much planes as plane-like devices. br>br>I honestly expected some of these issues, because Stanley's contractor grade planes aren't so much planes as plane-like devices. shaped hobby kits that take some time and effort to put together I expected to have to lap the sole, level the frog, flatten and hone the iron, and fiddle with the lever, among other things. Make a new knob and tote, if you're feeling ambitious. The price is reasonable when you don't want to spend $200 or more on a premium plane, but it's all part of the bargain. The chipbreaker/iron assembly was the final straw for me. br>br> The screw that holds the chipbreaker to the iron was overtightened, causing the chipbreaker to deform around the screw hole, resulting in an obvious cam-out. The screw head has an indentation in it. Nothing I have could possibly loosen this screw in a safe manner. br>br>To say I'm upset with Stanley for putting their name on this garbage is an understatement. Even the Chinese make a fool of themselves. Harbor Freight's knockoffs aren't nearly as bad. br>br>(In the first picture, a properly tightened chipbreaker from another plane is to the right of this plane's deformed chipbreaker. ) The machine that tightened the screw (which no human could have done) came out of the screw's slot in the second picture. The final image should demonstrate how inexpensive the lateral adjustment lever and handles are.

Adam Valentine

| Oct 24, 2021

1) The mouth isn't finished, which means the opening isn't large enough for the iron to fit through. Machining is very poor. 2) When measured against a straight edge, the sole is extremely rough and slightly concave. I'm talking about a rough surface that will catch splinters and drag. 3) Plane was disassembled in box and left loose (no packaging material), allowing them to bang into each other during shipment, resulting in multiple scratches and a useless, dull iron. 4) The back handle of the tote is CRACKED. 5) The knob is loose, the bolt holding it in place is tight, but the knob appears to be shorter than the bolt, causing it to be loose and wobbling.

Winnie Murphy

| Oct 05, 2021

This purchase was very disappointing, and I can't believe it's still a Stanley product, as the Y lever for adjusting blade depth broke after only a few light uses. Despite the fact that Stanley offers a limited lifetime warranty, I am required to ship the plane to them (as stated by a Stanley representative when I called their customer service line). $25 is the most affordable postage.

Augustine SLATER

| Oct 10, 2021

Finally, I was able to fine-tune this plane so that it performed flawlessly. It was good enough to hack a 2x4 when it arrived. The sole and sides of the shoe were unevenly ground, and the sole was not flat. Following tuning, the blade and mechanism are up to the task. I flattened the sole and sids with a 4x36 bench sander before fine-polishing them with a sheet of wet-polishing cloth. My table saw is covered in dry paper. The frog and blade gap were cleaned up with some light filing. I used my Worksharp 3000 to reground the blade to a 25-degree primary bevel and a small 30-degree secondary bevel. br>br>The plane now slices long, see-through shavings, which are ideal for flattening stock before putting it through the jointer. I used this plane to prepare HD construction lumber before milling it to make a European work bench out of yellow pine. I believe I now own a several hundred dollar 5 Jack Plane for the $60 I paid for it.

Elle Oneill

| Mar 05, 2021

I gave the iron a good, sharp edge, and it seems to be holding up well. The frog, like the sole, is perfectly flat. Those gleaming plastic grips, on the other hand, are uncomfortable to hold. I replaced the front with an old wooden one, but I haven't had time to search eBay for a tote. The brass knob and frog adjustment screw, as well as the wide throat, are features I appreciate. I've been using this one, as well as my WWII era 4 Stanley, to plane the boards for my shoddy-looking house. man's workbench, resulting in a veritable ocean of shavings in the process.

Greta Larsen

| Nov 29, 2021

When you hold a high-quality tool in your hands, you just know. Everything is on this plane. It's completely flat and smooth from top to bottom. The changes are simple to make and remain in place. Right out of the box, the blade was frighteningly sharp. I stropped it first because that's how I roll, but it felt great in my hands and worked flawlessly.

Heaven Clay

| Sep 14, 2021

Stanley's contribution. really. The handle was broken when it arrived, and Amazon promptly refunded my money.

Sean Gross

| Oct 15, 2021

For $50- This plane appears to be a good place to start if you're new to flying. It won't break the bank, but it will do the job, and you won't lose any sleep over it if you damage it. You'll need to tweak and adjust it right out of the box, as well as fine-tune the blade. It's not a fabrication- Nielsen was never claiming to be one.

Milana Albert

| Dec 16, 2021