Block Plane Blade, Wide-Slot, 1-5/8"

These are good blades, but I had to buy and return one before getting the right blade for my plane. The photo here is of a different blade, the one with the 7/16 ("narrow") slot, rounded at both ends: BL162. The item sold on this page is BW162, which has a 5/8" (wide) slot. I learned this after purchasing the wrong blade, by visiting the Hock Tools site. I would not have made this error if the Amazon site showed a picture of the right blade, or included the specific 5/8" measurement instead of just saying "wide" as description of the slot. Perhaps I should have been tipped off by the mention of "newer" planes, but I didn't know mine was an "older" one.

I have five old Stanley 9 1/2 block planes from the 1940s and 1950s, one 9 1/2 (now designated 12-920), a Lie-Nielsen 9 1/2, and a Stanley 12-220 (with a non-adjustable throat). All the Stanleys are fitted with Hock blades and all can take a .001 inch cut--even the 12-220. These blades are outstanding.

Blade prep and sharpening was fast. The plane pulls paper-think shavings and is a lot more pleasing to use than it was when it was equipped with the stock blade. Included side-by-side photos so that you can see the differences.

These blades will transform an ordinary plane into a good one, and make a good plane seem magical.I have been using hand-tools since I was a boy growing up in my dad's violin shop, so I have a lifetime's experience with planes. I discovered Hock blades about 26 years ago and have been using them ever since.I have experience with other fine tool makers out there who make good blades too: Veritas, Lie Nielsen, IBC, Bridge-City and the new Hitatchi super-steel blades. I have tried them all and they are all fine. However, these Hock blades are the best value, are easiest to sharpen and take the finest possible edge. THAT is what we really want in a blade. If you can get that from a domestic maker for a better price, it seems like the best choice to me.Steel choice...If you are cutting abrasive hardwoods (like Teak) then opt for the A2 steel.For all other work, the O1 is the best choice since it is easier (faster) to re-sharpen and has the finest grain.O1 blades are also easier to camber or "round" in case you want to do that for smoothing planes. That is not necessary for or wanted in other planes like shoulder-planes, rabbet-planes, etc. So, consider the type of plane you will be using the blade in while making your choice of steel.All hock blades arrive from nicely flattened and sharp, but must be honed for optimum performance in YOUR specific tool. Because they are so good from the factory, this is only a touch-up process that takes three minutes or so. After that, successive honing takes a minute.For overall value with superb consistent quality, Hock is my first recommendation.