Stanley plane SB-4 - Junk???

Paul,

I recently bought a Stanley plane SB-4. I have not heard of this plane until I saw one at home depot.. The price was right {$ 26.50}. I am having trouble getting the blade to cut in the bevel down position, the blade is right to the front of the mouth and will not cut at all. I put it in bevel up and it would cut but really poorly. What can I do to fix this problem if anything.

 I was looking on utube and could find no reference to help me. but no luck. I think maybe I bought a pig in a poke. But I did find out they were manufactured in Great Britain.

Please try and help me figure this out. I think it could be a good plane once I find out whats wrong.

By the way, I really like your channel on YouTube.

Thanks in advance.

Allen

Hello Allen

I would take this plane back because of it's inferior quality and unfitness for purpose. The Stanley SB4 plane is and always will be piece of junk. If it were stainless steel, perhaps it could have been sold as a cheese slicer. Stanley came out with this plane type under different names years ago. It's the very worst plane in the world and this again typifies The Home Depot inability to cater to the needs of its undeserved loyal following who rely on them to provide quality at fair prices and not cheap and unfit products. I should give them the benefit of the doubt but it's doubtful that they sought expert insight or even tried out the plane. They will have relied on the old Stanley name, which really lost credibility for tool making of quality back in the 1970's.

Go online, look for a Stanley #4, pre 1970's are all fine, find one you like, send me the link and I will look at it for you and let you now whether it seems OK and what you should bid for it. If you don't have the time, find a US tool dealer to supply you with one. Buying a good Stanley #4 will last about 100 years of full-time use. I have used mine now for 50 and it shows no sign of deterioration. It also feels quite lovely.

Best for now,

Paul