The Lie-Nielsen No. 5 was very well-machined overall, with lateral and depth adjustments that had the least backlash of any of the Bailey-style planes. The back of the blade was perfectly flat, and the chipbreaker seated fully against the blade. The sole was flat and the sides were square. The Bedrock-style frog made adjustments to the mouth quick and easy without the need to remove the blade. With a quick honing of the blade, this plane cut very well and adjusted easily between fine smoothing and heavier flattening. This is a quality plane that feels reliable and precise in your hands.

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