Stanley Tools 12-960 Bailey 6-1/4 in. Low Angle Block Plane

Awful machining and so-so fit and finish. Close enough is good enough nowadays I guess. I'll have to spend a good bit of time to get the throat lined up so the iron sits inline with the bottom of the plane so it will work properly. Nowhere near the quality of my other Stanley low angle block plane from the 90's. This is quite frankly shameful, especially to carry the once-venerable Bailey name.

Really lousy quality. The machined surface that the blade rides on was terribly off angle resulting in the blade cutting at an extreme angle - that is not parallel to the sole of the plane. If I put the lateral literally as far over to one side as it goes, I was able to get it nearly flat cut - but then the blade is crooked and the adjustable throat is useless. Frankly the quality is astonishingly bad - how the machining setup was so off is a mystery to me. Additionally, the sole was not even remotely flat, which affects the ability to take fine passes. After filing and sanding, I have been able to remedy these issues, but the factory quality control and machining/grinding setup is subpar. I understand this is not an expensive tool, but these aspects are easily controlled with little added cost.

I am a woodworking teacher and I teach handtool woodworking to students from 1st - 8th grade. I have a few of these planes in service every day. The kids love them and they work great. I also have some vintage Stanley hand planes and a few new ones. They can take a beating and as the kids say the work and shavings are so satisfying.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I've owned mine for 17 years now. It's very comfortable. It fits well in my hand. The low angle makes cutting end grain very easy. It does have an engineering issue though. I have to completely disengage the leaver cap to adjust the depth of cut.

I looked everywhere for this planer locally, only to find it in my local old time independently owned hardware store. It seems to me that this planer gets some poor revues. I’m a carpenter with more than a few years behind me. This low angle planer is perfectly functional for every need I have. It adjusts nicely, and cuts with ease. Apparently the reviewers that I’ve read are most particular, or just don’t know how to use this tool. There are no issues with this tool. It is a workhorse, and I’m happy to have it.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I bought this 2 weeks ago and I use it on almost every project I have done so far.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I’ve had this plane for about 4 years now and it’s always in the pouch on my tool belt. I always need it to true up an edge or give something a small chamfer. Great for back beveling also.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Have had this plane now for about 8 years and it is the one I reach for most often. The weight is good and it fits in my hand nicely making it easy to use. The down side is that the blade does seem to be a bit on the soft side and tends to wear in the middle causing me to have to hone it flat quite often, but in spite of that it an overall good plane for the money.

Been using this for months now with no hassle what so ever if your a carpenter you will get along with adjusting with ease don’t listen to the diy review because he doesn’t know how it works he gave it a 2 star this is a 5 star product that is used day to day by myself a professional finish carpenter

it would or could be a nice plane. It is not designed for a beginner or for some one that has used a plane only a few times. Way to complicated, with too many bits to adjust just to adjust the blade.