Lie-Nielsen No. 3 Smooth Plane

The planes work the same way and have the same blade, frog and precision, so the difference is the material of the body:

Bronze – heavier, which gives a calm, steady stroke, and it does not rust. The surface develops an attractive patina over time.
Cast iron – a little lighter and less expensive. The surface needs protecting against rust with wax, for example.

A No. 4 smoothing plane in bronze weighs 2 kg, for example, while the same plane in cast iron weighs 1.8 kg. Choose bronze if you want extra mass and no rust, and cast iron if you want a lighter plane at a lower price.

Yes. All Lie-Nielsen planes are supplied complete and ready to use, with frog, chip breaker and a lapped A2 blade. You do not need to buy the blade separately.

Iron body means the plane body is cast iron, as opposed to the bronze models. PM-V11 is not available for Lie-Nielsen, as it is Veritas' own steel. The plane comes in a brown box with the Lie-Nielsen logo on the lid, which is easy to gift wrap.

Which plane to start with depends on what you will do, but for most people a smoothing plane (No. 4) or a jack plane (No. 5) is a good first choice. The smoothing plane gives smooth surfaces, and the jack plane is a versatile plane for both rough work and truing edges.

Low-angle jack planes such as the Lie-Nielsen No. 62 and the Veritas low-angle jack are also popular all-round planes. A block plane is a good addition for end grain and chamfers. The guide explains how the hand plane is built and which types exist.

Read the guide here

Planes of cast iron and steel rust easily, especially in unheated workshops and from moisture on your hands. Wipe the plane after use and protect bare surfaces with a thin layer of wax or oil that will not mark the wood.

Store your planes dry, ideally in a plane sock or box. If rust has already formed, the guide shows how to clean and protect them.

Read the guide here

Most products are restocked on an ongoing basis, but delivery times from the manufacturer vary. When an item is out of stock, the button Notify me when available appears on the product page.

Click the button and enter your email address, and we will email you as soon as the item is back in stock. If you are logged in, your email address is registered automatically. If you want to know when the next delivery is expected, you are welcome to contact us.

How often items are restocked depends on the supplier. We receive deliveries from Veritas about once a month, Lie-Nielsen ships in batches and we order from Incra about once a year. You can also add the item to a wishlist in your account, where you can see whether it is in stock.