This video might save you hundreds of dollars.

An old cabinet maker once told me: “I am not a wealthy man, I cannot afford to buy cheap tools”.

There will always be a place for cheaper tools, and that is when your neighbor asks to borrow one 🤷‍♂️

I have been woodworking for over 50 years, spent an inordinate amount of time researching tools before purchasing and have concluded that you just have to acquire something and use it yourself. The key word is USE it. I have invested heavily into LN tools with no regrets. EVERY tool I have ever purchased(hand and power) has had some degree of fettling to get maximum results except the Blue Spruce line of wood chisels which are sharp out of the box. People, the gateway skill is to learn how to sharpen.

This is why I bought a $30 Stanley Bedrock #5 at an antique store, watched some restoration videos. Restored it, sharpened it and use it. For me as a novice woodworker, $100 is still a huge price to pay.

The crazy thing to me is. Modern woodworkers do all this talking about plane quality an how well the blade holds up. The type of steel used. An then end up with a 2 thousand dollar certain green sander an dust collection system, doing the final finish work on there project.

When I explored the market for a new plane I also watched a lot of videos here on YouTube to get a good idea of what I was wanting. I didn’t go into the purchase knowing absolutely nothing about the product. I purchased a WoodRiver 5-1/2 and immediately tore it all down for proper cleaning, tuning, sharpening and reassembly. My experience with this plane has been similar to yours out of the gate but with a few minutes work all of those little things are gone and I am left with an exceptionally good plane. Tearing the plane down completely gave me a better understanding about the tool and how it works. Learning online from other’s knowledge gave me the confidence to go at it and I really enjoy using this plane. I would recommend the V3 planes to others if they follow the same procedures. I have had zero issues with the casting, squareness, flatness or any point if operation.

In Canada, Wood River is distributed through Rob Cosman. A Wood River #4 Smoother runs $369 CDN. A Veritas #4 comes in at $309 CDN with an O1 or A2 blade, $329 CDN for the PM11 version. So at $40 to $60 less for a plane with known quality and known blade steel, I'd have to go with the Veritas.

The people at Woodcraft not knowing what good shavings look like are exactly on brand with Woodcraft

Plane coming out the greasy bag is like pulling entire pound of bacon out of the package on a Saturday morning for breakfast.

I’ve always appreciated your complete, transparent honesty. “I’ve got a vendetta against Wood River. Let’s call a spade a spade.”

As a beginner I watch a lot of videos. I get most of my info from you and Rob Cosman. (Pretty close to 50/50 and you and he tend to have very different opinions, instruction, sharpening methods, etc.). He swears by his Wood River 5.5. He also has a video on a complete setup. I bought one based on it being in every video. Today I do the setup and initial try out. I think Rob’s affiliation with Woodcraft may be causing a bias. Some of us getting started have to draw a line somewhere because, well, the plane is only one of the many tools you need to get started.

Stanley is the standard and we were spoiled forever. We have seen and experienced what a good plane should be. Anything that is lesser is easy to detect.

As a beginner Youtube gives you all the knowledge to get a tool up to a decent level these days......Love the PJs

I live in Parkersburg, WV...the town where WoodCraft is based...and the NUMBER 1 store in here. SO, they have a section where they sell their returned items that are still good. I got a couple of their planes (No 5 and Block) for about 75% off so I have some. HOWEVER, I have ONE Lie Nielsen block plane my father gave me (because I can't afford them) and, for reasons I didn't understand until THIS VIDEO, it's so much easier to dial in than the WR ones. Thanks again for educating me more than anyone else has.

Paul sellers has some excellent videos on how to restore an old plane and how to setup a brand new one. He does the same things re: softening the edges and mouth opening. If you are a beginner it is worth learning these skills so when you run across something at a garage sale you might be able to pick up a diamond in the rough and save a lot of money.

Just got a new woodriver 51/2 a few days ago and as far as i can see it planes wood. Being a big knife person blade steel really doesn't matter as long as its some sort of high carbon. The sharpness isnt going to last forever

I was given advice from a good woodworker at the point I first started playing with wood; get something you know works, so all the screw-up is definitely just you. I have a Veritas low angle jack and a Lie Nielsen block. They do work. They are a joy to use and I know the outcome is determined by my variability not the tools.

Agreed....the time I've spent trying to learn how, and unsuccessfully getting an old stanley to function well, I should of just spent the money on a good plane !!!

Thanx for an honest video and your honest opinion. The prep work required reminded me of the saying "All tools come as kits that need assembly, some more than others." The shavings seem to be split indicating a nick in the blade. Rob Cosman did some great videos on sharpening about 3 years ago on how to avoid these nicks.

I have a Veritas jack and a Wood river 5 1/2 and find myself reaching for the Wood river twice as often. As for tuning it up I watched Youtube and figured it out shortly. The experience of learning how is worth the effort. Education is worth the investment.