When I first reviewed WoodRiver’s new handplanes (Tools & Materials, FWW #206), I was disappointed with the initial fit and finish of the tools. They required a good amount of tuning to perform adequately for fine work.

But it looks like the company raised its game with these new block planes (low angle and standard angle), creating a pair of flawlessly made tools with fine machining and great performance.

The two planes are virtually identical, except for the bed angle. The low-angle plane, modeled after the Stanley No. 65, has the blade bedded at 12°, making it ideal for end-grain and cross-grain work, such as cleaning up dovetail joints after assembly. The standard-angle plane is similar to Stanley’s No. 18 and has the blade bedded at 20°. This makes it a great general-purpose plane, ideal for trimming tasks, such as fitting drawers and doors.

The first thing I noticed about the planes was their heft. My vintage Stanley No. 65 weighs 1 lb. 4 oz., while each WoodRiver is 1 lb. 14 oz., more than a half-pound of extra inertia that can see the plane through rigorous use.

The WoodRiver block planes are the only ones on the market that incorporate a knuckle-joint lever cap. The design means blade changes are quick and easy, and the blade is held rock solid with a spring tension that closes with a snap. The beautiful nickel-plated lever cap fills the palm of your hand with great comfort.

The blades are made of high-carbon steel and are a stout 1/8 in. thick. They give a solid feel to the planes and eliminate chatter. The plane bodies are cast from durable ductile iron. Each plane has an adjustable mouth, and the finely ground sole stays dead-flat when an adjustment is made.

The backs of the blades were also flat out of the box. After just a couple of minutes honing, each plane was ready to go to work.

I was impressed with the planes’ performance. The blades took a keen edge, and they performed right on a par with other premium block planes, for less money, making them a great buy.

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