Customer Reviews

Stanley 12-903 Contractor Grade Smooth Bottom Bench Plane (1-3/4-Inch Cutter)

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Every serious woodworker should have a block plane and a smooth plane. While the usual choice for a smooth plane is the #4, there are many good reasons to pick the smaller #3 instead. A smooth plane is used to remove the marks left by a planer, to quickly size a drawer side, to leave a clean smooth surface on a board and to bring various pieces down to size. The #3 works better in tighter spots and for work on a smaller scale such as jewelry boxes. The smaller size is also easier to carry around the shop in a pocket and not as tiring to use. Stanley is the only company making a #3 in this price and quality category. The only other choices I am aware of are the Lie-Nielsen and the Clifton, planes that sell for much higher prices. Stanley's #3 can't be used out of the box but most woodworkers are aware that new planes need to be tuned up. Besides flattening the sole and the blade, my #3 also needed to have the frog filed a bit to clean up the surface and allow the blade to be fully supported. I also had to file the lip of the cap iron to make full contact with the blade and the lever cap was a little tight (which a quick turn of the screw remedied). Of course the pricing of this item by Amazon is phenomenal. By replacing the blade and cap iron with Hock or Clifton blades the plane can be souped up tremendously and still not break the bank. So far I have been pleased with the blade supplied though I haven't used the plane on any highly-figured wood. All-in-all an excellent tool that should be in more woodworkers tool boxes.