IRWIN Record SP5 Jack Plane 50mm (2in) £20

[Argyll]

Seems a good deal

http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/s ... 1VXdr6h_Da

[DmitriKara]

Do you thing it will worth it? I don't mean money, since it's ridiculously cheep.

[jape]

I'll let you know. Ordered one (thanks for link). I was given my present 'craftsman' plane from Wilko as a gift as most of my tools are on the other side of the planet - and it is crap, pure crap. Works sometimes but steel doesn't hold an edge and it doesn't stay set in place, ever, I've been meaning to replace it for months. Been using a good old surform in preference to it for many jobs (don't laugh) but that won't do a proper jack plane's job. A jack plane like this is a basic tool and I reach for one automatically often This should be much, much better if it is a proper Irwin Record jack.

[steviejoiner74]

The irwin record stuff is crap now,just like the irwin marples chisels. The steel is Chinese and not the Sheffield steel it was years ago. Maybe worth a punt at 20 quid but I'd rather buy a second hand quality plane off fleabay that had Sheffield steel blades for less money.

[fin]

I've got old ones. god knows how old they are like. ones got a square topped blade like. i bought a number 4 1/2 and a number 5 1/2 as i prefer the slightly heavier sizes

[Argyll]

The irwin record stuff is crap now,just like the irwin marples chisels. The steel is Chinese and not the Sheffield steel it was years ago. Maybe worth a punt at 20 quid but I'd rather buy a second hand quality plane off fleabay that had Sheffield steel blades for less money.

If it's just the blade quality can't you just buy a new blade or are they all Chinese crap now?

[fin]

you'd be able to source a better blade no problem. as said above the irwin marples chisels are absolutely bloody rubbish. way too soft.

[jape]

The irwin record stuff is crap now,just like the irwin marples chisels. The steel is Chinese and not the Sheffield steel it was years ago. Maybe worth a punt at 20 quid but I'd rather buy a second hand quality plane off fleabay that had Sheffield steel blades for less money.

Bugger, I went on the name I used to know - should have waited. Oh well it just can't be worse than the Wilko one ....?

[Dickie]

The irwin record stuff is crap now,just like the irwin marples chisels. The steel is Chinese and not the Sheffield steel it was years ago. Maybe worth a punt at 20 quid but I'd rather buy a second hand quality plane off fleabay that had Sheffield steel blades for less money.

I've been looking at second hand block planes SJ. But I'm undecided which one would be best for general use, skirtings/facings etc. Can you give me your recommendation for a Stanley or Record & what number?
Cheers mate....

[steviejoiner74]

The irwin record stuff is crap now,just like the irwin marples chisels. The steel is Chinese and not the Sheffield steel it was years ago. Maybe worth a punt at 20 quid but I'd rather buy a second hand quality plane off fleabay that had Sheffield steel blades for less money.

I've been looking at second hand block planes SJ. But I'm undecided which one would be best for general use, skirtings/facings etc. Can you give me your recommendation for a Stanley or Record & what number?
Cheers mate....

Here is the same one I use,great for dressing mitres on facings and skirting and nice for chamfering material as well. I bought mine of fleabay several years ago for around 25 quid and it came with the origional blade which holds an edge nicely and has lasted me well.

[Job and Knock]

If it's just the blade quality can't you just buy a new blade or are they all Chinese crap now?

It isn't just the blade quality - it's the adjuster which they have cheapened, the nasty bent steel chip breaker which never beds properly, the lever cap which uses a screw instead of a cam lever, the nasty plastic handle and front knob instead of wooden ones, the poor machining and assembly generally, in particular the ropey way the frog mates to the main body. Picky? Moi? As to blades, the absolute best replacement blades I've come across are made by a bloke called Ray Iles (one of Ashley Isles's sons - he of carving tool fame) IN THE UK from O1 carbon steel and available through places like Workshop Heaven. Ray's irons really hold an edge well. For straight replacement irons you need to go for the thiner (2.5mm thick) blades. There are thicker blades but they require a bit of butchery to the plane (not recommended for the faint hearted, therefore). For a #4 or #5 plane that would be the RI021S. Teamed-up with a thickwe chip breaker such as the Quangsheng 2in one which will stiffen the blade considerably (makes for smoother planing) you have a far better plane - but at a great increase in price. Notice that a decent blade and a good chip breaker cost twice as much as your cheap plane - maybe that's saying something? I've done these swaps with a number of my working planes as they are all 50+ years old, the blades were shot and I wanted to keep them in use, but if I were buying new I'd probably go for something like a von Berger #5 which is a Quangsheng by another name. Downside is that they are £100, and whilst they are no Lie-Nielsen or Clifton they are a helluva lot better than any of the cheaper planes I've seen and being made from cast steel as opposed to cast iron they don't break if you drop them on a concrete floor (been there, done that - ever seen a grown man cry? )

[jape]

Now I am really unhappy.
I bought it by name as they used to be good and also because they are usually 65 quid or more. That is not cheap. I accepted it was a promotional offer as it is annual catalogue time for them. Oh well. Pay for mistakes, should have researched better, I usually do but assumed it would be same.

[getthewheelsinline]

Return it. Still in the cooling off period.

[fin]

if you've an axminster near you swing by and check out their range. they look canny. though i must say I've not really had a proper look.

last time i was in axminster i had a play with some lie-nielsen planes. pretty nice like. but pretty expensive too

[Dave54]

if you've an axminster near you swing by and check out their range. they look canny. though i must say I've not really had a proper look.

last time i was in axminster i had a play with some lie-nielsen planes. pretty nice like. but pretty expensive too

They look lovely fin. Almost too good to use. Never tried one, but they say they are excellent.