ViolinMagick Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 Greetings all, I just bought a new Woodriver #5 jack plane from Woodcraft. The planes got good reviews on Youtube and elsewhere so I gave it a shot. They are well built and heavier than the Stanley #5 in just about every way. The only thing I had to do in the way of Plane prep was to finish sharpening the blade. Once I had the blade sharp enough to shave with, I put the plane back together and gave it a shot on a piece of scrap Walnut that I had laying around. The cut was smooth and butter-like pealing off one continuous shaving from one end of the board to the other with very little effort. I have used the Stanley #5 extensively in the past and can honestly say that the Woodriver #5 plane is head and shoulders a better tool and would recommend one to anyone looking to buy a plane. Cheers, VM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jab73180 Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 Thats awesome, I take it this is a V3 plane? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViolinMagick Posted November 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 I believe so. The most recent iteration of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViolinMagick Posted December 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2011 Well guys, I liked the #5 so much that I went out and bought the pair of block planes today. I also got a 8x30mm gouge as well, but that really isn't relevant. These planes are good stuff. Maybe not the "best" but certainly will get the job done for many years in my shop. Cheers, VM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weedsnager Posted December 3, 2011 Report Share Posted December 3, 2011 let me know about the low angle block plane, i was looking at that one!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sac Posted December 3, 2011 Report Share Posted December 3, 2011 I am also a fan of these planes. I have a #3 and #6, I think both V2. But they are still are nice planes. I will eventually pick me up a #5. Thanks for the review. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViolinMagick Posted December 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2011 Sac - I am very sure you will love the #5. The fit and finish is first rate and it only took me about 5 minutes to put an edge on it sharp enough to shave with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViolinMagick Posted December 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2011 I will be building a Lap Harp starting in a couple of days. The build will be streamed online if I can get internet in my shop. If not, a recording will be posted on Youtube for people to watch. You will see me using all of my planes during the course of the build I am sure. let me know about the low angle block plane, i was looking at that one!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knotscott Posted December 7, 2011 Report Share Posted December 7, 2011 Stanley has many versions of the #5 that can be vastly different from one another....which one do you have that you're comparing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulMarcel Posted December 7, 2011 Report Share Posted December 7, 2011 My friend Chris bought a Woodriver #5 while out here on a trip. He did a bunch of tuning and tests and will have a review on his blog later. Overall, the blade needed honing; I would have been less picky and not spent time flattening the whole back (the last 1/2" would do for quite awhile). We then both took turns planing a very rough very figured piece of Mesquite. We got the surface to polished with very few problems. If the blade was crap, it wouldn't have tolerated Mesquite for how long we played with it. Overall it rated pretty well, very well for the cost. Seems very bang-for-buck (but the legal kind ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Pants Posted December 7, 2011 Report Share Posted December 7, 2011 Stanley has many versions of the #5 that can be vastly different from one another....which one do you have that you're comparing? Looking at the Woodriver one, it seems to be a 605 replica (i.e. Bedrock series). I'd heard they were pretty good for the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deaser Posted December 8, 2011 Report Share Posted December 8, 2011 I recently purchased the V3 Wood River #5 from Woodcraft while they were on sale for 20% off. This is my first bench plane. Out of the box, the handle was a bit loose, but was easily tightened. Having no experience with bench planes other than what I've read, I watched Shannon's video on his Wood River plane which helped out a lot. I disassembled it to clean off the packing grease, honed the blade, reassembled and was off and running. I didn't wax the sole right off the bat, but after I did that it was much easier to use. I will likely buy other Wood River planes in the future. They seem like an excellent value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 I just bought the low angle block plane, and used it today for the first time. I have yet to sharpen / hone the blade, but if current performance ( shaving end grain) is any indication, I'm wondering why I waited so long. Form, Fit, Finish, and performance is better than any of my other planes ( Stanley #4, #5, Std.Block). Looks like I'll sell these and rep[lace them with V3 Wood River! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mn pete Posted December 11, 2011 Report Share Posted December 11, 2011 Are there distinguishing marks or a numbering system to identify a V3? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViolinMagick Posted December 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2011 If you buy it new, it is probably a v3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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