Stanley vs. WoodRiver: A Hand Plane Showdown

[@VinceEspositoJr]

I have some woodriver and lie nielsen planes. The latter is a better product in my humble opinion, but that does not mean that everyone needs one. Woodriver has improved its product whereas stanley has declined. I picked up large stanley planes at an estate sale for a steal. I believe they were made in the 40s. Solid as a rock, but the blades and chip breakers were terrible. I upgraded to a Hock blade and chip breaker set and it made a big difference. I think I heard you mention in another video that you have IBC chisels. They also make plane blades and chip breaker sets, including for woodriver planes. It would be considered an upgrade for the woodriver plane. A furniture maker and teacher in Canada sells them. Let me know if you want me to send you the information. I don't use a hand plane very often but I do love the Lie Nielsen 62 low angle jack plane. The adjustable mouth makes a big difference.

[@ShopTalk-with-Buck]

Thank you for such a detailed and thoughtful comment! It’s always great to connect with fellow woodworkers who appreciate fine tools. I agree-when Stanley moved production to Mexico, the quality took a deep dive. It’s disappointing to see such a well-respected name in woodworking lose its edge like that. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Lie-Nielsen planes, and I hope to add one to my collection someday. As for the furniture maker and teacher in Canada, if it’s not Rob Cosman, I’d definitely be interested in the information you mentioned. IBC makes fantastic chisels, so I’d imagine their plane blade and chip breaker sets are equally impressive. Thanks again for sharing your experiences and insights-it’s always a pleasure hearing from fellow enthusiasts!

[@WoodcraftSupply]

Hey Buck, Glad you like the WoodRiver Hand Planes!

[@ShopTalk-with-Buck]

Hey there, thanks for reaching out! I'm really enjoying the WoodRiver Hand Planes-great quality and performance. It's been fun using them in the shop, and they’ve quickly become a go-to for a lot of my projects. Appreciate the awesome products and support from Woodcraft!

[@panchobrown7562]

Thank you for sharing your experience with your hand planes. I personally use Veritas bevel up planes from Lee valley, but I’ve always been curious on the Wood River bevel down planes as they are cheaper than LN planes. Again thanks for sharing and I look forward to your next video👍

[@ShopTalk-with-Buck]

Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I've heard a lot of great things about Lee Valley hand planes. The WoodRiver hand planes, in my experience, offer good quality at a price point that's hard to beat. If you ever decide to try out a WoodRiver plane, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how it compares to your Veritas planes. Thanks again for watching, and stay tuned for more videos!

[@kidomatica]

Thanks for the breakdown Buck. I think I have a minority opinion when it come to hand planes because I like the little bit of flex/movement that comes with the Stanley Bailey planes. It’s a quality that is really difficult to describe. Additionally, I really enjoy using a well restored old tools. Old Stanley’s that are 100+ years old are a joy to use. I find myself always reaching for my 100+ year old No. 5 much more often than my modern planes (including a Lie Nielsen).

[@ShopTalk-with-Buck]

I completely agree that those century-old, American-made tools have a certain charm and quality that’s hard to beat. There’s something special about using a well-restored tool with so much history behind it. However, the one I own can be frustrating and could easily discourage someone from reaching for a hand plane. That said, when you find a good one, there's nothing quite like it! Thanks again for watching and sharing your thoughts!

[@alfredborg489]

G'day Buck, I am watching from Australia. I got woodriver planes & a Lie Nielsen no 5. To be totally honest, the woodriver works just as good as the Lie Nielsen. The planning action is the same. I use the woodriver the most. All the Lie Nielsen has is that it looks nicer, but really does that matter. The woodriver still looks good.

[@ShopTalk-with-Buck]

G'day! Thanks for tuning in all the way from Australia and sharing your experience-it's much appreciated! It's great to hear that the WoodRiver planes hold their own against a Lie-Nielsen No. 5 in terms of performance. I had a feeling the WoodRiver could be a solid contender, but your firsthand comparison really adds weight to that idea. I agree with you-while aesthetics can be nice, what really matters in the shop is how well the tool performs. If the planing action is smooth and it gets the job done, that's what counts most. It's also interesting that you find yourself reaching for the WoodRiver the most. That says a lot about its usability and value for money. Thanks again for sharing your insights, mate!

[@MikeReeves-ys7mj]

I have the wood river 5 1/2 myself I do love it.

[@ShopTalk-with-Buck]

That's awesome! The WoodRiver 5 1/2 is a solid plane. I can see why you love it-it’s got great heft and precision. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!

[@JohnCoughlan-e8e]

Hi Buck I think that Stanley you have may be from their more modern stuff made in Mexico with the plastic knob and tote, I have two old Bailey planes one approximately a Hundred years old made in USA No.5 1/2 and the other a No. 4 made in England in the sixties, both have a frog adjusting screw at the back to open or close the mouth without removing the blade... just slacken off the lever cap. Both are a joy to use and I can pull a shaving as good as the Wood River with either of them, the older 5 1/2 being just bit sweeter to use

[@ShopTalk-with-Buck]

It sounds like those old planes are a real pleasure to work with. I agree-there's something special about the craftsmanship of older tools. They were built with pride and made to last, which is often hard to find in today's mass-produced items. I bet that 5 1/2 is a joy to use, especially with the smoothness of those shavings. Thanks for sharing your experience with them!

[@JohnCoughlan-e8e]

@@ShopTalk-with-Buck That's for sure Buck I also have a 60 1/2 Stanley block plane which was an ebay purchase that took a fair bit of restoring, in the meantime I purchased a 60 1/2 modern Spear and Jackson brand new which took just as much fettling to get it working and is a much heavier and clunkier plane which I never bother with now as the stanley is so much sweeter to use an fits in hand so much nicer

[@jonrost5574]

Besides the issues you raised, I have also noticed that the adjustment knob on the stanley's have a lot more slop making adjusting the depth of cut a bit more of a challenge. I hope to have the budget for something like the wood river some day. Great video.

[@ShopTalk-with-Buck]

When your budget allows, and you get your hands on a quality hand plane like the WoodRiver, you’ll wish you had made the investment sooner. The difference in performance is remarkable-much smoother adjustments and overall control. It's hard to put into words just how much easier and more enjoyable it makes the work. Thanks for watching, and good luck with your future upgrades!

[@dennisspiehs4593]

Stanley are part of woodworking culture both as users and as collectibles they have been with us since the early part of the 1800’s

[@ShopTalk-with-Buck]

You’re absolutely right! Stanley has played a huge role in woodworking history, both as a trusted tool and a collectible. It’s unfortunate that some of the newer models, like the one I have made in Mexico, don’t live up to the high standards of the originals. It feels like they’re relying more on the strong legacy of the Stanley name rather than maintaining the quality that made them famous.

[@crumbocrumbo6814]

I hoping you can answer my question. I have a Woodriver 5-1/2 when I retract the blade the whole assembly rides up the frog if I tighten down the cap screw to the point where the lever cap chip breaker and blade will not move I can't adjust it at all. Another online source told me I had the cap screw to tight and I should loosen it. I did that advanced and retracted the blade and the whole assembly came off. Am I doing something wrong or is this a manufacture issue. Thank you in advance for your response.

[@ShopTalk-with-Buck]

The lever cap shouldn’t move with the chip breaker and blade during adjustments. Have you checked for any burrs or rough spots on the lever cap or chip breaker? In my experience, I had to polish the underside of the lever cap with 2,000-grit sandpaper to ensure it could slide smoothly. The lever cap shouldn’t need to be overly tight-just snug enough to hold everything in place while still allowing adjustments. Without seeing your plane firsthand, I can only offer suggestions, but I hope this helps! If it doesn’t resolve the issue, feel free to comment back, and we’ll figure out another solution together. Best of luck!

[@kluzz]

The main difference between the two planes is that the WoodRiver is based off of the Stanley Bedrock line of planes, which was a substantial upgrade from the older Bailey line. I expect that if you were to compare a well tuned Stanley Bedrock plane to a similarly tuned WoodRiver plane, you'll see less of a difference in performance. Of course, seeing as Stanley Bedrock planes are no longer made and are fetching a premium on the used market, I'd say the WoodRiver planes are probably the better choice.

[@ShopTalk-with-Buck]

Thanks for the insight! You're absolutely right about the WoodRiver being based on the Stanley Bedrock line, which is a step up from the Bailey. The Bedrocks are fantastic planes, but as you mentioned, they can be pricey and hard to find in good condition. The WoodRiver offers a modern alternative with some of the same performance benefits at a more accessible price point. It’s great to see how far hand planes have come, and it’s always interesting to compare these tools both new and old. Appreciate your comment!

[@williamhess3027]

Hey buck. I agree I feel the baileys design just doesn’t measure up to how solid and smooth my bedrock operates.

[@williamhess3027]

I think the king of planes is Veritas. Their adjustments are just perfect.

[@ShopTalk-with-Buck]

Thanks for your comment! I’d love the opportunity to try a Veritas and a Lie-Nielsen hand plane someday. At that level, I think all of these planes are truly exceptional, and it really comes down to personal preference and the fine details that make each unique. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@dennisspiehs4593]

I agree and it’s unfortunate

[@AnthonyAnthony-tk4ye]

That’s called “distressed”…. When you make it look old and worn. What are you working on buddy, a Hoosier cabinet or something like that?

[@ShopTalk-with-Buck]

Thanks so much for tuning in and for the reminder-'distressed' is exactly the term I was looking for! Right now, I’m working on restoring an old dry sink, which was once used for washing up in the days before indoor plumbing. If you're interested in following the project in more detail, I’ll be sharing updates over on my other channel, Sawdust Solutions with Buck. You can check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oafdnqlmoc5_esk . Appreciate your support!