This is a fine tool once properly tuned up. There is a reason a Veritas is 4x the cost - tighter process controls, thicker A2 blade, some design improvements. Any of the lower cost planes require the purchaser to finish the production process, and no, one does not have an equivalent tool to a Veritas or LN when finished. However, one does have a tool that works very well for low cost + time to tune it.