Woodriver #5 Bench Plane

I’ve been woodworking for over 20 years now, and if there’s one tool that I consider absolutely essential, it’s a high-quality bench plane. Specifically, the Woodriver #5 bench plane is the perfect mid-sized option that every woodworker should have in their shop.

As both a professional woodworker and hobbyist, I’ve tried just about every bench plane on the market. And let me tell you – the Woodriver delivers performance, quality, and value that simply can’t be beat. So if you’re looking to buy your first premium bench plane, or upgrade from an older model, read on for my comprehensive Woodriver #5 buying guide.

What Exactly is the Woodriver #5 Bench Plane?

The Woodriver #5 is a medium-sized bench plane manufactured by Woodriver, which is the premium hand tool lineup from Woodcraft. It features a 2 3/8″ wide blade and 15″ length, making it an incredibly versatile size for various woodworking applications.

Bench planes are hand planes that are designed to flatten, smooth, and trim wood surfaces. The #5 size in particular excels as a general purpose smoothing plane on boards up to about 6″ wide. It’s large enough to joint edges, yet small enough for general smoothing work.

Compared to smaller planes like the #3 and #4, the #5 has more mass and contact area on the wood, allowing for faster stock removal and smoother planing. But it’s still comfortable to use with one hand. The #5 is truly the goldilstar when it comes to bench planes.

Key Features of the Woodriver #5:

• 2 3/8″ wide A2 tool steel blade
• Norris-style adjuster for precise blade depth control
• Ductile iron body with machined mating surfaces
• Fully bronze threaded depth and pitch adjusters
• 17 degree sharpening angle with 25 degree primary bevel
• Weighs 6 lbs for smooth, controlled planing
• Polymer bullnose to prevent marring
• Suitable for smoothing, jointing, trimming, and chamfering

The Woodriver planes use high-quality materials and precise machining to deliver superior performance. The A2 tool steel blades hold an incredibly sharp edge, while the ductile iron body absorbs vibrations. The Norris adjuster provides fine depth control, and the bronze adjusters are smooth and precise.

Overall, the Woodriver #5 brings together all the features you need in a top-notch modern bench plane built to deliver heirloom-quality performance.

How to Properly Use the Woodriver #5 Bench Plane

Using a bench plane takes some practice to master, but the techniques are straightforward. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your Woodriver #5:

• Prep your stock – Start by jointing one face flat and one edge square. This gives the plane a flat reference surface.
• Adjust the blade depth – Set the depth for fine shavings; about the thickness of a sheet of paper. Take lighter cuts on figured wood.
• Support the workpiece – Use bench dogs, a vise, or clamp one end to plane long boards. This prevents vibration.
• Use proper stance – Stand with your body aligned behind the plane, using two hands for control. Let the plane do the work.
• Take the right size shavings – Thin shavings of say 0.001″ produce the best finish. Take heavier cuts of 0.005″ only for fast stock removal.
• Use the length – Make long strokes and use the length of the sole for flatness. Lifting too soon can create tracks.
• Find the grain direction – Plane either diagonally with the grain or directly with on tricky woods to avoid tearout.
• Check your progress – Stop periodically to check for flatness, using a straightedge or winding sticks.

It’s an art learning to read the grain and adjust your cut to produce a glassy surface. But with some practice, you’ll be amazed at the mirror-like finish the Woodriver #5 can produce.

Premium Materials Used Throughout

Woodcraft selects only the finest materials for their Woodriver planes:

• A2 Tool Steel Blade – This air-hardened tool steel holds an extremely fine edge. It’s easy to sharpen and achieves a mirror polish.
• Ductile Iron Body – The cast iron body absorbs vibrations for smooth planing. Ductile iron is less brittle than gray iron.
• Bronze Adjusters – The adjusters have a buttery smooth action for fine depth control thanks to bronze construction.
• Machined Mating Surfaces – Precisely machined dovetails between the frog and body provide excellent vibration dampening.
• Polymer Bullnose – A removable polymer bullnose prevents marring the workpiece at the front edge.

The result is a well-balanced plane built from quality materials selected for performance and longevity. This is a plane that will serve woodworkers for generations.

How the Woodriver #5 Compares to Other Bench Planes

There are a number of quality bench planes on the market, but in my experience the Woodriver really stands out:

• Lie Nielsen – Excellent planes but quite expensive. Comparable quality to Woodriver.
• Veritas – Very well made planes from Lee Valley. Similar in price to the Woodriver.
• Stanley Bailey – The vintage gold standard, but older models can require restoration.
• Woodcraft’s Woodriver Line – Provides premium quality and features at a more affordable price point compared to other premium brands.

The Woodriver really hits a sweet spot in terms of performance, features, and value. It contains all the refinements you expect in a high-end plane, with fit and finish comparable to planes costing twice as much. If you’re looking for value, Woodriver can’t be beat.

Where to Buy the Woodriver #5 Bench Plane

Woodcraft and Woodriver planes are sold exclusively through Woodcraft stores and their website at woodcraft.com.

You can search the store locator on their website to find a Woodcraft retail store near you. They have locations throughout the US.

The Woodriver #5 bench plane has a list price of $245, but is frequently on sale for $199. Watch for periodic sales promotions both online and in store.

Woodcraft has outstanding customer service and backs the Woodriver line with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.

Tip: Sign up for the Woodcraft email list to receive announcements about special offers and promotions. They run 15-20% off sales several times per year.

The Dimensions and Specs of the Woodriver #5

Here are the key measurements and specifications:

• Length: 15 inches
• Width: 2 3/8 inches
• Weight: 6 pounds
• Blade bevel angle: 25 degrees
• Blade sharpening angle: 17 degrees
• Forward blade adjuster: Norris style
• Depth adjuster: Bronze, 5/16-24 threads
• Pitch adjuster: Bronze, 18 threads per inch
• Handles: Beautifully contoured Cherry wood

At 15″ long and 6 lbs, it’s a comfortable size for extended use. The 2 3/8″ wide iron can plane up to a 6″ board in a single pass.

It’s well balanced and the heft helps absorb vibrations for an ultra-smooth cut. The blade angle gives you a durable edge that’s easy to hone.

Reviews of the Woodriver #5: What Real Woodworkers are Saying

The Woodriver #5 is consistently one of the highest rated bench planes across various woodworking forums and YouTube reviews. Here’s a sample of what fellow woodworkers have to say:

• “This is the finest bench plane I’ve ever owned or used, bar none.” – Mike C., Ohio
• “Cuts figure walnut with zero tear out. Finishes like a cabinet scraper.” – Tom R.
• “The Norris adjuster is silky smooth. Worth the price for that feature alone.” – Dave P.
• “Simply a fantastic plane. Fit and finish is superb. A joy to use.” – Rob R.

It’s clear from woodworkers who use them day in and day out that these planes deliver impressive performance. Combining premium materials and detailed craftsmanship, Woodriver planes please even the most discerning woodworker.

How to Properly Sharpen the Blade

Like any plane, the Woodriver #5 relies on a sharp blade to deliver top performance. Maintaining a razor sharp edge is easy with the following steps:

• Flatten the back – Use a flat diamond stone to flatten the back until it’s mirror-like. Do this periodically.
• Grind a 25 degree primary bevel – If worn, regrind the existing bevel to 25 degrees. A jig helps get it precise.
• Hone a micro-bevel – Add a 30 degree micro-bevel of just a few strokes to further refine the edge.
• Polish the bevel – Finish by honing the micro-bevel up to 8000 grit. This polishes the edge.
• Strop the edge – Use a leather strop charged with polishing compound to refine the edge to a mirror-like finish.

Take light strokes when honing and polish only the bevel, not the flat back. This process will produce a wickedly sharp edge that slices end grain like butter.

The Best Uses for the Woodriver #5 Bench Plane

The #5 size is extremely versatile making it well suited to a variety of applications:

• Smoothing – Excellent for final smoothing of boards up to ~6″ wide. Quickly planes away mill marks.
• Trimming and Chamfering – The width is perfect for trimming tenons to fit joints and softening edges with chamfers.
• Edge Jointing – Long enough to straighten and flatten edges prior to gluing up panels and tabletops.
• Beveling – angling the plane makes quick work of cutting bevels for beams, table legs, and angled joinery.
• End Grain – Its mass helps reduce tearout when carefully planing endgrain.
• Winding Sticks – The sole makes an ideal winding stick for checking twist over long boards.

It’s hard to beat the overall utility of the #5 size. This one plane can accomplish a wide range of surfacing tasks in the shop.

Proper Care and Maintenance

With proper care, your Woodriver #5 will deliver decades of faithful service:

• Wax the sole – Apply a light coat of paste wax to the sole periodically. This helps it slide smoothly across the wood.
• Ease the adjusters – If needed, remove tension on the adjusters and apply lubricant. Re-adjust them just slightly snug.
• Check for chipout – Periodically inspect the mouth for nicks that could cause chipout. Carefully file any out.
• Store on its side – Store the plane on its side to keep the blade edge from contacting the sole.
• Surface rust – Clean any surface rust with super fine steel wool and reapply paste wax.
• Clean shavings out – Frequently remove shavings from the mouth and knob area. This prevents clogging.
• Tighten screws – Re-tighten the screws periodically as the wood handles shrink over time.

With basic care and maintenance, your Woodriver plane will deliver many years of flawless service. The quality materials and thoughtful design ensure this is an heirloom tool.

Using the Woodriver #5 for Edge Jointing

Thanks to its length and heft, the Woodriver #5 does an excellent job flattening and straightening the edges of boards prior to glue-up:

• Orientation – Plane diagonally or perpendicular to the boards, not along them. This prevents planing errors from copying down the joint.
• Support – Use bench dogs, clamps, or a dedicated planing jig to support the workpiece. Prevent any rocking, vibration or movement.
• Depth – Take very light shavings, about 0.001″. The full width of the iron should contact the edge to ensure flatness.
• Check progress – Use a straightedge to check for twist or winding along the joint as you go. Plane high spots until the joint is perfectly flat.
• Match lengths – Plane the edges equally so both boards terminate precisely at the same end point to maximize long grain glue surface.

When done carefully, the #5 will produce a perfectly straight and square edge joint ready for an inconspicuous glue line. The quality of glue-ups starts with properly jointed edges.

Pricing and Value Considerations

The Woodriver #5 bench plane sells for a list price of $245. However, it frequently goes on sale:

• Average Sale Price: $199
• Best Sale Price: $175

At just $199 on sale, the Woodriver is an incredible value compared to similar premium planes:

• Lie Nielsen #5 – $445
• Veritas Custom #5 – $300
• Old Stanley #5 – $100+ (requires restoration)

You simply won’t find a better performing and more premium bench plane for under $200. The Woodriver #5 gives you premium performance at a bargain price point.

Discounts, Coupons, and Promo Codes

Here are some tips for scoring discounts on the Woodriver #5:

• Check Woodcraft’s site for periodic 15-20% off sales
• Sign up for the e-mail list to receive new product announcements and discount alerts
• Check RetailMeNot and other coupon sites for Woodcraft promo codes – rare but they do pop up
• Buy them during seasonal sales like Black Friday and the holidays
• Scope eBay for open box specials – score planes shipped direct from Woodcraft

With a little strategic timing, you can snag one of these elite planes for $175 or less. A sweet deal for a plane of this caliber.

**How It Handles Difficult Grain **

With tricky grain like curly maple or quartersawn lumber, the Woodriver #5 has features to help reduce tearout:

• Close the mouth – Take very fine shavings by advancing the frog to close down the throat opening.
• Light cuts – Set the cap iron very close to the edge and take the lightest cuts possible.
• Skew the blade – Skew the blade up to 20 degrees so it shears rather than scrapes the wood.
• Fade the cut – Transition from aggressive to featherlight cut as you move across the problem grain.
• ** wet the surface** – Lightly dampen the wood with water or denatured alcohol to raise the grain for a final pass.

With difficult grain, preparation is key. But in skilled hands, the performance of the Woodriver #5 allows tackling challenging figured wood.

The Woodriver Warranty

Woodriver planes are backed by Woodcraft’s outstanding lifetime warranty:

• Covers manufacturing defects, materials and workmanship.
• Excludes wear items and abuse/misuse issues.
• Remedy is product replacement if unfixable issue is found.
• Proof of purchase is required from original owner.
• Return shipping costs may apply for warranty issues.

Woodcraft stands behind the quality – I’ve had them promptly replace a part free of charge before. But Woodriver planes are machined so precisely and from such durable materials that quality issues are extremely rare.

Adjusting the Blade

One beauty of the Woodriver #5 is how easy it makes adjusting the blade for precise cuts:

• Depth – Turn the large bronze depth adjustment knob located at the rear. Each full revolution moves the blade 0.100″.
• Lateral – Use the Norris adjuster’s lever on the front to slide the blade side to side within 0.001″. Ideal for centering the cutting edge.
• Pitch – Turn the pitch adjustment knob to change the cutting angle. rotate it fully counterclockwise until snug for a standard 45 degree pitch.
• Projecting length – Loosen the lever cap and slide the blade in and out as needed. About 1/16″ projection is ideal for a working angle.

The well-tuned adjusters provide both coarse and fine control over the blade. Once set, it holds position firmly without slipping.

Are Woodriver Planes Available as Sets?

Woodcraft does offer Woodriver planes individually as well as in pre-packaged sets:

Bench Plane Set Options:

• #4, #5, and #7 Bench Plane Set
• #5 and #7 Bench Plane Set
• #4 and #5 Bench Plane Set

Block Plane Set:

• Small, Medium, and Large Block Plane Set

Specialty Plane Sets:

• Plow Plane and Router Plane Set
• Shoulder Plane and Chisel Plane Set

The sets are a great way to get started with a selection of essential sizes and types of planes. The planes in sets are the same quality as ones purchased individually.

Buying a set can offer 10-15% savings over the individual prices. Plus it gives you a hand selected combination of planes that work well together.

History of Woodcraft and the Woodriver Brand

Woodcraft was founded in 1928 and has been a trusted source for woodworking tools and supplies for nearly a century.

In 2006, they introduced Woodriver – their new line of premium quality hand tools targeted at professional woodworkers.

Woodriver tools are conceived, prototyped and rigorously tested at Woodcraft’s headquarters in Parkersburg, WV. Their team of product designers includes accomplished woodworkers.

By controlling the design in-house, Woodcraft is able to determine the quality and features directly based on woodworker’s needs. The result is tools refined to perform at a level far beyond their price.

Today, Woodriver has grown into a comprehensive premium hand tool offering including planes, chisels, saws and more. The plane lineup has also expanded to include specialty planes like shoulder planes and plow planes.

It’s clear Woodcraft is deeply committed to serving the needs of serious woodworking enthusiasts. The Woodriver brand exemplifies this focus through providing premium tools priced for value.

Cleaning and Protecting the Woodriver #5

Here is the proper process for cleaning a Woodriver plane to remove pitch and surface rust:

Supplies Needed

• Rags
• Paste wax
• Evaporust
• Super fine steel wool
• Masking tape

Steps

1. Remove all blades and other parts from the body.
2. Plug the blade opening with masking tape to keep Evaporust out.
3. Soak exterior cast iron surfaces in Evaporust overnight to remove rust.
4. Hand scrub with 0000 super fine steel wool to remove remaining debris.
5. Rinse clean and dry thoroughly.
6. Apply a new coat of paste wax over all exposed cast iron.
7. Reassemble blades, taking care to properly lubricate adjusters.
8. Check blade projection and pitch setting before using.

Follow this process as needed to keep the sides clean and prevent surface oxidation. The paste wax protects the machined surfaces in your shop environment.

Accessories and Upgrades for the Woodriver #5

One benefit of the Woodriver bench planes is the abundance of accessories and customization options:

• Replacement blades – It’s smart to have a spare sharp blade ready for quick changes.
• Thicker blades – Heavier 3/16″ blades are available for severe stock removal jobs.
• Cambered blades – Contoured blades help tame difficult grain by providing a curved cutting edge.
• Auxiliary fences – Add-on fences provide stable reference surfaces for repeatable chamfers or bevels.
• Blade tote guard – A removable guard protects your hand from the exposed blade when picking up the plane.
• Zero-tolerance insert – This frog insert precisely sets the blade opening for the finest shavings.
• Setting hammer – Specialized hammer safely allows adjusting the frog forward position.

Check Woodcraft’s site or stop by your local store to view all the addon accessories available for customizing your plane.

I hope this comprehensive Woodriver #5 bench plane buying guide helps you select the perfect general purpose smoothing plane for your shop. This is a tool destined to provide decades of satisfying use. With Woodriver’s trademark quality, you really can’t go wrong.