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Best Stanley plane to buy first

Updated: October 2026

You want one plane, and the search has offered a smoother, three block planes, a rasp, and a door tool. The best Stanley plane to buy first depends on the job you will repeat. For a flat face, the conditional top pick is the Stanley No. 4 Bailey, and only if you will check the sole and hone the iron. Everyone else has a reason to skip it. Prices are on the [Stanley plane comparison](/hub/diy-supplies/stanley-plane). Type criteria are on the [Stanley plane buying guide](/hub/diy-supplies/stanley-plane/sub/stanley-plane-buying-guide). Peter F. used the October 2026 amazon.co.uk listings. There is no lab test.

You want one plane, and the search has offered a smoother, three block planes, a rasp, and a door tool. The best Stanley plane to buy first depends on the job you will repeat.

Our top picks

Jorgensen Jorgensen No. 4, 70730

Best overall

Jorgensen Jorgensen No. 4, 70730
5.8/10about £56.99
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Amazon Basics Amazon Basics No. 4, DS-WPAMZ001

Preis-Tipp

Amazon Basics Amazon Basics No. 4, DS-WPAMZ001
8.2/10about £16.20
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Stanley Stanley No. 4 Bailey, 1-12-004

Rank 3

Stanley Stanley No. 4 Bailey, 1-12-004
5.4/10about £59.95
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On this page
  1. 1.The first plane for a flat face
  2. 2.Who should buy a block plane instead
  3. 3.A door, a curve, or nothing in this set
  4. 4.What buy first does not promise

The first plane for a flat face

For a face you will come back to, the top pick is the Stanley No. 4 Bailey, ASIN B0001GRVKU, at about £59.95, with 4.3 from 437 reviews. The model cell says 1-12-004 and the title prints 1-12-2004. The bullet says 245 mm and a 45 mm cutter. The weight cell says 1.92 kg. Stanley's UK page states 50 mm, 250 mm, and about 2 kg. Do not average them. The base cell says wood while the bullet says grey iron. Reviews mention handles that crack. The Jorgensen 70730, at about £56.99 with 4.5 from 307 reviews, is the nearby No. 4 if a beech handle is the point. Its highlight says 58 mm. Its width and depth cells say 10 inches and 7 inches, which are not measurements. If you will not check the sole, the Bailey is the wrong first buy even for a face.

Who should buy a block plane instead

Skip the No. 4 for one-handed end grain, a small edge, or a chamfer. The geometry is on the Stanley No. 4 vs block plane page. The three block planes are not one winner. The 1-12-020 at about £43.98 has an adjustable mouth and no printed degree. The 5-12-020 at about £50.42 states 21° and includes a pouch. Reviews mention a front plate proud of the sole. The 220 at about £29.43 is light duty, and its width cell says 77 mm against an included line of 1.5/8 inch. A larger star count does not make the 220 the better block plane.
Jorgensen Jorgensen No. 4, 70730

Testsieger

Jorgensen Jorgensen No. 4, 70730
5.8/10about £56.99
View offer

A door, a curve, or nothing in this set

Skip the No. 4 for one sticking door. People often buy the Amazon Basics No. 4 at about £16.20, with 4.4 from 4,007 reviews. Many of those reviews are a door or a gate, and sharpness on arrival is mixed. That file does not outrank 4.3 from 437 as a cabinet score. The WZHHDM mini planer at about £9.59 has 4.4 from 11 ratings, and the listing does not describe the depth adjuster. Eleven ratings are not a reason to prefer it. Buy nothing here for a jack or a jointer. No No. 5, No. 6, or No. 7 is in the set. Buy nothing here if the door is fire-rated and you have not read its label. A Surform is not the face pick, because the blade is pierced.

What buy first does not promise

Buy first means the plane that matches the job, with fettling time included. It does not mean the iron is sharp today. UK reviews often mention lapping first, so lay the plane on its side between cuts. A cracked handle is faulty goods, and Which? summarises a 30-day right to reject it under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Second-hand prices around £10 to £20 are not this shelf price of about £59.95. A qualifying amazon.co.uk purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. If the face is the job and you will fettle, open the No. 4. If it is not, use the skip list.

Common questions

Which Stanley plane should you buy first for a face?
The Stanley No. 4 Bailey at about £59.95 is the top pick when you will smooth a face more than once and you will check the sole and hone the iron. The amazon.co.uk bullet says 245 mm and a 45 mm cutter. Stanley's UK page says 50 mm, 250 mm, and about 2 kg. Do not merge those lines. Reviews mention handles that crack. If you will not fettle, skip it.
Who should skip it for a block plane?
Skip it for end grain, a small edge, or one hand. The 1-12-020 at about £43.98 has an adjustable mouth and no printed degree. The 5-12-020 at about £50.42 states 21° and includes a pouch. The 220 at about £29.43 is light duty, with a width cell and an included line that disagree. None of them flattens a wide face in place of the No. 4.
Is the Amazon Basics No. 4 better for one door?
For one sticking door, the Amazon Basics plane at about £16.20 is the more usual buy, and the Bailey is more plane than that job needs. Sharpness on arrival is mixed. Check the hinges before you cut. Eleven reviews on the £9.59 mini planer are not enough to prefer it. A fire-rated door is a different problem.
Does 4.4 from 4,007 reviews beat 4.3 from 437?
No. The larger file shows how many people bought the cheaper plane for a one-off trim. It is not a lab score for cabinet work. The Stanley file is smaller and includes handle cracks. Read the complaint, not only the star. Both planes can still need a hone.
Will a new Stanley No. 4 arrive sharp and flat?
Often it will not take a fine shaving until you hone and check the sole. The replacement iron is described as ground at 25° and ready for honing. A cracked handle is the separate complaint. Other writers' second-hand prices are not this shelf price of about £59.95.
When should you buy none of these?
When you need a longer jack or jointer, when the door is fire-rated and you have not read its label, or when you want a plane that is sharp and flat with no work. A Surform, a kanna, and a chamfer plane do not stand in for the face pick.

Related pages

How to set up a Stanley plane

Stanley plane

Stanley plane buying guide: match the type to the job

Stanley No. 4 vs block plane: face work or end grain

How to plane a sticking door after you check the hinges

Sources

Public UK sources on hand planes, workplace equipment, and faulty goods. Listing prices and star counts are the amazon.co.uk figures kept for this comparison, October 2026. Prices move.

  1. Stanley Tools UK, No. 4 smoothing bench plane 1-12-004 (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  2. Stanley Tools UK, 50 mm bench plane iron 0-12-313 (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  3. PUWER 1998, regulation 4 (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  4. HSE, Safe use of woodworking machinery (L114) (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  5. BuildWiz, UK hand-plane guide (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  6. Small Workshop, bench plane sharpening angles (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  7. Checkatrade, how to plane a door (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  8. Which?, what to do with a faulty product (retrieved 17 October 2026)