Vintage vs Modern Planes Compared

The eternal question: vintage Stanley or modern Lie-Nielsen/Veritas?

Vintage Stanley (1900s-1960s)

Pros: Affordable ($40-$80), excellent castings, readily available, proven designs, easy parts.

Cons: Require restoration, thinner irons, quality varies by era, potential for hidden issues.

Modern Premium (Lie-Nielsen, Veritas)

Pros: Ready to use out of box, thick irons resist chatter, perfect machining, excellent quality control, warranty.

Cons: Expensive ($300-$400), heavy (some prefer this, others don't), limited used market.

The Verdict

For first plane: vintage Stanley No. 4 if you enjoy restoration, modern if you want to plane immediately. For collecting a full set: vintage is cost-effective. For a single premium tool: modern is worth it.