Stanley No. 6 Bench Plane – The Fore Plane for Truing, Flattening & Heavy Smoothing
1. Introduction
The Stanley No. 6 Bench Plane, commonly known as the Fore Plane, is an essential mid-size hand plane designed for flattening, truing, and preparing rough stock for final smoothing. Longer than a jack plane but shorter than a jointer, the No. 6 offers the perfect combination of weight, control, and surface-flattening accuracy.
At 18 inches long with a 2⅜-inch iron, the No. 6 bridges the gap between versatility and precision. Its length allows it to ride high spots and remove low spots effectively, making it one of the most important planes for preparing large panels and boards.
2. History of the Stanley No. 6 Plane
The No. 6 was introduced in the late 1800s as part of Stanley’s growing Bailey line of bench planes and quickly became a workhorse in both cabinetmaking shops and lumber mills.
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Historical Highlights
- Produced continuously from the Bailey era (1869+) through the early 2000s
- Extremely popular during the 1890–1935 Golden Age
- Used as a preparatory plane before the No. 7 or No. 8 jointers
- Post-WWII models saw simplified machining and handle changes
- Later versions used beech or plastic totes
- Never offered in the Bed Rock line, though similar competitors existed
Today, early and pre-war Stanley No. 6 planes remain highly desirable for both users and collectors.
3. Manufacturer Background – Stanley Rule & Level / Stanley Works
Founded in 1843, Stanley dominated the woodworking tool industry through the refinement of Leonard Bailey’s plane designs. The No. 6 benefited from Stanley’s precision manufacturing, combining:
- Bailey depth adjustment
- Lateral adjustment lever
- Solid frog design
- Cast-iron body and machined sole
- Brass hardware and hardwood totes
The No. 6 became a preferred tool among professionals who needed a plane capable of heavy leveling work without the mass of a jointer.
4. Design and Features of the Stanley No. 6 Bench Plane
The No. 6 is built for accuracy, power, and flattening efficiency.
Specifications
- Length: 18 inches
- Iron width: 2⅜ inches
- Weight: approx. 6½ lbs
- Materials: cast iron, brass hardware, rosewood or beech handles
Core Features
- Long sole for accurate flattening
- Bailey-style adjustable frog
- Comfortable full-size tote
- Brass depth adjustment knob
- Lateral adjustment lever
- Precision-ground sole and cheeks
- Chipbreaker and cap iron assembly
Advantages of the No. 6
- More efficient for flattening than the No. 5 or 5½
- Lighter and more maneuverable than the No. 7
- Ideal for truing medium-to-large panels
- Excellent for shooting long edges
- Versatile enough for rough stock removal and pre-smoothing
Many woodworkers consider the No. 6 the most underrated plane in the Stanley lineup.
Type Study & Identification Guide
The No. 6 follows the standard Bailey Type Study (Types 1–20).
Early Types (1–7)
- Thick rosewood totes
- Three patent dates
- Early hollow-back frog designs
- No frog adjustment screw on earliest models
- Considered rare and collectible
Middle Types (8–15)
- Improved frog seating
- Low → tall knob transition
- Finest pre-war machining and casting
Later Types (16–20)
- Beech or plastic totes
- Orange-background “STANLEY” lever caps
- Cost-cut machining
- Still excellent user planes
The best user-grade No. 6 planes are typically Types 10–15.
5. Usage & Applications
The No. 6 is primarily a fore plane—the second plane used after rough prep and before finishing.
Common Uses
- Flattening and truing face surfaces
- Removing twist, bow, and cup
- Preparing boards before smoothing
- Jointing small to medium edges
- Hogging off stock when fitted with a cambered iron
- Straightening large glue-ups
Many woodworkers prefer the No. 6 for its balance of weight and accuracy—it is easier to control than a No. 7 but much more effective than a No. 5 for flattening.
6. Restoration of a Stanley No. 6 Plane
The No. 6 is straightforward to restore and tune for exceptional performance.
Typical Restoration Steps
- Disassemble completely
- Remove rust with Evapo-Rust or citric acid
- Flatten the long sole carefully
- Tune the frog for full seating
- Sharpen the iron (slight camber recommended)
- Tune the chipbreaker
- Refinish handles (preferably preserve original rosewood)
- Reassemble & lubricate
Mistakes to Avoid
- Over-flattening the long sole
- Removing original japanning
- Replacing early-period rosewood
- Excessive polishing of brass
A properly restored No. 6 will take whisper-thin shavings and flatten boards with ease.
Tools & Supplies for Old Plane Restoration
These are some of the most used tools for restoring old woodworking tools.
Rust Remover
Abrasive Pads
Brass Brushes
WD-40
Paste Wax
Steel wool
Equivalent Supplies on Amazon
7. Collectability & Value
While not rare, the No. 6 is increasingly sought after due to its usefulness and growing appreciation among hand-tool workers.
Typical Value Range
- User-grade: $40–$70
- Good pre-war examples: $70–$135
- Early types: $150–$275
- Near-mint or boxed: $300–$400+
Value Factors
- Type number
- Handle material and condition
- Japanning percentage
- Original cap iron and iron
- Machining quality (pre-war preferred)
The No. 6 is one of the few Stanley planes prized equally by collectors and daily users.
8. Finding Manuals, Parts & Additional Resources
Documentation Sources
- Stanley Type Study charts
- VintageMachinery.org
- Stanley tool collector publications
- Early Stanley catalogs
Replacement Parts
- Hock Tools (premium irons)
- Lee Valley / Veritas
- St. James Bay Tool Co.
- Vintage tool dealers and auctions
Because the No. 6 shares parts with the 4½ and 5½, replacement components are generally easy to source.
9. Final Thoughts
The Stanley No. 6 Fore Plane is one of the most capable and underappreciated planes in the Bailey lineup. Its combination of length, weight, and precision make it ideal for preparing lumber, flattening panels, and creating dead-flat surfaces. Whether you are a collector, restorer, or everyday woodworker, the No. 6 is a powerful and rewarding tool to own.
A well-tuned No. 6 delivers professional-grade performance and reflects the engineering excellence of the golden age of Stanley tools.
Quick Reference Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Stanley No. 6 Fore Plane |
| Manufacturer | Stanley Rule & Level / Stanley Works |
| Era | 1860s–2000s |
| Length / Iron | 18″ / 2⅜” |
| Best Uses | Flattening, truing, panel prep |
| Rarity | Moderate |
| Typical Value | $40–$275+ |
| Restoration Difficulty | Moderate |
| Collectability | High for early types; excellent user plane |
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