Why is This Plane So Amazing X Plane

[@CleanCutWoodworking]

What a Great Video!! The one SMALL thing when you're adjusting the X plane for its final adjustment you can use the Lever cap screw to tighten it just a tad and that gives you 100,000th of adjustment. Its going to be awesome to see the new union X planes when they get released. They will have an adjustable mouth on them too!! James you are always on point and there definitely is a cult following with the X planes!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Thanks for letting me borrow these. It was a lot of fun to play with them. Looking forward to seeing the new ones coming out.

[@Kathyskollectables]

I found a Union Bedrock 603 at a garage sale a couple years ago. The knob was literally destroyed however my best friend was able to turn a new one for me and I use it quite often and it's fantastic!! I'll be on the lookout for the X models!

[@jmquez]

Honestly I’m going to buy one for the sole purpose of supporting a Us manufacturer coming back, yes it’s a small batch but that’s how every other manufacturer started. It’s the right thing to do.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Right on. I love that mind set!

[@justinsane332]

same.

[@HHH-nv9xb]

i was fortunate enough to pick couple of these planes 6-8 years back for about $25 a piece in a mother of all woodworking tool sale. Never knew much about them beside being different. Thank you for the information.

[@andersonlong7709]

Well- if you still have them and want to sell them, please let me know!

[@danwheeler182]

I have my grandfathers X No. 3 plane that I restored. I did not realize the irons were available again. Thanks for the info, James. Great video.

[@oliverdelica2289]

Rex Kreuger should be notified about this at once!

[@AlexDiesTrying]

5:30 Oooh, a counter screw... now that's fun.

[@AlexDiesTrying]

3:50 the thing I find much more significant than the direction is that the lever is screwed on. That makes a repair a bit easier. Well, where there's a lathe, there's a rivet, I guess.

[@tdkrei]

It's sometimes amazing that old technology is smarter and better then what we use today. Thanks and keep on smiling.

[@Swarm509]

Just ordered one of the Accu-burr burnishers from Union MFG Co and saw these planes, very interesting looking. I actually quite like those controls, I find my Bailey's, I find with mine the depth screw will back off after a while and in general be a pain. Probably an easy fix to this, adding more friction to the screw or such, but it is a pain.

[@PeteLewisWoodwork]

Lovely features (the plane, I mean). Not what I would use as a daily bench plane but certainly for dialling in a very fine finish.

[@mmohon]

I really appreciate the comparison of the functionality. You really covered all the bases really well.

[@sigung01]

Thanks so much for this video, I was so impressed I contacted them. I Just got off the phone with Robert Porter, president of the company. I bought one of them. He's a fantastic guy and so totally committed to making top quality tools.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

so rue. love working with him!

[@markkoons7488]

Thanks for the explanation of Union's superior features. Dozens of Bailey pattern Stanleys have passed through my hands in the last 50 years. In my ignorance, I preferred the Stanleys but only because I had a bucket full of spare parts and had become accustomed to their function. The blades were generally replaced with Hock or similar after-market replacement blades, a genuine improvement.

[@stuartosborne6263]

Excellent video, thankyou for sharing. As a novice, that looks so much more intuitive than a Stanley plane.

[@theidlehandsworkshop3884]

If you look really close in Xavier's office you can see one on his desk.... thanks for the info on a unique plane.

[@professor62]

Great explanation! Answered all my questions. Thank you, James!

[@wolfman75]

Thank You James!!! Looking forward to checking them out!!! 😃👍😎

[@909sickle]

Very cool. First time I've seen that design

[@PatNetherlander]

What a great video James. These X-planes look like LOTS of fun and immaculate finishes! I hope they'll be produced rather soon again! One will definitely find it's path to my garage!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

The preorder is open now of you want one.

[@watermain48]

Wow, that was a fantastic overview of the Union X Planes. I pre-ordered one of the 4 1/4s. Thanks James.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Looking forward to playing whit it!

[@watermain48]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo I may just leave it in the box to admire. Not...

[@BigFatTonys]

Have you received the union plane ?

[@watermain48]

@@BigFatTonys No, I haven't. I've emailed them many times and I always get a reply. I'm thinking that I might never see it...

[@BigFatTonys]

@@watermain48 i watched a couple of their videos. Those two started with zero knowledge of casting and metal working. Bad decision not getting a person with such knowledge involved early.

[@SW-jo7vy]

Do you have a vid on Seargent VBM planes? How would you compare to S/B planes of good vintage? Thx.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Here you go. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJDQnXiPg5uonacsi=D3jvCbQ4yVPuq_lp

[@SW-jo7vy]

Saw your vid on the I-plane comparison. But not the traditional VBM Sargent vs Bailey. New vid idea perhaps? Thx.

[@danielpaquette1597]

Very interesting video, any update on how these guys are coming along? Also, can you have a video that explains about the patents? Seems like they would be too old to worry about buying...

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Is it manufacturing is a slow and tedious process to bring something new to market. Especially with the quality they're requiring. They're still on process but I'm not sure when they will finally be out.

[@lcsquared8937]

Man, that’s a beautiful plane!

[@BradsWorkbench]

What do u think of the sargent 708 auto adjust plane? I got one because it looked different but havent tried to set it up yet

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I have actually not had the chance to try that one yet. I have handled them but never took it to the wood.

[@johnbyrne1022]

Where can you buy those new Union blades?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Here you go.www.unionmfgco.com/union-hand-planes

[@johnbyrne1022]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo Thanks! Unfortunately it looks like they're actually not available any longer. I posted in a Union collector's FB group and a guy called Robert Porter (apparently he's the guy behind the company) said they had to stop making them: **We did a short run of irons and quickly realized we were losing money on the production of them. The irons will be available as soon as we sort out the process in a more sustainable way.**

[@imortaldeadead]

Vary interesting plane, Thank you for sharing

[@jbtallullah7009]

Old Union planes are pretty neat. They made adjustable mouths and thicker irons before they were cool. In some ways Stanley didn't have the best product... They just had a bit of a monopoly. They made great planes, but the Union planes and Ohio Tool Company, with their thick irons and chip breakers, had some nice features that Stanley didn't offer. The great news is they all work on white oak. Love the video James. Always interesting to have you share your knowledge on these tools.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

So true. It will be fun to play with the new ones when they come out.

[@jbtallullah7009]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo I hadn't heard about that until the video. Thanks now I won't be able to sleep well at night.

[@andersonlong7709]

Thanks for the great video on Union X planes! I’ve been a hand plane aficionado and user for decades and well tuned planes paid a mortgage for some years. But I was totally unfamiliar with the Union X planes until very recently ( 2024). Is there any more info on when the new ones will be available? Thanks!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

the only word on the new ones is they are coming. they are trying to make them the old way but the hard part is coming up with the method to make that happen at a price point people are willing to pay.

[@LaraCroftCP]

I like the adjuster verry much. BUT, im very skilled with wooden planes and can adjust then also really good.

[@patrickjordan6022]

Hi James. If you could only have one plane. Your choices are Jack Plane in the bailey style, bedrock style or X Plane style. Which would it be?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

For a general user the best bang for the dollar would be a number 4 Bailey pattern. Unless you intend to be doing larger projects in which case then a number 5. The best plane ever made is the veritas custom plane. At least in my book.

[@LegoMan-cz4mn]

How tight is the mouth on them? I do understand and have experienced that a chip breaker can deal with most of the tearout, but a tight mouth always helps. So are they purpose built and set up? And are there any bigger planes then just the "no.3" and "no.4"?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

yes they came in the whole range of sizes. the mouth is slightly larger then a very tight smoothing plane, but the new ones will come with an adjustable mouth.

[@LegoMan-cz4mn]

All right! Exelent, thank you

[@unionmfgco]

One of the flaws in the original was the non-adjustable mouth opening. While the plane design itself was on point the fact the mouth couldn’t be closed meant the plane wasn’t able to make the finest of shavings. The only original plane made with an adjustable mouth was the X4-1/4 and Bailey pattern 4-1/4. The new release planes will ALL have an adjustable mouth.

[@ryanallthewiser]

Plane planes and more planes. Love it.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I really need to add some spice. These videos are really plane.

[@LegoMan-cz4mn]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo I think you should start with planing planes, then with the planed plane, plane another plane, after that, plane wood with the planed plane planed by a planed plane that was planed with a plane Curls!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

and as a pilot I could do all of that on a plane.

[@michaelthompson5875]

Great overview James thanks! And thanks for the heads up on a new tool maker. Always exciting! I recently picked up 3 of the Sargent "Auto-Set" planes (for the numbers people they're the 700 series). They're VERY different than the Bailey type planes but excellent tools. Maybe your next in depth review? 🤔 Thanks again for all the great content! Mike T.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Those are cool. I haven't had the chance to play with them much maybe someday I'll get one.

[@michaelthompson5875]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo If you're interested in trying let me know James I'd be happy to lend one. I'll be honest I kind of wondered whether bringing the design back would be a potential business opportunity

[@whittysworkshop982]

Nice plane James 😁 I think you got a bit mixed up with things tho....... the slot in the cap iron connects to the depth adjustment, not the lateral...... the pawl on the lateral lever connects to the slot in the iron, not the cap iron 😁

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Got to love recorded mix-ups that you can't fix once the video goes out lol. I did a video recently on the Stanley 50 comparing it with the 45 and 55 and all throughout the video I kept mixing up the numbers. Got to love brain farts

[@whittysworkshop982]

@@WoodByWrightHowToI think we all have those "brain farts" lad...... btw, I'm using that term from now on 😂 at least you caught some of it in the last one about the 50 and added a caption on screen, for some of it 😁 I cant wait to use the term "brain fart" in person with someone 😂🤣

[@carljames9351]

The front knob on the union is much much nicer than the Stanley…just my opinion

[@awldune]

This is like the SAAB of handplanes :)

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

LOL yup

[@muanlian6845]

Now i want to own one

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Sorry. Sent a few guys to the dog house for that.

[@Subviolaceus]

Oh I want one. Question is, do I spend the money on a used one or wait for the new ones to be available….

[@robertmacleod6221]

Will they be made in the usa

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

yes. they are all being made in a small shop on the east coast.

[@JamesSmith-su3oz]

James, Ok we need to hash out the planes used in the videos. First all of the planes on unions web pages do not show a non adjustable frog but the one you got to drool over, I ment to say try on wood does not have an adjustable frog, and the blade depth adjuser looks like a bayle pattern. What version were you showing?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Union made many changes to planes over the years. And they had a couple different series of plans. This one is the explain. The new ones that will be coming out are slightly different and in having adjustable mouth.

[@lauram9076]

This was fascinating! I never knew there were distinct differences between brands. It seems like the Union plane would be better for more precise cutting.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Yes. around the turn of the century, there were a WHOLE BUNCH of them. but eventually most just started copying Stanley

[@luizgabriel3388]

They are making new tools currently?

[@codybryant8684]

Yes they are and they are on facebook and have a website

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Yep. I have a link to the website down below. Should be coming out in a month or two.

[@luizgabriel3388]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo thanks, Wright. I just saw that the guy behind this is the one who collect Millers Falls plane. I bought one just because of him. The plane is flawless. Union seems to have nice planes tough

[@jamesfranklin9314]

Did they in fact start producing the new x plane I can't seem to find one

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Not yet. He is still working on them.

[@jamesfranklin9314]

Thanks could you inform me if it happens

[@deezynar]

Did the company get off the ground?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

They are off the ground, but the first plane is still coming.

[@deezynar]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo Thanks. I hope it works out. It seems like 3 years is a long time for them to still not be producing product, but I've never done anything like that, so I don't have any experience with it. The design looks good, so it's a product that I think would sell. They might consider having a model with and adjustable throat someday. They could also work on a better height adjuster knob system that'd be more sophisticated than just two separate knobs. They'd have to charge extra for both of those upgrades, but some people would probably opt for them. I had not heard of that type of plane before seeing this video of yours. You do a good job of showing things that are unusual and I appreciate what you do.

[@SlenderBrenda]

You can buy their stock though... Which might not be the best sign, considering this vid is 3yr old

[@MCsCreations]

Really, REALLY interesting, James! Pretty amazing plane! 😮 If the new ones are made with the same quality... It's going to be a non brainer! 😃 Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

From what I have seen so far the new ones will be to an even higher quality. even including an adjustable mouth.

[@MCsCreations]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo Wow! That's fantastic! 😮 Well, I hope the price won't be a problem. 😬

[@gregsnewyt]

The new 4 1/4 X plane is less than the Lie-Nielsen. Seems a bargain at $275.

[@danielpaquette1597]

Hi, You mentioned "The patents were just purchased..." I think it would be interesting to know more about this. Patents are only good for 20 years normally, so what was new enough that they would want/need to buy? Also, here in 2023, it seems like they are still not making new ones. At least I was not able to find any for sale. I think it would interesting to see/hear what their path has been like and where they are now. And most importantly, keep up the good work!

[@soofihasan]

Doe these have corrugated soles? I thought a saw ridges, thanks by the way for a useful video as always

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Like Stanley most do not but some were sold that way.

[@soofihasan]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo i am a novice and really admire your work and have learnt a tonne from you. Many thanks and God bless. Respect and regards from Pakistan

[@triune_blades]

I used to have a X4. I bought it for $30 and sold it a few months later for $109. It was in perfect condition. It's probably worth more now. 🤷🤦 Oh well. Haha

[@luizgabriel3388]

It happens to all of us

[@MJ-nb1qn]

As my Brocker says “It never hurts to make a profit”!

[@AkosLukacs42]

Were you excited? Your hand seems to shake when measuring shaving thickness :)

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol my hands have always shaken. I'm just a really big shrew.

[@AkosLukacs42]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo good to know, at first I was worried :)

[@athmostafa2462]

Wow , good to know new planes but I think I'm custom to stanley's plane , plane like this one feel weird in my hand 🤔.

[@Hudson4426]

Uumm.. I may have some of those in a box somewhere.. please hold.. will check when home from work

[@unionmfgco]

Please contact us if you do have an X Plane in a box.

[@Hudson4426]

@@unionmfgco unfortunately I don’t... I thought I was gonna be lucky.. but no

[@freddiedoyle472]

James , I am from ct where all the good planes like Stanley and union come from lol ! Seriously tho I snagged at Union no 2 for $5 at a flea market last year . Based on what I could find on the web I concluded I was a hybrid of a Stanley Bailey casting and frog with a union iron and lever cap . Made shortly after Stanley purchased Union and was using up the last of the Union inventory before putting the Union name to rest.but you video has me second guessing what I read as your Union castings have the no 3 and no 4 on the toe . What are your thoughts on my no 2. On a side note as much as I love my Bailey's my favorite smoother is actually a Sargent , my understanding is they had control of the Bailey patents for 20 years or so prior to Stanley. At least from what I read. Any how great video as always thank you for all the content you provide !!!!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

It could be either. Or it could be a fankenstine someone cobbled together. Either way that is a great deal! I love sargent's they are fantastic planes!

[@J.A.Smith2397]

No flex zone

[@drawlele]

This looks like an amazing plane and would love to get one someday, but that price tag would force my wife to kill pr divorce me, if she doesn't do both. I mean even the rejects cost more than some antique stanley's. But if its ready to go out the box then its kind of worth it.

[@prego2011able]

My wife would do the same. No need for a dog house, just a shallow hole. I wonder how the new ones, when they come out, compare to similar priced smoothing planes. The Veritas custom 4 is only about $35 more. Same for a non bronze Lie Nielsen.

[@drawlele]

@@prego2011able yeah I wonder as well, but whew over $200 for a hand plane, while worth it if the quality is as high as previous models, is still way more than I could afford. For me thats a partial car payment, or car insurance and electric added together with plenty of room to spare.

[@drawlele]

@Matthew Hopkins thats as may be, but when you live off what I live on, its a bit pricey. I'm not saying they should be cheaper just that for me its not a purchase I could easily justify. My name isn't just funny its actually very literal, now 2 months ago before my truck died and I had to get a new vehicle, maybe but when a hand plane costs as much as my car payment I draw the line.

[@lawrencedeleurere4427]

The fixed frog is what destroys the Union plane. Being stuck with a fixed size mouth is a killer. It's a great plane otherwise. I actually dislike the dual knob because it's difficult to ease your way into the cut, but it's pro and con.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

ya that is why the new ones will have a movable mouth.

[@lawrencedeleurere4427]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo Yeah, I saw that. Rob Porter has done a great job on the new ones. It'll be awesome to see how they work.

[@unionmfgco]

Lawrence try the lever cap trick.... get it close with the lock nuts and either slightly loosen or slightly tighten the lever cap screw, that gives you absolute micro-adjustability. 😉

[@scott8351]

Wait don’t get this plane get this one. Lol

[@russstaples6125]

After seeing the prices of the new planes, I hope they're beefing them up like Lie-Nielsen did with the Stanley Bedrocks. $375 for the 4 1/4. That's a lot bunch of cabbage.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

They're doing a lot more than that. They're also making the front jaw movable so you can tighten up the mouth easier. And a few other things to make them even better.

[@danielr.schafer9504]

Why are they called Xplane?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

That is what Union called them. It was intended to set them apart from other planes.

[@kennethnielsen3864]

7th.

[@mikeking7470]

Looks like the "startup" has stalled, the only plane in their "offering photos" is a vintage model, not even a new prototype for their pre-orders. And $275.00? Ouch.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Yes. They haven't gotten through the first of production. I was actually expecting it to be a lot more than what they're saying for the first. Usually planes made in that size of a batch are going to be well over $400.

[@daw162]

well, this hasn't aged well. There's no functional benefit to these planes vs. a stanley bailey plane, but for the 18 years I've been woodworking, I've seen one explanation after another reasoned about why plane A or B is a better plane than a stanley, and almost 100% of the time from people who don't really use planes very much and haven't really figured out how to use all of a stanley's functionality. The slow adjuster on these planes probably fell pretty flat on its face among users who would've been doing more than just taking thin shavings around the turn of the century. If you're working wood from rough, a slow adjuster is aggravating. I can't imagine anyone now recreating that plane in cast iron, but a bulky kind of crude version of it, maybe. Stanley's planes are a marvel -they're inexpensive to us now, the castings are wonderfully done, the irons are excellent, though maybe a beginner who doesn't understand the function of the cap iron thinks they chatter - an experienced user will prefer the thinner iron, and even the adjuster wheel is elegant compared to something like an off the shelf looking single tooth wheel like you'd find on a lie nielsen. And the handles are functionally ideal. The compulsion to "have and acquire" and to want to know something just better than someone else leads people into traps. I'd hate to be on the hook to try to figure out how to make a 1900 style plane well and with economic solvency in 2020. The skills to do the work are gone and the replacement with production CNC shows up in tools like blue spruce chisels or V11 - neither is remotely close to a ward chisel from 1900, but they sure cost a lot more, even after adjustment for inflation.

[@soberlivingwithbrianfrankl8254]

Hahahah a cult following... its the jeep of hand planes! Hahahaha lol.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol something like that.

[@BingBongFYaLife]

Did you have a seizure while writing the description?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol welcome to wood by Wright that is half the fun!