DO NOT BUY THIS PIECE OF JUNK.  Instead, find a higher quality plane, say something in the $2-$4 range.  You'll be happier and better off.

My overall opinion of this thing is that "Quality Control" simply consisted of making sure it fit in the package it came in.  I gave it one star ONLY because it isn't possible to give it a negative number of them.  This overpriced piece of junk deserves somewhere around a negative two or three stars.

A few weeks back I needed a low angle block plane to finish some projects I was making as Christmas gifts, and I bought this one based on (A) the multple good reviews, and (B) the relatively low price.

I wish I had saved my money and bought almost anything else.

It arrived a day earlier than expected (good job, Amazon!), and the packaging was nice.  That's about all I can say that's positive about this plane.

Before I explain the problems with this plane, I have been doing woodworking for more than 35 years, and I fully understand that you will have to do a lot of "tuning" on virtually any plane you buy, new or used.  Also I own and use eight other planes - one Wood River, four Groz, one Craftsman (from about 1940), one Worth (an "antique" from the early 1900's - I think), and one really ancient Stanley from before 1910.  ALL of them are superior to this piece of junk.  Now to the sad part.

First, instead of being flat to withing +/- 0.003" (or so), the sole was cupped more than 3/64" at the throat, with a particularly obvious downward curve of the throat causing the throat to be > 3/64" away from any level surface.

Second, the blade had been better sharpened than the blade in some other planes I have bought.  However it also had either a large nick or a void in that sharpened edge, and I had to grind off around 1/16" before I could sharpen it properly.

Third, The adjustable throat had one particularly sticky spot in it that required careful filing and smoothing before the adjusable throat could be adjusted.

Fourth, the keyway in the hold-down cap was so badly done that I had to take a drill and a file to it in order to enlarge it enough so that the screw head could pass through it.  Until I did that, it was possible to remove the blade for sharpening ONLY by removing the screw completely.

Fifth and finally, the finish was nice but was a bit on the sloppy side, and I was not impressed with it at all.

Thinking it over, I should have returned this piece of junk as soon as I opened it, but it was already too close to Christmas to take a chance on getting another before then, and I had to finish the projects I was working on (all of which included having to plane end-grain).  So it took me many hours to get the sole relatively flat so that I could finish the project I was worried about.  Luckily I was able to sharpen the blade successfully (finishing with an 8000 grit stone), and it took a good edge.

So far I have spent an estimated 13-15 hours in flattening the sole and sharpening the blade of this plane, and I cannot recommend that anybody buy it.  After all, every bit of the work that I did has still not gotten this joke of a plane up to the condition it should have been out of the box. [UPDATE:  I finished flattening the sole tonight and my cumulative time on fixing Stanley's lack of quality control took me a total of 18 hours of manual labor.
DO NOT BUY THIS PIECE OF JUNK. Instead, find a higher quality plane, say something in the $2-$4 range. You'll be happier and better off. My overall opinion of this thing is that "Quality Control" simply consisted of making sure it fit in the package it came in. I gave it one star ONLY because it isn't possible to give it a negative number of them. This overpriced piece of junk deserves somewhere around a negative two or three stars. A few weeks back I needed a low angle block plane to finish some projects I was making as Christmas gifts, and I bought this one based on (A) the multple good reviews, and (B) the relatively low price. I wish I had saved my money and bought almost anything else. It arrived a day earlier than expected (good job, Amazon! ), and the packaging was nice. That's about all I can say that's positive about this plane. Before I explain the problems with this plane, I have been doing woodworking for more than 35 years, and I fully understand that you will have to do a lot of "tuning" on virtually any plane you buy, new or used. Also I own and use eight other planes - one Wood River, four Groz, one Craftsman (from about 1940), one Worth (an "antique" from the early 1900's - I think), and one really ancient Stanley from before 1910. ALL of them are superior to this piece of junk. Now to the sad part. First, instead of being flat to withing +/- 0. 003" (or so), the sole was cupped more than 3/64" at the throat, with a particularly obvious downward curve of the throat causing the throat to be > 3/64" away from any level surface. Second, the blade had been better sharpened than the blade in some other planes I have bought. However it also had either a large nick or a void in that sharpened edge, and I had to grind off around 1/16" before I could sharpen it properly. Third, The adjustable throat had one particularly sticky spot in it that required careful filing and smoothing before the adjusable throat could be adjusted. Fourth, the keyway in the hold-down cap was so badly done that I had to take a drill and a file to it in order to enlarge it enough so that the screw head could pass through it. Until I did that, it was possible to remove the blade for sharpening ONLY by removing the screw completely. Fifth and finally, the finish was nice but was a bit on the sloppy side, and I was not impressed with it at all. Thinking it over, I should have returned this piece of junk as soon as I opened it, but it was already too close to Christmas to take a chance on getting another before then, and I had to finish the projects I was working on (all of which included having to plane end-grain). So it took me many hours to get the sole relatively flat so that I could finish the project I was worried about. Luckily I was able to sharpen the blade successfully (finishing with an 8000 grit stone), and it took a good edge. So far I have spent an estimated 13-15 hours in flattening the sole and sharpening the blade of this plane, and I cannot recommend that anybody buy it. After all, every bit of the work that I did has still not gotten this joke of a plane up to the condition it should have been out of the box. [UPDATE:  I finished flattening the sole tonight and my cumulative time on fixing Stanley's lack of quality control took me a total of 18 hours of manual labor.