First TWO Hand Planes You Should Buy

First TWO Hand Planes You Should Buy

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I get asked this a lot. What is the first Hand Plane I should buy? To that I answer, these are the first two Hand Plane’s you should buy – Jack Plane and a Rabbet Block Plane.

Watch to learn more!

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50 Comments

  1. shmikeymo on January 15, 2022 at 10:40 pm

    Why not get a one low jack rabbet plane all in one Jimmy Diresta style…boooyah



  2. James T Kirk on January 15, 2022 at 10:41 pm

    Hey man, good video but the background music is kinda loud.



  3. Jimbob84141 on January 15, 2022 at 10:42 pm

    Yes have to agree I’ve just got my first few Stanley 4 and 5 planes for very low costs and I’m looking at these expansive block planes and wondering how the vintage ones stack up :/



  4. Green Building on January 15, 2022 at 10:42 pm

    When i start 2 years ago i was following suggestion from this video, and it led me to the wrong direction.. No.. It should be No.4 smoothing plane and No.5



  5. Pat Bassman on January 15, 2022 at 10:43 pm

    A Rabbit plane lol , its Rebate



  6. Matt Archambault on January 15, 2022 at 10:48 pm

    Great video, thanks for the info!



  7. Vinh Nguyen on January 15, 2022 at 10:48 pm

    Can you post the links to buy these planes from?



  8. Tony on January 15, 2022 at 10:49 pm

    I like the recommendations. Would enjoy a slightly longer video with more information, however.



  9. Green Building on January 15, 2022 at 10:50 pm

    Thanks a lot for your great advise man.. i appreciate it 👍



  10. Bill K. on January 15, 2022 at 10:52 pm

    Great advice Matt, I hope to have the budget for those one day. Until I do I will make do with my good old Stanley No. 5 and 62 1/2…thanks for sharing your thoughts.



  11. JuliusJueLi on January 15, 2022 at 10:54 pm

    Good intro, I will buy my first two planers in a minute



  12. Steve Collins on January 15, 2022 at 10:56 pm

    I agree, Mathew.



  13. Charles Groves on January 15, 2022 at 10:56 pm

    Already have a Veritas low angle block plane. Just ordered a low angle jack plane and two blades of different angles. I had ordered, but cancelled, an order for their medium shoulder plane. Now I’m thinking the low angle rabbit plane may be the most economical option for what i want to do at this stage of my wood working journey. Thank you for this video! It was really helpful!



  14. Christopher Orso on January 15, 2022 at 10:57 pm

    What about the toothed blades from veritas? Do you use them?



  15. Hugh Chewb on January 15, 2022 at 10:57 pm

    Agree about the block rabbet but then a 5 ½ Jack. You can get two blades for the 5 ½, too. Pop a 20° bevel on the back of the second blade then you can use it on really stinky grain because the planing angle is now 65°.



  16. Jackson T on January 15, 2022 at 10:58 pm

    What a coincidence. I only own two planes……and those two are the exact ones I own. Got the Veritas low angle jack based on Mark Spagnolo’s / Popular Woodworking recommendation. Then bought the Lie Nielsen rabbet block based on Samurai Carpenter’s glowing review.



  17. Gene Leynes on January 15, 2022 at 11:00 pm

    So interesting. I’ve never heard someone suggest that you can use a smoother for everything. But that makes sense!



  18. Agent_Blackwing on January 15, 2022 at 11:00 pm

    I definitely have my eyes on that "Jack Rabbet" Block.



  19. Cal L on January 15, 2022 at 11:02 pm

    The smaller block planes often don’t have the leverage. Unless you can get something with a handle, I would look for a different option. Having 5 LA planes myself, I think it’s actually better to get the normal bevel down planes. You have much less tareout issues with hardwood and they are only more intimidating in appearance. LA planes works for softwood or wood with fairly friendly grain and planing characteristics.



  20. Dema's WoodShop on January 15, 2022 at 11:03 pm

    Have both of them 🙂



  21. Chris Formosa on January 15, 2022 at 11:06 pm

    Why don’t you just get the veritas low angle jack rabbet plane



  22. Brian Landry on January 15, 2022 at 11:06 pm

    What’s the brand name of the rabbeting plane?



  23. Hoof Hearted on January 15, 2022 at 11:06 pm

    Great info and it’s funny because my first two planes were a Lie Neilson rabbet block and a Veritas jack

    Great recommendations



  24. kim mozejko on January 15, 2022 at 11:09 pm

    Thanks for the information. Helped me answer the question. Thanks



  25. essextwo on January 15, 2022 at 11:10 pm

    Yes. I too find I get multiple tools in one… when I buy multiple tools at once.

    On a more serious note: Very informative, especially for someone looking to get their first plane.



  26. Robin Marwick on January 15, 2022 at 11:10 pm

    Thanks great video I’ve been wondering about the Veritas for a while…feel an order coming on thanks again.



  27. Ryder’s Custom Creations on January 15, 2022 at 11:11 pm

    I just got the veritas LAJ plane… should I flatten the back of the new blade with the ruler trick like rob cosman does? I’m not sure if this is appropriate for bevel up planes…



  28. David on January 15, 2022 at 11:11 pm

    Could not agree more…….Excellent advice.



  29. bigscreen bird on January 15, 2022 at 11:12 pm

    I see where this would be ideal to have both of these planes but a lot of new woodworkers would look at those prices and be very intimidated and not want to spend $450 or so. If this was your real “first” plane it would have to be a no.5 jack plane. Choose your make and model and learn how to tune and sharpen and you will have great results.

    Side note… these 2 planes are my fav in my collection and I use them for 90% of my jobs.



  30. Steve Rochon on January 15, 2022 at 11:13 pm

    Good choices



  31. educated robot consumer on January 15, 2022 at 11:13 pm

    Very new to wood working and am setting up a garage shop. I did a heap of research and came to the same conclusion then I found this video and it confirmed it for me! Good to know my learning isn’t awry. Golden tip to get two blades for the Jack, earned a subscribe.



  32. Rachel Manning on January 15, 2022 at 11:14 pm

    Excellent video, as always. These are the first 2 I bought. Both Quangsheng brand here in the U.K., I think they’re excellent value.
    I also have a toothing iron for my jack, shifts a huge amount of material.



  33. Ja Nee on January 15, 2022 at 11:14 pm

    Got a veritas LAJ, 38,50 degrees blade
    Just bought quansheng /luban/dictum rebat plane with adjustable mouth and 32 degrees blade.
    The edges are little bit sharp.
    A file and some 1000 grid sandpaper will remove it.
    The mouth had some small burs.
    Again same sandpaper
    The blade isn’t very sharp. So use their free sharpening service when you order any dictum brand planes/scissels.
    The blade is 99,9%straight.
    Yep,same sandpaper
    My extra blade is sharpened to 30 degrees (max) and extremely sharp, used their free service on this one. That’s how I know the difference.
    The sole is 99.95% flat
    It has some very minor dents 2cm behind the mouth. These dents are on both sides and 1,5cm long 6mm wide and 0,01mm deep.
    It’s about 730gr, 20cm long 5cm wide.
    This little beauty costs just under 80 euro



  34. areUaware on January 15, 2022 at 11:14 pm

    Two expensive choices for someone’s first planes.
    I usually recommend much less expensive Stanley planes for people to learn how to sharpen the irons on, adjust and use.
    You can get into the two Stanley’s for under a hundred dollars compared to the nearly $400.00 for the planes you showed.



  35. Daniel Balfour on January 15, 2022 at 11:15 pm

    Awesome outstanding review! I just realized my WR 5-1/2 jack + block planes are just entry level practice tools. Sure they’re both good for daily use but having watched this video and the features of the better planes I can see why I’d want to upgrade. The WR jack plane can theoretically do whatever you want, if you feel like moving the frog back and forth and deal with alignment. Its awesome that on yours you have a mouth that you can easily size on the go. Also, WR block plane never quite fit in my hand well. I realize now its just too damn bulky! Will look to purchasing some higher end planes over time while I use my existing planes to hone my workflow and get better at hand tool work. Thank you Matt! Very helpful and informative.



  36. James Collins on January 15, 2022 at 11:15 pm

    Music is overpowering.



  37. ugaladh on January 15, 2022 at 11:17 pm

    there is a Highland woodworking video with another take on this subject regarding your eventual tool budget. in a video about the Lie-neilson low angle jack, he sings the praises of the plane and its versatility, then at the end, he makes a good point. If your budget is to only have a few planes, then these two are good choices, If your budget is such that you will be adding more planes, the high end Jack-of-all-trades plane will one day be a very expensive shooter board plane. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKmLRYmI8e8



  38. Gary Knable on January 15, 2022 at 11:17 pm

    Exactly the choices I’m rendering and talking with Lie-Nielson on now. Nice presentation short and to the point.



  39. riskmandel1 on January 15, 2022 at 11:19 pm

    Do you ever cut rabbets with this block plane? If so, I’d love to see how you do it. I have this plane but haven’t been able to get consistent results with it.



  40. Brian Prusa on January 15, 2022 at 11:20 pm

    I have these… maybe I should use them.



  41. gareth cairns on January 15, 2022 at 11:23 pm

    I have the Veritas LAJ and it’s as good as advertised. I shoot, smooth and joint with it.
    And now I have the LN RBP on order. A process of exploration was had.



  42. Justin P. on January 15, 2022 at 11:23 pm

    Grizzly Tools has wood planes they also have a plane set for beginners



  43. Mike Stewart on January 15, 2022 at 11:25 pm

    After watching a bunch of reviews, but not this one, and ogling a lot of catalogs, the first premium plane I bought was a Lie-Nielsen 60 1/2 rabbet block plane. Then I got the Veritas 62 1/2 low angle jack. My thinking was the same as yours, but it’s neat to see someone else saying it. That said, I already had some contractor grade Stanleys–a 4, 5, and low angle block plane, so I wasn’t without a plane while I saved up. If I were starting from scratch, I think I might go for the Wood River versions–although the price difference for the low angle jacks wasn’t so much. I’ve recently added the L-N 4 1/2, which is a work of art, and am saving for a L-N 7 next. Eventually, I’ll get a L-N 5 1/2, but the low angle jack makes it a lower priority.
    I will say, I wouldn’t be happy with the 60 1/2 as my *only* block plane. It’s versatile, but my old Stanley is more comfortable for the things I use a block plane for most often.
    Oh, and I got a Veritas router before the 4 1/2, but I haven’t actually used it much, yet.



  44. livewiya on January 15, 2022 at 11:27 pm

    I’ll just be that pedant and say "it depends." However, this is a very good and versatile combination. I think most folk look critically into which planes they should buy after having already receiving or bought a plane or two. I inherited a no. 4, and bought a no. 65 after needing to clean up some small miters. Had I seen this kind of advice first, I likely would have gone block-rabbet. That being said, since ‘the train has already left the station,’ I’m more inclined to get any rough no. 5/6/28 next as my fore plane, and then save my money towards a dead-flat jointer. I may be an odd case, but I jumped into chair making, and I’ve yet to do the typical mortise and tenon, but rather use cylindrical stretchers/legs with tapered tenons and matched reamed conical mortises. As an apartment dweller, I don’t see myself having ready access to a surface planer any time soon, so spending towards a dedicated thicknessing and surfacing set up makes sense. I’m inclined to say the projects you’re interested in, as well as your other tools, should dictate what planes to get. Although, I appreciate if someone’s starting out, they may not realize what typing of woodworking will end up suiting them best.



  45. Hassan Mian on January 15, 2022 at 11:28 pm

    How about a dedicated shoulder and a normal block…? Does this one replace a dedicated shoulder plane?



  46. Rodrigo Pessoa on January 15, 2022 at 11:28 pm

    thanks for the infos buddy!



  47. Mr. Law on January 15, 2022 at 11:30 pm

    Best advice for joiner’s endeavors



  48. weldabar on January 15, 2022 at 11:31 pm

    After initial research I came up with the exact two planes you showed, with second blade. As I save money I see other opinions, and am considering a L-N #5 Jack instead.



  49. Peter Capon on January 15, 2022 at 11:33 pm

    I would suggest a a good second hand Stanley or Record No 3 or 4 and a 5 1/2 or 6 depending on what size projects you intend to be doing. With the money you save get a good quality 3" X 10" 1000/300 diamond plate and a honing guide. I have the Veritas LA Jack and it is a joy to use but it has limited use with the standard 25 degree blade and the £50 38 degree blade makes it a good No 5 but it’s no better than my fettled standard No 5 or 5 1/2.



  50. Jerry Stark on January 15, 2022 at 11:33 pm

    Excellent recommendations!