STANLEY Hand Planer, No.62, Low Angle Jack (12-137)
STANLEY
Best for
Best overall
Amazon rating
Amazon aggregate, one input among many in the Verdict Score
Based on 2 trusted sources
Current price
$172.48
Updated May 19, 2026 · 1 min read
Sources behind this verdict
10 reviewers weighted by source trust
The consensus
What reviewers found
Synthesized across the trust-weighted source mix below.
Across the reviewers we read, the Stanley Sweetheart No. 62 emerges as the most well-rounded pick in this pool. popularwoodworking.com reports the body is machined well with a sole flat to within roughly .002" behind the mouth, and lumberjocks.com describes the adjustable mouth favorably while flagging that the depth adjuster is tight and a bit small for one-handed use.
What reviewers liked
- popularwoodworking.com measured the sole flat to roughly .002" behind the mouth, indicating solid machining for the class
- Thick A2 steel blade and heavy body are repeatedly praised on r/handtools and r/woodworking for end-grain and shooting-board work
- Adjustable mouth and low-angle bevel-up configuration make it versatile across smoothing, jointing, and shooting tasks
- Owner satisfaction on r/woodworking is high enough that multiple commenters bought matching Stanley Sweetheart smoothers after this one
Where it falls short
- lumberjocks.com flags the depth adjuster as too tight and too small for comfortable one-handed adjustment
- r/woodworking commenters argue it's overpriced at $180+ next to Veritas, Lie-Nielsen, or WoodRiver alternatives
- Multiple r/handtools threads note prep work (sharpening, sole flattening) is still required out of the box
- Reviewers on YouTube and r/handtools describe occasional QC inconsistencies, including sole flatness near the mouth on some units
Across the reviewers we read, the Stanley Sweetheart No. 62 emerges as the most well-rounded pick in this pool. popularwoodworking.com reports the body is machined well with a sole flat to within roughly .002" behind the mouth, and lumberjocks.com describes the adjustable mouth favorably while flagging that the depth adjuster is tight and a bit small for one-handed use. Verified-purchase reviewers at Amazon (4.6 across 457 ratings) echo the 'heavy, smooth, good on end grain' description that recurs in community threads.
Specialist-community sentiment on r/handtools and r/woodworking is more nuanced. Multiple threads describe owners liking it specifically for shooting-board work and end grain, and one r/woodworking commenter who bought it went on to buy the matching No. 4 because they liked it so much. But the same subreddits surface a real dissent: at $180+ several commenters argue you'd be 'crazy' to buy this over a Veritas, Lie-Nielsen, or even WoodRiver, while conceding it'd be a steal under $100. The honest read is that this is a very good plane that punches at its price, not above it, and it needs the usual sharpening and sole check before it shines.
- Iron of the hand planer for woodworking is made from extra-thick 1/8-inch (3.18 mm) A2 steel for excellent edge retention
- The wood plane has a cherry wood handle and knob for comfort
- The bench plane has norris type adjustment for ease of use
- Adjustable throat plate for different types of wood
- Replacement Blade 12-142
I have a modern Stanley 62 and I really like it for the shooting board. The weight just works for me. It's not my most used plane and not one ...
That stanley isn't a terrible plane. At 180.00+, you'd be crazy to buy it over the Veritas, LN, or WoodRiver. However at under 100.00, I wouldn't think twice.
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