Stanley · No. 6 · 1869–1970
The No. 6 is the fore plane, 18 inches long with a 2⅜-inch iron and about 7¾ pounds. Stanley made it from 1869 to 1970 and advertised it as "simply a short jointer." Some old-time carpenters carried a No. 6 instead of a full jointer to save weight between jobs, and others used it to face glued-up panels. It's less common than the Nos. 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8, and Patrick Leach admits he's never found the size useful. Christopher Schwarz sees it differently and lists the No. 6 with the No. 5 as fore planes, the roughing tools that take a cupped or bowed board to reasonably flat. Smaller woodworkers sometimes prefer it to a heavier jointer. Stanley also made a corrugated 6C and an aluminum A6, which it kept selling three years longer than the other aluminum planes.
Identify and date it
At 18 inches it sits between the 15-inch No. 5½ and the 22-inch No. 7, and it shares the No. 7's 2⅜-inch iron width. A No. 6 and a No. 7 look alike in photos, so ask for the length. The aluminum A6 weighs about 3½ pounds, under half a cast-iron No. 6.
Type Study sweet spot
Types 10–16 (about 1907–1941) for a user, though roughing work doesn't care much about Type.
Date it like a No. 4 by the patent dates behind the frog, the knob and the lever cap hole. On the bigger planes the number is cast behind the tote. Schwarz doesn't need a dead-flat sole on a fore plane, so a later or wartime No. 6 works fine for roughing and the Type matters more to collectors.
If you’ll use it
Use it as a fore plane with a curved iron and an open mouth, or as a short jointer if a No. 7 is too heavy for you.
If you’ll collect it
The aluminum A6 is the collectible version.
Look for cracks at the cheeks and mouth, broken tote horns and holes drilled for hanging or for a fence. A badly twisted body is a problem for jointing, though slight unevenness won't stop it working as a fore plane.
Buying guide
For roughing and short jointing, a later or wartime No. 6 works fine, and plain ones start about $43 delivered here. About 130 are listed, and most complete ones ask $80–120 delivered. Early Types and corrugated 6Cs start around $75, so a collector can buy one for what a plain user plane often asks. A No. 6 and a No. 7 look alike in photos, so ask for the sole length (about 18 inches against 22), and check the cheeks and mouth for cracks, the tote horn, and the sides for drilled holes. Skip the restoration planes, which cost more than the cheapest complete No. 6.
$29.06est. delivered
An early Type 6 or 7 with a fluted (corrugated) sole per the title, at about $29 delivered with no bids and six days left. $28 of that is shipping and a plain fixed-price No. 6 is $43 delivered, so a user should stop at about $15 bid.
Antique Stanley Rule & Level Co. Plane No 6 Early Type 6 7 Fluted Sole USA Tool
$42.99est. delivered
The cheapest fixed-price No. 6 at about $43 delivered, well under the $80–120 band, and a roughing plane doesn't need an early Type. The title gives no condition, so ask for photos of the cheeks, mouth and tote.
Vintage Stanley Bailey No. 6 Wood Plane
$108.37est. delivered
Titled tuned and sharp, so it's the least work before first use, and it's a Type 7 with a V logo iron per the title. At about $108 delivered it sits inside the band.
Stanley #6 Type 7 Plane Smooth Sole V Logo Iron S Markings Tuned Sharp
$79.90est. delivered
A corrugated Type 5 in good condition per the title, at about $80 delivered, the bottom of the band. Compare the japanning on the frog and body, and ask for a sole photo showing grooves that run straight and stop short of the toe, heel and mouth.
Stanley No 6 Type 5 Bailey's Patent Corrigated Bottom Wood Plane Good Condition
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$29.06est. delivered
$1.00 + $28.06 shipping
Auction · no bids yet · ends in 6d 13h
Good buy
Type 6–7 with a fluted sole per the title. No bids, $28 shipping.
Seller: kkuehn
100% positive
Used$42.99est. delivered
$25.00 + $17.99 shipping
Buy It Now$25.00
Good buy
Plain No. 6. No Type or condition in the title.
Seller: tasteofawesome12
100% positive
Used$108.37est. delivered
$100.00 + $8.37 shipping
Buy It Now$100.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
Type 7, V logo iron, tuned and sharp per the title.
Seller: buddalbo0
100% positive
Used$79.90est. delivered
$59.95 + $19.95 shipping
Buy It Now$59.95
Good buy
Type 5, corrugated, good condition per the title.
Seller: dakota20002
100% positive
For parts$97.80est. delivered
$75.00 + $22.80 shipping
Buy It Now$75.00
Our take
For restoration per the title, and priced like a complete one.
Seller: rebe-1976
100% positive
Used$99.98est. delivered
$79.99 + $19.99 shipping
Buy It Now$79.99
Our take
Made in England per the title.
Seller: flynn5
99.9% positive
Used$155.00est. delivered
$140.00 + $15.00 shipping
Buy It Now$140.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
Three patent dates and a corrugated sole per the title, which fits Types 11–12. The top ask here.
Seller: wheatst
99.8% positive
For parts$48.88est. delivered
$39.00 + $9.88 shipping
Buy It Now$39.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Check the seller
For parts or restoration from a 97.4% seller, and it costs more than a complete No. 6 here.
Seller: biscuitbanjo
97.4% positive
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