An inexpensive block plane can be tuned and sharpened for better performance.
A block plane is a simple and fundamental woodworking tool. I think it’s probably the first hand plane most of us purchase when we’re just getting started. Unfortunately, unless you spend $100-$200, the plane will not come prepared for peak performance. With some time, a little sandpaper, a sharpening stone and some sweat equity, you should be able to get more performance out of just about any block plane. In this video, I took a brand new Stanley Low Angle Block Plane and gave it a little love. The end results looks better, feels better, and cuts better and that’s about all we can ask out of a $40 block plane.