Lie-Nielsen No. 5 Jack Plane

The Lie Nielsen No. 5 Jack Plane is near the middle of the size and weight range of the #1 – #8 bench planes. The stature of the No. 5 makes it a very versatile plane to have on hand – depending on the setup it can function as a larger format smoothing plane, a typical jack plane dressing timber to size or a rapid stock removing jointer plane.

Each Lie Nielsen plane features meticulous construction, low-tolerance machining and Bed Rock body and frog design. Soles and sides are milled reliably flat and square, and their finish is so smooth that they hardly need more than a well-buffed coat of wax to be practically friction-free. Bed Rock castings, both sole and side rails, are considerably heavier than those of Bailey-style planes, and the frog in particular is radically more stable, supportive and adjustable. The throat opening can be altered without removing the iron, which remains supported all the way to the heel of the bevel regardless of how tight a throat you set. Lie-Nielsen irons are likewise heavier and more carefully processed than run-of-the-mill tools. They’re tempered to Rc 60-62 for excellent edge longevity, and the rigidity afforded by their 1/8″ thickness makes their performance simply outstanding. These planes cut beautifuly where others fail: reversed grain, quilted or fiddleback timbers, even knots and end grain can be shaved cleanly, with no tearout, no chatter, no loss of control at all.

No. 5 Jack Plane ductile iron body only, Iron Width: 2″ Overall Length: 14″ Weight: 5.5 lbs. Made in the U.S.A.

Additional Information

Lee Laird from Lie Nielsen Tools Works produces an instructional series on hand planes and has written in detail about the versatility of Lie-Nielsen’s No. 5 Jack Plane. Read Lee’s setup guide for the No. 5 Jack Plane on the Highland Woodworking Blog.