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An apron plane will just cause you issues with surfaces that you are trying to joint it is just possible to prep a surface ready for jointing with a no. 4 bailey pattern smoothing plane but the attention to detail has to be spot on and you have to be well practiced. The shortest plane I would ever use to prep edges for jointing is a 5 1/2 bailey pattern (jack plane) and it's also what I would recommend for people who are looking to refine their skills. It is tempting to use a 6, 7 or even 8 but the extra sole length on these planes actually start to present issues as expansion and contraction with changes in temperature can cause the sole to bow slightly.
Bobbo-
I have an old Stanley No.5. Bought from a car boot sale for five quid years ago. Aces. Sadly it's still in London and I'm not....
Old planes go for real money here. I had no idea how expensive the high quality new ones are.
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Is there a "proper hand tools" thread? I think I'm in need of some recommendations. I'll try to remember the 5 1/2“ mark, cheers.
Jung
Murphy's_Law
You are of course right. but hindsight, etc.
I didn't plane it, my mate did, with a machine. At least the flats.
The edges I planed with a tiny Kunz 102 handplane. Totally the wrong tool for the job, but alas there is actually no other plane in my workshop. Got to spend some cash on a proper one sometime.