One of the hand planes that you will forever find yourself constantly reaching for is your trusty block plane. Block planes come in various sizes, with various features. Among the most versatile and commonly found are the 60 1/2 and 9 1/2 sized block planes with their adjustable throats and 6-6.5" long bodies, they can handle almost any task you would ask of them. They can be used to chamfer edges, smooth out surfaces, adjust and clean up joinery, and more. But how to choose the best one for yourself? Things to consider: L ow angle or Standard Angle? Nearly all block planes come in one of these two be angles... A standard angle  block plane like the 9 1/2 has the same overall cutting angle as your average bench plane. They are often heavier and make better smoothers. A  low angle block plane like the 60 1/2 has a lower overall cutting angle making it easier to plane end grains. They are often lighter which makes them easier to use in the air. Narrower or wider blade? A narrow...

For many years now, Kobalt has been offering a 6.5” block plane that is essentially a Stanley No 9½ clone. Most budget store brand planes on the market today are criticized for being made too cheaply. Some can be redeemed and made to work. But I had no intention on figuring out if the Kobalt was one of them. That is, until today. This Kobalt plane came to me included in a bundle of block planes that I recently bought. My first thought was “is this Kobalt even worth cleaning up?” My second thought was how many others have wondered the same? So, I decided to document my investigation. Could I toss it in my travel toolbox and trust it when I need it? Pull it out for riskier tasks? Is it worth spending the time to clean it up and sharpen it? Or will it live out it's days holding doors open and making sure that papers don't blow away? Let's find out! So what is the value of a 9½ block as a woodworking tool anyway?…  Well then, the 9½ block plane’s key features are a 6.5" so...