Stanley Sweetheart No. 4 vs WoodRiver No. 5

The Stanley Sweetheart No. 4 is the better first plane if you want to learn smoothing and fitting work on a modest budget. The WoodRiver No. 5 is the better choice if you need to dimension rough lumber and do heavy stock removal before a smoothing pass - different jobs, different tools.

This comparison contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and partner of other programs, BenchTrue may earn a commission at no cost to you.

At a glance

Spec	Stanley Sweetheart No. 4 Smoothing Plane Check price on Amazon	WoodRiver No. 5 Jack Plane Check price on Amazon
Price	$90-$130	$145-$175
Our rating	4.4 / 5	4.5 / 5
Best for	Beginners who want a real hand plane at an accessible price and are willing to do light setup work.	Woodworkers building their second hand plane and needing a workhorse for dimensioning and flattening.
Type	No. 4 smoothing plane	No. 5 jack plane
Iron	0.100-inch Cr-V steel	A2 steel, thicker
Price	$90-$130	$145-$175
Best for	Smoothing, fitting, learning	Dimensioning, heavy stock removal

The two options in depth

Amazon

4.4 / 5.0

Stanley Sweetheart No. 4 Smoothing Plane

Stanley's modern premium No. 4, made in England with a 0.100-inch thick iron and a body that is cast and finished to a higher standard than the standard Stanley line. The Sweetheart is not at Veritas or Lie-Nielsen level but it is a genuine working plane that many beginners use well for years before deciding they need more.

Best for Beginners who want a real hand plane at an accessible price and are willing to do light setup work.

Most affordable route to a purpose-built modern hand plane with Stanley heritage
English manufacturing with better tolerances than the standard Stanley line
0.100-inch iron thicker than economy planes, reduces chatter
Iron thinner than Veritas or Lie-Nielsen, more prone to chatter in hard wood

Price $90-$130 Check price on Amazon

Woodcraft

4.5 / 5.0

WoodRiver No. 5 Jack Plane

Woodcraft's house-brand jack plane, made to a specification that significantly exceeds the standard Stanley line. The No. 5 jack plane is the workhorse of the hand-tool shop: it dimensions rough stock, flattens wide panels, and does the heavy stock-removal work before the smoothing plane takes over. WoodRiver planes are well regarded for their price-to-performance ratio.

Best for Woodworkers building their second hand plane and needing a workhorse for dimensioning and flattening.

A2 steel iron holds a good edge for heavy stock removal
Heavier casting than Stanley with better tolerances than entry-level planes
Jack plane size makes it the most versatile bench plane for a single-plane shop
Sole requires lapping on most examples - budget 30 minutes for initial setup

Price $145-$175 Check price on Amazon

Which should you buy?

Buy the Stanley Sweetheart No. 4 if you are buying your first plane and want to learn hand-planing technique on a smoothing plane. Do the setup work (flatten the sole, sharpen the iron, seat the chip breaker) and it teaches you everything. Buy the WoodRiver No. 5 if you need a jack plane for dimensioning rough stock and want better steel and tolerances than the Stanley Sweetheart at a reasonable step-up price.

Common questions

Should I buy a No. 4 or No. 5 as my first hand plane?

A No. 4 smoothing plane is the more versatile first purchase for most woodworkers - it handles smoothing, edge trimming, and general fitting work. A No. 5 jack plane is better for rough stock removal but less useful as a learner plane. Most community guides recommend a No. 4 first.

Does the WoodRiver No. 5 need sole lapping?

On most examples, yes - budget about 30 minutes with a straightedge check and 120-grit paper on plate glass. This is common for planes in this price range. The setup work is worth doing and teaches you how to assess and true a plane sole.

Can the Stanley Sweetheart No. 4 be upgraded later?

Yes. A Hock Tools O1 replacement iron fitted to the Sweetheart body is a popular upgrade that narrows the gap with premium planes significantly. The thicker Hock iron reduces chatter and takes a finer edge than the factory iron.