The #5-1/4 was often referred to as a junior jack. At 12" long, it fell between the #4 smooth plane at 10" long and the #5 jack at 14" long.
Our #5-1/4W varies from the traditional #5-1/4 in various ways, but the two most significant dimensional differences are that ours has a 2" wide blade (rather than 1-3/4") and the mouth is 4-3/8" back of the nose compared with 3-1/2" for the original. This extra length of sole in front of the blade makes it much easier to cut accurately because the extra-long nose makes it easier to maintain the sole flush to the material at the start of a cut. In fact, the combination of the mouth location and the very sensitive feed adjustment lets this plane serve as a jointer for most cabinet work, just as a #5 is used as a jointer.
The #5-1/4W is an ideal complement to our #4-1/2 for bench work. Like our #4-1/2, it is made from ductile cast iron and has the same adjustable frog with a combined feed and lateral adjust mechanism that is sturdy, yet sensitive and accurate.
The easily adjusted frog is machined to fit snugly in the plane body and, combined with the 1/8" thick blade, eliminates virtually all blade chatter. Because the frog extends right through to the sole, adjusting the frog to narrow the mouth does not reduce blade support as it does in standard
planes of this style.
Blades are lapped, and available in your choice of A2 or O1 tool steel.
It is truly a plane that has to be used to be appreciated. When comparing it with standard designs, you not only immediately appreciate the usefulness of the extra sole length in front of the blade, but you also can hear the difference in the way it cuts because you don't hear the customary blade chatter.
As with our low-angle block plane and our #4-1/2, all surfaces are accurately ground and the sides are square to the sole. This is a significant new style of plane.
Patented. Made in Canada.