Hand planes, Stanley planes, infill planes & planemaking

DID YOU KNOW…

To some people, learning a new skill can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Handplane Central has information for beginner woodworkers on the many different types of planes and what they’re used for. Why are some planes longer than others, and why do the blades all have different angles? What hand plane is best for your needs and what are the essential planes you simply can’t work without?

Handplane Central also has information on how to set up your plane properly so that it works the best way possible. Want to know the correct way to use a plane, such as for shooting the end of a board or thicknessing down to a line, then Handplane Central can help with that as well. We also have information on blade sharpening, flattening a sole or repairing a handle.

Stanley No. 4-1/2 H Smooth Plane (Heavy)

Manufactured:	1902 to 1924
Length:	10 inches
Blade Width:	2-3/8 inches
Construction:	Cast iron, stained beech or rosewood handle & knob
Finish:	Japanned
Features:	Extra wide & heavy casting
Uses:	General purpose bench plane
Average Dealer Price:	$1000 to $2000
Average eBay Price:	$900 to $1750

Other Notes:

The letter H is cast on the body casting after the number. Never shown in any Stanley Tool Co. catalog, and most examples have turned up in Great Britain – presumably to compete with the heavier Spiers and Norris cast planes.

Updated:

25th July, 2006

Stanley No. 4-1/2 H Smooth (Heavy) Planes on eBay right now…

Sources:

While many of the dealers prices for Stanley planes are largely set by John Walters’ book “Antique & Collectible Stanley Tools” it appears that eBay, while acknowledging the Walters guide somewhat, tends to march to it’s own beat and sets its own prices. For that reason – and the fact that eBay’s reach and customer base is huge – I’ve decided to include a separate eBay average price here. Other sources include: “The Antique Tool Collector’s Guide To Value” by Ronald S. Barlow, “Antique & Collectible Stanley Tools” by John Walter, “The Stanley Plane” by Alvin Sellens, “Patrick’s Blood & Gore” by Patrick Leach, various auctions and sales of collectable tools and my own compilations of prices realized, observations and notes over the past 20+ years.