Stanley Bailey No. 6 Fore Plane Explained Compared & Road Tested

Stanley Bailey No. 6 Fore Plane Explained Compared & Road Tested

The Stanley No. 6 is a versatile plane that can be used like a jack plane, scrub plane, or short jointer. Here is a brief comparison between a 5, 6 and 7.

00:00 Introduction
00:24 Comparing the 5, 6, and 7
02:05 Disassembly
02:38 Tuning the frog (removing lateral lever and yoke pins
03:45 Polishing screws and nuts
05:38 Finishing the knob
06:10 Plane body
08:12 Road testing
09:40 Final comparisons

5 Comments

  1. John Shipps on June 21, 2023 at 1:32 pm

    Great video. I like the simple approach to the restoration. I’m new to hand planes and currently have old/vintage Stanley #4, #5 and #7. I’d assume the #5 is what should be put into the "fore" or scrub plane category, correct? Then use the #7 to level and the #4 to smooth?



  2. Green Building on June 21, 2023 at 1:49 pm

    Very nice plane.. i have vintage stanley no 4 and record no 5.. is no.6 ok for working all day long ?



  3. A T H Mostafa on June 21, 2023 at 2:17 pm

    Nice clean up , love hand planes, cheers.



  4. Patrick Howie on June 21, 2023 at 2:20 pm

    That looks great! I like that you focused on restoring for good useability but not removing history and patina. I’ve been using my no 6 as if it is a 5 1/2 jack for much lower cost for almost a year now. While hefty, one of these supposedly odd sized planes produces the best finish ready surface of any plane I have. It is also the best for reversing grain or knots for me even without the mouth being very tight. Enjoy and thanks for the great video. Hope you’re out making some saw dust.



  5. Mike Bennett on June 21, 2023 at 2:21 pm

    I tell people who have old tools with a dark brown patina, to leave it be. Don’t take it off. And they look at me like I’m daft. I tell them to take off any red rust immediately, but brown rust is there to protect the steel from the harmful red rust. It’s something I learned from working on old black powder muzzleloaders.