Hand planes are a few of the essential companions of carpenters, woodworkers, and even artisans. They are great in flattening your wooden blocks and wooden surfaces and make work faster for you. However, most of the hand planes available right now cost a lot. There will even come a time that your trusted hand plane needs replacement, and you are not sure if you must invest again in another expensive tool. Luckily, I have compiled a list of the seven best budget hand planes to eliminate that dilemma. Hopefully, this list will give you the information you need to search for a new hand plane.
Comparison Chart
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katfort 3.2inch Hand Plane | If you are looking for one of the best budget hand planes with a universal design and is easy to use, then the Katfort 3.2inch Hand Plane is the best choice for you! Check out why it is the first in our list! | ||
| Stanley 12-136 No. 4 Smoothing Bench Plane | Durable, elegant, and versatile—these are the three qualities that define the Stanley 12-136 No.4 Smoothing Bench Plane as one of the greatest and efficient hand planes you can use! | ||
| Stanley 12-404 No. 4 Adjustable Bench Plane with 2-Inch Cutter | If you are looking for one of the best budget hand planes that are adjustable but sturdy, then the Stanley 12-404 No.4 Adjustable Bench Plane with 2-Inch Cutter is the best choice for you! Make your woodworking days smoother and problem-free with this hand plane in your toolbox. | ||
| YOGEON Woodworking Hand Plane | Comfortable, easy to control, and sharp—these are the three defining qualities of the YOGEON Woodworking Hand Plane that will surely give you no-sweat woodworking projects. Easily and efficiently trim and shave wood with this tool in your woodshed! | ||
| Nobrand Mini Hand Plane | Rust-proof and has an ergonomic design, the Nobrand Mini Hand Plane is the perfect plane to use in wood edge trimming. Invest yourself with one of these efficient and cool looking hand planes to make your work faster. | ||
| Stanley 12-920 Contractor Grade Block Plane | Adjustable, versatile, smooth—these three qualities perfectly sum up the Stanley 12-920 Contractor Grade Block Plane, which includes the best budget hand planes available in the market. | ||
| WEN 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer | If you are looking for an electric hand plane that fits your budget, then the WEN 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer is the best choice for you! Get your wood projects done on time and quickly with this plane. |
Detailed Reviews of the 7 Best Budget Hand Planes
Katfort 3.2inch Hand Plane
If you are looking for one of the best budget hand planes with a universal design and is easy to use, then the Katfort 3.2inch Hand Plane is the best choice for you! Check out why it is the first in our list!
Product Highlights
The Katfort 3.2inch Hand Plane comes in a universal design that allows precision in woodworking. Not only that, but this hand plane also includes a durable steel alloy blade that can surely make quality cuts and trims. Its handle has a contoured grip that assures comfort and control. It is a stable and strong hand plane that has a one-year warranty.
The Good
The great thing with this hand plane is that it has adjustable gears. It has a durable steel alloy blade attached to a stable and strong plane body. Overall, this hand plane comes in a universal, easy-to-use design.
The Bad
The downside to this budget hand plane is that it has limited and sloppy adjustment options. You also need to tap it always to get the right position. Overall, it is a poor-quality hand plane.
PROs
- Adjustable gears
- Durable steel alloy blade
- The stable and strong plane body
- Universal design
CONs
- Limited adjustment option
- Needs constant tapping to get in the right position
- Poor quality plane
Stanley 12-136 No.4 Smoothing Bench Plane
Durable, elegant, and versatile—these are the three qualities that define the Stanley 12-136 No.4 Smoothing Bench Plane as one of the greatest and efficient hand planes you can use!
Product Highlights
The Stanley 12-136 No.4 Smoothing Bench Plan has a base and frog cast as one for more accuracy. It even features a patented adjustment locking feature that can add security for the blade. The plane has a handle made of cherry wood, its contours perfectly comfortable and smooth to grip. Its iron casting adds weight and gives it its durable quality.
The Good
What is great with this hand plane is that it is durable and comes with a mouth adjustment feature and an elegant wood handle.
The Bad
The downside to this hand plane is that its blades and sole are not flat at all. Also, its blade gets easily chipped. It is also too heavy for a hand plane. Overall, it is a poor-quality hand plane.
PROs
- Durable
- Elegant wood handle
- Has mouth adjustment feature
CONs
- Blade and sole are not flat
- Blade easily gets chipped
- Too heavy hand plane
Stanley 12-404 No.4 Adjustable Bench Plane With 2-Inch Cutter
If you are looking for one of the best budget hand planes that are adjustable but sturdy, then the Stanley 12-404 No.4 Adjustable Bench Plane with 2-Inch Cutter is the best choice for you! Make your woodworking days smoother and problem-free with this hand plane in your toolbox.
Product Highlights
The Stanley 12-404 No.4 Adjustable Bench Plane with 2-Inch Cutter is easily adjustable and features a hardened and tempered steel that gives the cutter edge durability. Its cast-iron base is perfect for precision grinding, and its coating gives durable protection. It even has a high-impact polymer handles and knobs that contour to make gripping comfortable.
The Good
The great thing with this hand plane is that it is durable and has an excellent quality even for an affordable one. It has a hardened steel and high-impact handles.
The Bad
His budget hand plane problem is that it does not properly shave or trim or tear the wood. Its sole or base is not flat, and it comes with an unbalanced blade.
PROs
- Durable
- Excellent quality for an affordable price
- Hardened steel
- High-impact handles
CONs
- Does not properly shave or trim wood
- The sole or base is not flat
- Unbalanced blade
YOGEON Woodworking Hand Plane
Comfortable, easy to control, and sharp—these are the three defining qualities of the YOGEON Woodworking Hand Plane that will surely give you no-sweat woodworking projects. Easily and efficiently trim and shave wood with this tool in your woodshed!
Product Highlights
The YOGEON Woodworking Hand Plane is the ideal tool for perfecting your wood’s shape and dimension to give it a final finish. The frog and base are sturdy, and its high-quality steel is sharp and durable and allows for greater accuracy and control. The handle has a contoured design that can comfortably fit your grip. Its compact size can fit anywhere without taking too much space.
The Good
What is great with this hand plane is that it has a comfortable grip that is easy to control. The plane is easy to use and has a sharp blade.
The Bad
The downside to this hand plane is that its base is not flat. It comes with a flimsy handle. This plane is also not durable. The blade has not even been hardened or tempered.
PROs
- Comfortable grip
- Easy to control
- Easy to use
- Sharp blade
CONs
- The base is not flat
- Flimsy handle and not durable
- Not hardened or tempered blade
Nobrand Mini Hand Plane
Rust-proof and has an ergonomic design, the Nobrand Mini Hand Plane is the perfect plane to use in wood edge trimming. Invest yourself with one of these efficient and cool looking hand planes to make your work faster.
Product Highlights
The Nobrand Mini Hand Plane is a hand plane that features smart screws that are convenient and easy to adjust, especially for your cutter’s alignment and depth. Its ergonomic design protects your hand from any problematic gripping and allows you more comfort and control while working on the wood. Its blade is manganese steel, which is sharp, strong, and wear-resistant.
The Good
The great thing with this hand plane is that it is affordable and efficient for a hand plane. This plane is also easy to use and comes in the ideal size and simple design.
The Bad
The issue with this budget hand plane is that its base is not flat. Blade adjustment is difficult to maneuver, and it is too big for small workpieces.
PROs
- Affordable and efficient
- Easy to use
- Ideal size for hand plane
- Simple design
CONs
- The base is not flat
- The blade is difficult to adjust
- Too big for a hand plane
Stanley 12-920 Contractor Grade Block Plane
Adjustable, versatile, smooth—these three qualities perfectly sum up the Stanley 12-920 Contractor Grade Block Plane, which includes the best budget hand planes available in the market.
Product Highlights
The Stanley 12-920 Contractor Grade Block Plane measures a 6.5in contractor-grade block plane with a 1.4in cutter. You can fully adjust the cutter, and its cast-iron base allows for precise grinding. It even has a durable epoxy coating that provides the plane long-lasting protection. It also features a quick-release cam-lock that makes the removal of the iron blade easy.
The Good
The great thing with this hand plane is that it has an adjustable cutter. Not only that, but it is easy to use. It has smooth transitions while flattening wood, and it has a quick-release lock feature so that it is easy to remove.
The Bad
The problem with this hand plane is that its adjustment controls are flimsy, and the blade alignment is not straight. It even has an unbalanced sole.
PROs
- Adjustable cutter
- Easy to use
- Quick-release lock feature
- Smooth transition
CONs
- Adjustment controls are flimsy
- Blade alignment is not straight
- Unbalanced sole
WEN 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer
If you are looking for an electric hand plane that fits your budget, then the WEN 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer is the best choice for you! Get your wood projects done on time and quickly with this plane.
Product Highlights
The WEN 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer operates with a 6-Amp motor that can allow you to cut up to 34,000 cuts per minute. It has an adjustable cutting depth and has a lightweight design. It includes a power planer, a dust bag, and a fence bracket with a two-year warranty.
The Good
What is great with this hand plane is that it is easy to use and comes in a lightweight design. It is a time-saving tool as well, especially with how fast it is in chewing through wood.
The Bad
The downside with this electric hand plane is that its front plate and back plate are not of the same level. It has poor depth and flatness calibration. Not only that, but the power cord is short, which limits movement.
PROs
- Easy to use
- Lightweight design
- Time-saving tool
CONs
- The front plate does not level with the backplate
- The poor depth and flatness calibration
- The power cord is short
Conclusion
Now you know the seven best budget hand planes. As mentioned, hand planes are essential woodwork accessories you need to have in your toolbox to make things easier for you in completing a project—like a table or a door. However, remember that there are no perfect hand planes. Even the hand planes listed here may lack the qualities you are searching for. Just remember, though, that you only need to consider what you think suits your pace. Hopefully, you found a lot of useful information from this list to help you choose wisely. Find out more about hand planes.