Reply To: Silverline #4 smoothing plane
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Hi Brian,
Silverline tools are usually the poorest quality of those around. Of course you can make one work just fine, it just means more fettling to get it to the performance you’re seeking, it will have a plastic handle, probably no frog-adjustment screw, and you’ll need to sharpen its inferior iron more often.
For the same price, you can find an old Stanley / Record / Marples plane with Rosewood handles, Brass fittings, and Sheffield Steel cutting-iron. So everyone does that. Try eBay / Gumtree / Craigslist / Car boot sales …
Paul may be recommending the Silverline but in-context; that’s only an evaluation of the newest/cheapest options available today. Paul has been asked “What’s the best of the new budget planes today?” He’s playing Devil’s advocate – an exercise. To see if they can be made to work at all.
Vintage planes are the same price and leagues above those cheapo Chinese ones. Paul has always endorsed vintage Stanley/Record above anything today.
Check-out: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DRYyV6IUpsYk&ved=2ahUKEwjf_K-zlKvdAhUsDMAKHcAGDooQwqsBMAB6BAgJEAU&usg=AOvVaw0gR2QTKBi9GaziKOPXYmAm
You can buy one that appears past-it quite cheaply, and you’ll have a rewarding time restoring it from trash to treasure.