WoodRiver Vs. Stanley Sweetheart Low Angle Block Plane Comparison

[@blahahbly11]

In order to keep the blade from moving when popping the lever cap, hold your off-hand thumb over the cap to keep it popping all the way up, keeping a slight amount of tension on the blade, and make your adjustments.

[@mmgross144]

I used to sell them when I worked at Woodcraft in Virginia. The Wood River planes were popular and I do not recall the lack of a mechanical lateral adjustment being a complaint. However, I do remember some woodworkers saying that the lever cap would sometimes pop loose when in use. For the most part that happened due to the hand pushing too hard from behind the plane.

[@Pauken11]

Check out Rob Cosman’s way of gripping the WoodRiver while releasing the lever cap. Takes out the play and is very easy to use.

[@deezynar]

About 6 years ago I bought the Wood River plane for around $90. I took it home, sharpened the blade, and tried it out. The all-or-nothing tightening mechanism was a fail for me. I couldn't get it set right so it could be adjusted and still hold the blade secure while I planed with it. I took it back, paid an additional $15 and exchanged it for the Sweetheart. Yes, the Sweetheart cost over $100 at that time. I sharpened its blade and it worked fine. It is easy to adjust the blade, and unlike the fellow who posted, I found that I can move the blade just fine with the tightening screw set tight enough to hold the blade still while plaining. There is one complaint I've heard about the Sweetheart that I expect to impact me in the future, and that is the threads on the cap have a tendency to wear out because they're made of aluminum. When mine gets to be a problem I will drill them out and epoxy in a threaded sleeve from a steel T-nut. My biggest complaint about the Sweetheart is that it's as heavy as a boat anchor. This is a big deal. It is not a handy little tool you keep in your apron pocket to pull out when you need to knock off a sharp corner. That thing is heavy, and it's not fun having it in the apron. It's a pain to even plane with it. I guess they thought they were selling to an upscale market, and folks want something substantial at that price. But there is way too much substance to the thing. Someday I'll probably have a perfect storm. I'll be in the shop using that thing, get mad about how heavy it is, and have the time to divert from the woodworking project I was out there for and engage in a drastic weight loss program on it. I think the thing to do is strip everything off the main casting and start by filing the inside surfaces where it won't impact functionality. Once as much metal has been removed that way, I'll chuck a big drill bit in the drill press and turn it into Swiss cheese. I think it can lose about 20% of its weight and still work as well. I have a wooden block plane made by Primus that is real light and handy, but it's more like a small bench plane than a block plane since it has a bevel down blade that's set at 45 degrees. Someday I'll bump into a well preserved old style Stanley low angle and buy it. Good ones are not a common sight where I live.

[@justinsane332]

try a veritas apron plane, i hear they are good but i dont have one myself yet

[@corwind3888]

I was also going to suggest you get an apron plane. I will recommend the Lie-Nielsen #102 for this purpose.

[@labrat7357]

I found one reference about the Wood River blade stee, itl is a T-10 steel hardened to around 61 - 63 RC.I have a Quangsheng (the company that makes the Wood River planes) 60 1/2 copy and I have replaced the blade with Veritas PM-v11 blade as I not only had chips but also areas across the edge had fractures around 5/16" long in two places. I am suspicious of the T-10 steel and its hardening and tempering process. I also have a Wood River 65 copy like yours and I find that if I hold my thumb on the front edge of the knuckle cap (Rob Crossman style)when releasing tension gives much more control and I have also set my cap screw to about 1/8 or 1/4 turn less than what I would on other planes and I am able to do all adjustments the advance with the knob and the lateral with a small brass hammer with very fine control and without any blade slippage. All the best

[@ihadabadday7709]

Currently on Amazon the WR plane is 109.00 plus 10.00 to ship. The Stanley is 54.00 plus free shipping. Making the Stanley half as much as the WR. This might be of significance to some people.

[@pinkiewerewolf]

Hold your thumb on the knuckle cap, applying some pressure on the Wood River, at the joint, and it won't move around. I find the WR plane to be much easier to use and it does a better job, probably because of the comfort and ease of adjustment. I was going to send the WR back to WC but I watched a Rob Cosman video, since he works with WR and his method works well on the WR. I ended up giving away my New Production Stanley to a friend.

[@athmostafa2462]

So please don't tell me woodriver block plane not worthy ?? I have just order one ?!! pls advise ?

[@NinjasTower]

Thank you for this excellent breakdown.

[@athmostafa2462]

So I hope wouldn't be disappointed in future I just ordered the wood river one 🤔

[@HeartlandMakesAndOutdoors]

Good job on this review sir. Thanks for sharing and have a blessed week. Dale

[@tnekkc]

Great review. I have had the Sweetheart for 6 years of little use, but today the nut backed off the screw in back. It is held on with loctite that failed. After this vid I will add the wood river.

[@Hp2G1]

You did not mentioned anything about the sole flatness and squareness to the side, which are the most important factors making a plane work. My Stanley had a big hollow in the sole, and the sole was not 90 deg to the sides. The Stanley blade was worse than the one on the WoodRiver I bought after returning the Stanley. The WoodRiver sole was flat, and 90deg to the sides. Blade are both A2, and I agree that the WoodRiver could have been better.

[@athmostafa2462]

thanks , I'm so relived I just ordered one 😊

[@justinsane332]

Woodriver is not A2, but T-10. At least that's what I found. I had to look into the manufacturer, which is quengsheng

[@watermain48]

Nice comparison, thanks for sharing it.

[@fzrewagfzaerfer]

how can you NOT show them in action?

[@roybailey1134]

I like my low Angle Bonze Clifton block plane. It's very expensive but worth the money, it looks super cool and works amazing , I love my Lie Nielsen low angle rebate block plane too, both have different advantages , I have a lot of Bronze plane's and really like the extra weight, I know some people don't like the heavier weight, but I prefer it, I like the look of the new Stanley sweetheart, but the Aluminum Leaver cap spoils it for me, the wood river block plane looks like a nice little plane, thank you for your video, I enjoyed it, best wishes from England.

[@timothymallon]

The Woodriver is modeled after the Stanley 65 low angle block plane. The Stanley 60 1/2 is modeled after the original 60 1/2... It's almost an apples to oranges comparison with these two

[@tallyman15]

Sold on the stanley.

[@williamwinn948]

I like the stanley more Plus it was about $20 cheaper In price

[@MD-en3zm]

I have both. I hate the wood river (although I like their bench planes). The lever cap just keeps popping open on me in use. Sweetheart is ok, but I have a tiny little lie nielsen that was under $100 new (apron plane) that I use for everything. I’ve never been able to use the woodriver and wish I had not bought it.

[@Pauken11]

You need to tighten it more. Mine does not come loose. Check out Rob Cosman’s way of holding it when making adjustments. It makes a big difference.

[@Donnybrook10]

the old 65s are IMHO the perfect LA block plane. You could have bought one in virtually new condition on Ebay for the $100 the WR cost. Not sure why Stanley chose to get away from the design but it was a downgrade for sure.

[@carbonitegamorrean8368]

thx

[@parlaungantambunan9785]

Kalau boleh tau harganya berapa..?

[@noire1001]

I think the Stanley has a design flaw in that you need to turn the wheel far too much in order to clamp it onto the blade. On mine the wheel almost comes out of the thread and tips to the side slightly before it securely locks the top into place. I'm not sure how to sort it out and it's a shame as the plane seems really nice other than that issue.

[@raymondbohn428]

I had to return mine because the cap was bending. Almost acted as if it was plastic.

[@patbassman8251]

Just replaced my Stanley block plane after 25 year of use unfortunately i dropped it and it cracked, bought another and its obvious it made in China , took me a day to true it up and file away the sharp edges and get the lock cap leaver working right , im very disappointed , no more stanley planes for me in the future.

[@thurmanlangford8088]

4444

[@justinsane332]

ive found i am always disappointed in wood river. Ill buy premium every time over one.

[@cerberus2881]

I'd rather have the Lie-Neilsen 60 1/2 Rabbeting Low Angle Block plane. Don't get mad, It was a Joke!

[@roughroosterknifesharpenin5531]

Vintage planes are the way to go. The wood river is a very old Stanley design. This new stuff is garbage.

[@stevensrspcplusmc]

Bought the lie Nielsen 60 1/2 no complaints.. it will always be worth what I paid for it.. both of these planes are crap