Sounds like the same rules and standards as the first versions of Microsoft
Windows and windows applications (meaning there were no rules or standards)
grin. Thanks for the info. Regards. -Guy



There's no rhyme or reason to the numbering. 90% of the conversations
can be followed by remembering a few of Stanley's numbers:

#4 is a smoothing plane used for, uhm, smoothing
#5 is a jack plane used for fairly rough work
#6 is a bit longer than the jack plane
#7 is a jointer plane for leveling surfaces and getting straight edges
#8 is a longer version of the #7

#9-1/2, #60, #60-1/2, #65 are various incarnations of block planes

Manufacturers other than Stanley have their own numbering systems.
People use terms like #4 & #5 because you can't go to a flea market
or antique store without tripping over a Stanley bench plane. Millions
were produced. Heck, when I started letting coworkers and relatives
know that I was into hand planes I was given at least two of all the
above mentioned planes. Seems everyone had a few kicking around their
garage or attic because their father or grandfather had one for
trimming doors.

--
Scott Post
http://home.insightbb.com/~sepost/