Best Hand Planes for Woodworking — Smoothing and Jack Planes Reviewed
The WoodRiver #4 Bench Plane V3 (B003VR2D7C) is the best value hand plane: ready-to-use out of the box, A2 steel iron, accurate sole for ~$90.
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Showing 4 of 4 products
WoodRiver #4 Bench Plane V3
“The best hand plane for most woodworkers. WoodRiver's V3 is genuinely ready to use after 10 minutes of light sole lapping and blade honing. A2 steel iron outperforms standard steel at this price.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- A2 steel iron for long edge retention
- Precise frog adjustment
- Accurate sole (light lapping needed)
- Good depth adjuster mechanism
- Solid ductile iron body
Watch out for
- Light sole lapping needed out of the box
- Heavier than aluminum-bodied planes
- Not as refined as Lie-Nielsen out-of-the-box
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WoodRiver #4 Bench Plane V3 at $89 — the value sweet spot between entry-level and heirloom tools. A2 tool steel blade holds a working edge through hardwood smoothing sessions without constant resharpening. Ductile iron body resists chipping under heavy use. V3 version improved frog fit and lateral adjustment over earlier releases, addressing previous complaints. Compared to Lie-Nielsen ($395), delivers 90% of the smoothing performance at 23% of the cost — a strong argument for the hobby woodworker. Compared to Stanley contractor ($34), the machining quality gap is significant: WoodRiver arrives flatter and sharper. Best for serious hobbyists wanting quality results without heirloom investment.
WoodRiver #5 Jack Plane V3
“The #5 jack plane is the workhorse of the hand plane world — longer than a smoother for faster material removal. WoodRiver's V3 at $100 makes this the best value entry into jack plane use.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- 14" sole for flattening wide boards
- A2 steel iron for material removal sessions
- Good frog and adjuster quality
- Handles rough mill lumber
- Works before a #4 smoother in sequence
Watch out for
- Not for final smoothing (use #4 smoother after)
- Heavier than #4
- Requires same light tuning as #4 V3
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WoodRiver #5 Jack Plane V3 at $99 — the jack plane's role is aggressive material removal and rough stock flattening, not fine finishing. The #5 takes rough lumber from saw-surfaced to rough-smoothed in preparation for final passes with a smoothing plane (#4 or 4-1/2). A2 blade handles heavy interrupted cuts in difficult grain without frequent edge failure. Compared to WoodRiver #4 ($89), these two planes serve different steps in the workflow — many woodworkers own both. Not a substitute for a smoothing plane on final surfaces. Compared to Groz JP/5 ($64), costs $35 more for better quality and less initial setup time. Best as a second plane for woodworkers who already own a smoother.
Groz 39702 JP/5 Jack Plane #5, 50mm Cutter, 355mm Length
“A genuine #5 jack plane at $65. Groz planes need more setup work than WoodRiver but are a functional entry point for woodworkers learning hand plane technique without a large investment.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Under $70 price
- #5 size for material removal
- Standard blade replacement available
- Cast iron body
- Good learning tool
Watch out for
- Significant setup work required — sole lapping and blade flattening
- Lower casting quality than WoodRiver
- Adjuster mechanism less smooth
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Groz JP/5 Jack Plane at $64 — Indian-made jack plane delivering adequate performance for rough stock preparation and light flattening. High-carbon steel blade requires sharpening improvement out of the box but achieves working sharpness with a strop and diamond stone. Frog fit and sole flatness need initial tuning time before productive use. Compared to WoodRiver #5 ($99), the $35 savings trades in precision machining and arrives needing more setup. Compared to Stanley contractor ($34), the Groz is a genuine jack plane designed for material removal vs. Stanley's lightweight bench plane. Best for beginner woodworkers on a tight budget who want to learn jack plane technique before investing in quality tools.
Stanley 12-920 No. 4 Contractor Grade Bench Plane, 6.25"
“Under $35 for a real hand plane. The Stanley 12-920 is the cheapest entry into hand plane woodworking — expect to invest time in setup but the plane is functional once properly tuned.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Under $35 — lowest entry price
- Stanley brand heritage
- #4 size for learning smoothing plane use
- Replacement blades widely available
- Standard Bailey-style mechanism
Watch out for
- Requires significant setup work out of the box
- Thinner blade iron dulls faster than A2
- Casting quality lower than WoodRiver/Groz
- Many online reviews reflect pre-tuning frustration
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Stanley 12-920 Contractor Bench Plane at $34 — the most accessible entry point for hand plane exploration. Stamped and cast iron construction is lighter and less precisely machined than WoodRiver or Lie-Nielsen. Arrives dull with blade camber that needs correction; the frog fit and sole flatness require setup work before achieving smooth cuts. Compared to WoodRiver #4 ($89), the $55 savings buys frustration early in the learning curve — many beginners blame themselves for tearout and chatter caused by the plane's limitations, not their technique. Valid for learning basic plane mechanics on scrap wood before committing to quality tools. Best for complete beginners testing hand tool woodworking on a tight budget.
Hand Planes for Woodworking Buying Guide
Photo by Ono Kosuki / PexelsWoodRiver #4 Bench Plane V3 — The best hand plane for most woodworkers. WoodRiver's V3 is genuinely ready to use.... At $231.98, it offers the best overall value. [See today's price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VR2D7C?tag=myawesomebuy2-20).
Stanley 12-920 No. 4 Contractor Grade Bench Plane, 6.25" ($34.17) — Under $35 for a real hand plane. The Stanley 12-920 is the cheapest....
WoodRiver #5 Jack Plane V3 — The #5 jack plane is the workhorse of the hand plane world — longer....
---Hand planes divide into jack planes (longer, for flattening rough lumber), smoothing planes (shorter, for final surface prep), and specialty planes (shoulder, router, block). The #4 smoothing plane is the most versatile and the standard first-purchase recommendation — 9" long, handles end grain and long grain equally well. A #5 jack plane (14") handles initial material removal and flattening faster. Modern hand plane quality comes down to: (1) flatness of the sole, (2) thickness and quality of the blade iron, and (3) precision of the cap iron to iron fit. High-end planes (Lie-Nielsen, Veritas) deliver all four out of the box; mid-range (WoodRiver) require light tuning; budget (Stanley 12-920) may need significant lapping and blade work.
If budget is the priority, go with the Stanley 12-920 No. 4 Contractor Grade Bench Plane, 6.25"; if you want the best overall, choose the WoodRiver #4 Bench Plane V3; if you need also excellent, the WoodRiver #5 Jack Plane V3 is your pick.
[Top 10 Tools — Project Farm's Best Picks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjZW8O7BpLk) by Project Farm
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to tune a new hand plane before using it?
What hand plane should a beginner buy first?
What steel type makes the best plane blades?
How do I know if my hand plane sole is flat?
What is the difference between a #4 and #4-1/2 hand plane?
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