STANLEY 12-139 NO.60 Sweetheart 1/2-Inch Low Angle Block Plane

The best precision the money spent. This modern block plane has thick sides and has a nice weight and is comfortable to use. Most important it works great with little effort. Simply put most older used block planes when tuned properly simply will not perform and are a waste of money, time and effort.

This is a review of the Stanley Sweetheart 60 1/2 Low Angle Block Plane keeping within The Great Scheme Of Things. I have one of those veritable Canadian low angle block planes and bought the Sweetheart as a second setup plane. The Sweetheart cost a little more than a used original Stanley 60 1/2 on The Great Auction Website and less than half the veritable one. Delivery took about a week. The sole was sanded completely flat, the blade was finished to a sharp edge and could make shavings right out of the box. Most of the parts and aspects of the plane are improvements over the original; however, the blade cap is aluminum and would be the most fragile part of the tool. The blade depth and position adjuster works but is not fitted as precisely as the veritable one and moves the blade around abruptly; nothing a small tap with a brass hammer could not finish adjusting. The mouth has to be opened slightly to let the blade extend enough to begin cutting. The plane feels hefty in the hand and its weight helps hold the plane to the work. It is shiny, crisp and looks expensive. Nice box, too. Overall, the quality meter reads above average and the price meter reads below average so this is a good value block plane for someone new wanting a quick start and for the advanced woodworker to finish the tool to his liking.