Modern Stanley SW No 62 - Review and Tips

[@giorgiochiappini1931]

I was very excited to get my first low angle jack. I was at my first steps with handplanes and seemed like a great choice, when this Stanley arrived I loved it a lot the first few hours. Then it rapidly started to drive me nuts when I begun to understand what is wrong with her and what you need from a plane. A plane is a tool that if you choose to use, you are goin to use it a lot, easy and comfortable set up is way underrated in the YT community.

[@BatCaveCreations]

I agree! Comfort is my go to, because we have options and you can get almost any plane to take a shaving but... how fiddly, annoying, and comfortable it is makes a big difference!

[@matttirmizi8008]

Spot on mate. Two other things. On my second run, was tightening the knob and it came off the brass insert. I filled it up with instant glue and moved on. Last year I lost the famous Norris adjuster and since then for the life of me have not been able to find it. stanley does not support and they gave up with a polite message after a few exchanges. So If any of your subscribers have one, I am a buyer. In the meanwhile I bit the bullet and got a veritas. Getting adjusted to a high end plane and very cautious with it. The magpie in me however props me from time to time to look for the damn adjuster so that I can have two planes :):)

[@BatCaveCreations]

Dang! That stinks! It did fall out super easy! Stanley won't let you just buy that part? That's a shame. I hope you can find one! 2 LA would be nice! Prevents blade changes! And the stanley is a 5 size and Veritas is 5.5 so that would be handy too. Have you tried the stanley with out the adjuster and used a hammer for adjustment?

[@matttirmizi8008]

@@BatCaveCreations yes as you pointed out a very heavy iron and a wimp of a cap so not stable and pushes back big

[@BatCaveCreations]

@@matttirmizi8008 aw dang :(

[@stevekelley1179]

Take it to a machine shop and get one made for it with out the slop

[@johnbesharian9965]

@@stevekelley1179, LOL! Go ahead, get in touch with as many machine shops as you're able to to find out the real meanings of "Shop Time, Minimum and Estimate" are.

[@Cigarsmokin_woodworker]

I’ve had mine almost since they first brought them back . I don’t have the issues you mentioned. Blade wasn’t flat but was very little work getting it there . Adjuster not loose like this one but does have play before engaging. Nice to work with .

[@BatCaveCreations]

Ooh thats good to know! I wonder if they have some QC issue or if they changed the design :/

[@scottsiejkowski8486]

I have the Lie-Nielsen and I love it! I use it as a dedicated shooting plane. When I got mine I ordered the hot-dog handle as well as a O-1 blade. Yes, for anyone new to hand tools, there was a time when L-N sold O-1 irons (and chisels) as a option. I use a micro bevel @ 30° and it's a end grain slicing machine!!

[@BatCaveCreations]

I like O1 alot idk why it gets such a bad rap haha

[@kennethholmes9315]

I picked up one of those about ten years ago. Got it home open up the box saw the cap was junk and put it right back in the box and took it back. There are others in the same price range that are built better. Great video. Have a good one.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Thank you! And ya that cap is SAD hahaha

[@christopherreiss1320]

Thank you very much for taking the time to review this! This and the LA block plane were the first i ever got. Like you said, you can get them to work, it just takes a bit of time. They were great to kind of play with to start learning, but once i got my hands on a Lie-Nielson, i couldnt go back. It made me appreciate the quality manufacturers. I look forward to some Veritas tools as well. Thanks again!

[@BatCaveCreations]

Of course!!! Thank you for letting me mess with it! I agree! It's the balance of money vs work/ease we will always battle hahah

[@Gerhard-Figl]

My experience is positive with the 62 plane. No issue

[@RafikFawzy]

Many thanks for your kind attention, I think all is clear now, and all Names you mentioned are great and geniuses, all of them respectable and made a great history for humanity improvement . Rafik M. Fawzy Consultant Engineer Cairo, EGYPT

[@stevem268]

the extra $100 for a veritas is worth every cent. my laj has no perceptible backlash in the norris adjuster and the plane was fully functional right out of the box

[@BatCaveCreations]

Agree!

[@1deerndingo]

I have Luban which is Australian Wood River. It has some play in the Norris style adjuster, but not that much! I adjust by 1. applying and maintaining firm finger pressure down on the "lever" cap, 2. take up the slack in the adjusting knob, 3. unscrew the lever cap tension knob, 4. adjust blade, 5. retention cap. I don't adjust blade with cap in tension.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Perfect breakdown!! thank you!!

[@roybailey9554]

I just bought one even though I have a lot of plane including all the Clifton plane's the first Clifton's and many many Stanley plane's, I got a good offer on the Stanley No 62 I was expecting a lot of problems, but the Iron was one of the most flattest Iron I have come across, and the machining of the plane is absolutely fantastic, and very easy to set up, and it cuts beautifully, the only thing I don't like much is the lever cap but it functions okay at the moment, Aluminium is not very strong.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Thank you for sharing!! I am happy to hear this!! Besides the cap that is a poor design choice

[@philipmadden2577]

Great video. Looks like I will save up for Veritas or LN!

[@BatCaveCreations]

They are deff better if you can swing it!

[@blayne2029]

Mesmerized by the wood shavings :). Looks like you had fun.

[@BatCaveCreations]

LOVE makin shavings hahah

[@mikel5582]

When I first started acquiring handtools, I came across a Great Neck adjustable mouth block plane (basically a knock-off of the popular Stanley 9-1/2). It was cheap and I was poor so it seemed like a match made in heaven. That wasn't the case. The machining where the adjustable mouth mates with the plane body is so rough that the sole protrudes in the nose portion. I suspect that a patient person skilled in file work could make the plane a solid user but I now have a half-dozen or so block planes so I'll leave that work for some future owner. Someday I'll get around to selling off unnecessary duplicates, triplicates, quintuplicates, etc., etc. The key point here, and one that you made in your video, is that a lot of cheaper tools can be made to work if you're willing to put in the time and effort to fix the areas that the manufacturer skimped on to cut costs.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Agree 100% and been there. We gotta weigh cost and qork. Pay less = more work. Pay more = less work. Pay ALOT more = No work. Haha

[@RobertHerr-gf8qg]

Thanks for the review. I'd really have to think on getting one, or find one I can try first....

[@BatCaveCreations]

Deff try to find one to borrow or cheep used. I am hearing there are some QC issues as others done have the play this one did

[@What_Other_Hobbies]

I have all 3 mentioned in this video. Out of box, LN is more comfortable to use. Veritas and Stanely both have fat totes. I have been using my Stanley for 3 years with my 3D printed tote, and it's been great. I need to use the other 2 more.

[@BatCaveCreations]

I love the totes you make!!

[@joewilson4436]

I owned this plane for a while and had very similar thoughts. It was my first plane with a norris adjuster and after using it, I thought I didn’t like norris adjusters. Turns out it’s just really sloppy on this particular plane. I have a few Veritas planes and love the norris adjusters on them. When I still owned this I got the Veritas low angle jack as a christmas splurge and figured that the law of diminishing returns would apply and it would only be a little better. I was wrong, it’s easily twice as good and worth the cost difference in my view. And I don’t think the Stanley is a bad plane per se, the Veritas is just a really, really good plane. I would say the Stanley 62 is an okay starter plane, but if you can afford it or can wait and save up a bit, just go straight for the Veritas. The LN is great too I’m sure but I haven’t used it myself. A bad plane would be the modern, entry level Stanley #4 (12-905). Luckily my wife got it for me for $10 at a garage sale. After many hours spent tuning it up, the bed is still a mile off from flat and the thing chatters like crazy when I try to plane even moderately hard wood. Probably the frog needs to be ground flat or something like that, but I can't be bothered to waste any more time with it.

[@BatCaveCreations]

You are spot on, on all of this! Thank you for sharing I like hearing people experiences with different tools. I am glad you gave Norris a shot even after trying this plane I'm a fan of Norris style adjusters. But like Bailey style too lol I haven't tried the modern 4 but I have heard similar things :( I'm glad it was only $10 for you!!!

[@joewilson4436]

@@BatCaveCreations yeah at $10 it's fine and I've kept it for sentimental reasons. I've got more into it for replacement tote and knob after the plastic tote broke too.

[@joewilson4436]

@@BatCaveCreations hey I got a bridge city HP-8, the little tiny baby plane with the thickness guide on it, because it was half off. I haven't used or even set it up yet. If this is something you're interested in doing a video on I can send it your way before I do anything to it. Let me know.

[@BatCaveCreations]

@joewilson4436 thank you! I appreciate the offer!! I did a video on that plane, It was one of my earlier ones I think, here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnOoi5lsnalmg5Y

[@RGRGJKK]

Pura vida great review in my case I prefer the woodriver low angle plane it's design reamainds classic Stanley plane features but with improves on the main casting body .It is shy the Stanley company don't keep beautiful finish for its premium line benchplanes as lie-nielsen and Veritas did it.pura vida guys

[@BatCaveCreations]

Right! Could you imagine how great their plane would be now if they kept up the quality!

[@martinrwolfe]

I have not had the problems you described with my No.62. It created mirror smooth surfaces from the initial setup. It does however have a small problem that can probably be solved with a carfull aplication of machine oil. The mouth tneds to stick and I invariable have to take the knob of to free it when I want to adjust it. Current;y it is at the stage where I need to resharpen it and it is still generating those mirror smooth surfaces that wont need a smoothing plane to clean up. I only know it need sharpening because it needs a bit more effort to use at the moment.

[@BatCaveCreations]

That is great to hear! I'm glad you didn't run into any issues with yours! Thank you for sharing!

[@christopherharrison6724]

Great in depth review I feel that so many problems ,if I was to invest in a low angle I think the veritas would be worth the extra.

[@BatCaveCreations]

I'm with you there 100% and thank you!

[@blayne2029]

Thanks, Jamie! Maybe you could review the Woodriver if you get your hands on one? :)

[@BatCaveCreations]

One day I'm sure I will bur gotta do the shop remodel and add some build videos so people stop yelling at me hahaha

[@douglasanderson7260]

Good video, it just shows how far Stanley as a company has fallen. I have one of these, I used to use it on a shooting board, I found that you can get the blade pretty sharp and they are fairly cheap, I think I got one for like $15, but the thing is a wall hanger now, Though not like like my Woodriver which sits on a shelf in it's hall of shame, this one is now just retired. It was a good tool (not a great tool, not one I would recommend), and every once in a while I bring it out to flatten a board that probably should be cut up for firewood, e.g. one that has a bit too much warp in it. Though for me it was good before I knew what good was. Plus the blades are like $15 for it so, if one wants the easiest blade to hand sharpen, there is little cost in replacing the thing if one messes it up. Not that I have a plane blade with a um... I am not quite sure what angle I was going for, but it changes as you go down it anywhere, or in other words a good ad for the veritas mk II.

[@BatCaveCreations]

I deff agree I like that the blades are cheep and they did sharpen easy and hold a good edge! Never tried the woodriver one but rarely do I hear anything positive about their planes :/

[@johnbesharian9965]

Just ordered one of these wonders ("Wonder how much fettling it will involve to get it to really work?") from Amazon Prime (not Amazon U.K. as, if it has to be returned, I would have to pay UPS, not Amazon) and we'll see what transpires. Never had a Norris style adjuster before, but at first glance it looks like some brass shim stock shaped into a shallow cylinder and silver soldered together could be made to take up the slack. Again, "We'll See". One could call it, "Fettling for dollars". (Which can sometimes be frustrating, but still beats the heck out of "Bobbing for french fries".)

[@BatCaveCreations]

Lol! All I ask is you don't knock the Norris adjuster because of this Norris adjuster hahah

[@johnbesharian9965]

@@BatCaveCreations, Well, I just received it today and it works beautifully, as long as I'm satisfied with a 1/3 shaving, 0.002" thick on the right or an even thicker cross sectionally tapered shaving when I increase the depth of cut. Double checking it I've discovered its not the amount of throw the adjuster can make because there's more than the blade will allow. That means either send it back and pray for one that works correctly out of the box, or taper the sides of the blade to allow for full travel to the adjuster.

[@BatCaveCreations]

@@johnbesharian9965 dang :( I'm sorry to hear that! Before you mess with the iron, check the iron bed, is it equal thickness? that could cause the issue you are discussing also. when you have to try and move the latteral so far to the side and it still isnt working, check the bed. If that is the case, deff return it. that is way more work than anyone wants to get into.

[@johnbesharian9965]

@@BatCaveCreations, Thank you for taking the time and trouble of responding. I've just put in a request for a replacement and will give Stanley one more chance. The made in Mexico No. 5 that I bought 2½/3 years ago had problems until I replaced the iron and chip breaker with ones from Tay Tools. The No. 6 made in England I bought in '95/'96 worked out of the box after minor flattening and, of course, sharpening. Now they both work beautifully.

[@BatCaveCreations]

@johnbesharian9965 no problem at all! And good! I'm happy to hear you got some working! Hopefully, this next one is good to go!

[@jimbo2629]

There is an issue with Norris adjusters. The bottom end of the blade should have no sideways movement. It really need adjustable screws if the body gap is wider than the blade. I think the lee Neilsen has these. The lever ideally should be much longer to facilitate small adjustments. Normal Stanley planes have a much better system. They just need better irons. The Qiangsheng is the best mid price low angle. I can never understand why there is built in slop or backlash. Just drill the correct size hole. It can’t be more expensive.

[@lynnbulger9707]

What do you think of the Stanley sweetheart 60.5 low angle block plane with adjustable mouth lately discontinued

[@BatCaveCreations]

I haven't had a chance to try one yet. I'm going to add it to my list and see if I can get my hands on one! Update: I just looked it up, for that price I would rather go with the Jorgensen block plane. It's less than half the price. Unless you wanted to step up in price (almost double) and go with the dx60 or Lir Nielsen 60.5. It seems like the stanley is right between those two prices but I can't see it being better than the Jorgensen give my experience and from what I hear about modern stanley planes. I hope that helps!

[@geoffthompson2728]

So I ended up buying Stanley 62 that I saw for sale at first I was super worried about all the play on the Norris adjuster that you experienced but this one has zero play

[@BatCaveCreations]

Thats the 2nd time I heard this! I wonder rif his was just a dud :( they may have QC issues

[@TylerWardhaha]

@@BatCaveCreationsthey definitely do have QC issues. I had to return mine because it was impossible to get the blade straight. The machining of the bed was terrible.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Dang! I'm sorry to hear that! Hopefully the next one is better!

[@TylerWardhaha]

@@BatCaveCreations just tried out the new one, and it’s much better. Coincidentally, the first one also had major backlash, and the new had almost none.

[@BatCaveCreations]

@@TylerWardhaha GOOD!!!! That is great to hear!!!

[@blayne2029]

Does the Veritas Low Angle Jack come with the blade flattened out of the box? Honing still required, I assume.

[@toddlarsen6215]

My last two blades from Veritas had flattened backs with documentation of their tolerances

[@blayne2029]

@@toddlarsen6215 thx!

[@BatCaveCreations]

Todd is correct, they actually don't want you to flatten the backs of their irons cus they are flat and the gray is a rust preventative :D

[@ManuelGarcia-ww7gj]

I am thinking that the Jorgensen jack plane from Lowes would be a vastly better deal.

[@BatCaveCreations]

I really hope they make a LA Jack tbh haha

[@jessenunes7602]

Have you made a video on the veritas minuture planes yet ? I have a few of them and love them .

[@BatCaveCreations]

Not yet but I want too! Gotta delay on those and add some build videos first so people stop yelling at me haha hopeing to do the shop remodel by the end of this month then do builds and tool reviews mixed.

[@willfrancis8690]

Yeah, I'm disappointed. I'm just a couple of years into learning woodworking, and this plane is the most expensive I've purchased. I expected a much better product. The iron isn't square, and I can't keep the right side of it from sticking out farther than the left. I've checked it with every engineer's square that I have. It's skewed, and my 2 hours of honing hasn't fixed it. (Yeah, I understand the lateral adjustment; I'm not that much of a newbie.) Anyway, after watching your video, this plane is going back to R-----r asap. Thanks for the vid.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Dang I am sorry to hear that :( someone just told me too that they got one and the bed wasn't parallel to the sole so it can be a combination of skewed iron and the bed not being parallel. He said he returned it and the second one he got didn't have any issues so it's worth a shot if you wanna try and get another!

[@willfrancis8690]

Thanks, I will consider that. Too bad Stanley isn't living up to its reputation. I've been looking at the Veritas No. 62, and I think I'm in love. I haven't even held it yet. Just $90 more.@@BatCaveCreations

[@BatCaveCreations]

@willfrancis8690 bevel up Veritas was one of my first high-end planes and I love it. It was the only plane I used for years. Same I wish stanley would have kept up with quality instead of selling out. Could you imagine if they cupped up their quality with the metals and machining that we have? Now they would be amazing!

[@geoffthompson2728]

Was the sides square to the bottom of the plan wondering if it would make a decent shooting plane coincidentally I’ve been offered to buy one someone has they also have Stanley sweetheart no4 he’s selling both I’m hoping to make low angle plane a shooting plane

[@BatCaveCreations]

Dang I didn't check that and i already sent the plane back :( hopefully someone on here knows!

[@petrsidlo7614]

The shape of the cap would be a deal breaker for me. I normally wouldnt use a low angle anyway, but I was getting cramps in my hand because of using a plane on a shooting board, so I sprung for a low angle with nice cap iron and that hot dog thing and it made all the difference in comfort and power. Cant speak for everybody, but a low angle jack that isnt modified to perform well on a shooting board is a missed opportunity by the manufacturer.

[@BatCaveCreations]

That is a very very valid point. The mote universal a tool can be the better, for many reason! Thank you!

[@1deerndingo]

Stumpy nubs just did a KZbin on flattening where he used and highly recommended using 320 and then 400 grit 3M Cubitron sandpaper. Said it was much quicker. Once flat he then polished with other media.

[@BatCaveCreations]

I've seen that! Haven't tried that kind of sand paper but I do use sand paper :)

[@jimbo2629]

The slop in the Norris doesn’t necessarily mean you have to overtighten the the cap iron. You can get around it by always taking up the advance backlash. Backlash really annoys me. Why would they mill a hole the wrong diameter?

[@BatCaveCreations]

EXACTLY! And me too backlash is horrible!

[@AfterBurn65]

This thing is impossible to keep the blade set and square. Every time to adjust the blade in or out it takes forever to get it square left to right.

[@BatCaveCreations]

I was seeing that too, just too much play :(

[@Bradkurily]

Woodriver low angle Jack is nice

[@BatCaveCreations]

I've been able to try one yet but I look forward too 1 day

[@anthonyseiver7000]

yes you have issues, you're comparing someone else's Sweetheart

[@BatCaveCreations]

Haha fair!

[@RafikFawzy]

You always give me the impression that you criticize Stanley for the sake of criticism, and you give Veritas precedence over everyone, even Lie Nielsen, and you forget, or seek to forget , that everyone is merely developing what Stanley designed and the history he created, aided by scientific progress and modern advanced machines. Each of them has something to be proud of and distinguishes something from the other, and you do not know if it were not for Stanley, whether there would have been Veritas or Lie Nielsen and what their equipment was like.

[@BatCaveCreations]

I'm sorry you feel that way or get that impression. The LN vs Stanley series is 100% about what LN improved over stanley because we have better metals and such now. Thats not a knock on stanley because they did the best with what they had. LN vs Veritas has shown me that Veritas is being innovative where LN is just upgrading past designs. Veritas also get some of their designed from other companies, Record and E. Preston for example. I also like Norris adjustment lol This modern Stanley's are just sad compared to what they use to be. Most of the woodworkers I talk to agree to that. I also want to point out that Stanley never made a plane, he hired other companies to make planes for him and used their designs. Some would argue that Millers Falls with the 2 piece cap are superior to Stanley, I've also heard similar arguments about record, union, sigley, hans and bremer, Chaplin and more being better than Stanley. Stanley did a great job marketing and buying out other companies that is why they are the most well known and their wasn't much competition. He was a good business man. Anyways that's my rant haha I hope that helps you understand where I'm comming from with these videos.

[@richardc6932]

@@BatCaveCreationsI have to agree with each and every point you have made. Stanley is not producing quality planes like they did years ago. Collectors seem to be driving the price up on the vintage ones. I have a Canadian manufactured #4 from 1947-48. A little work brought it back to a decent tool but in no way would I consider it an equal to the modern LV or LN. I can’t say the same for my recent purchase of the Spear & Jackson off Amazon. Still trying get that iron flat and as well as the cap iron. LN is way overpriced due to the exchange rates for a Canadian and I will always default to LV here in Canada. Excellent quality, decent pricing. JMHO.🇨🇦👍👨‍🦳

[@BatCaveCreations]

I agree!!! Thank you! Sorry to hear about the S&J plane! Yoi can try returning it for another. They do have some QC issues

[@johnmcgrath7133]

in less than 2 min its you have issue

[@BatCaveCreations]

Are you saying i have issues? Hahahahaha

[@skwalka6372]

If you use your time reviewing Chinese caca (caca is Spanish word for sh..i..t, but it has a nicer ring to it), you are not only wasting time, you are elevating a piece of garbage to a dignified level that is almost offensive, my friend.

[@lucianofariagoncalvesrosas3113]

Well... I have a lie-nielsen 60 1/2 block plane and a Luban 60 1/2 and both are excelent tools. There are no visible differences in machining quality and sometimes i feel that the blade of my Luban is better.