I’m going to be reviewing a Quangsheng hand plane that I bought with my own money. That should be simple enough. But the world isn’t simple, and I wanted to cut out all the crap that isn’t specifically about the Quangsheng plane in this “Pre-Review”. So I covered quite a bit in a recent post and video but I want to be specific about this plane. Just like any review, there is my bias and my opinions applied. If you have a different perspective or experience, please feel free to add a comment. This isn’t a closed discussion, I am not claiming I’m right.
Why Choose a Quangsheng Hand Plane?
Most people are drawn to the Quangsheng tools in search of value. Alternatives of a similar design to the No.3 I purchased can cost an extra £150 to £275 over the £155 asking price of the Quangsheng. This cost begins to spiral if you buy a few planes. We all have our situation and we cut our cloth accordingly.
Do I need a Quangsheng Hand Plane?
Well, if you want to buy a plane you’ll need to buy something. Some people just won’t consider buying used. That’s fine. Just know that a good Stanley or Record, (insert any quality brand name here) Bailey is equal to any brand. Anyone that tells you different is likely to be selling you a tool they claim to be better. The advantage I have is I’m not selling tools. If you want a good Bailey, you’ll need to put in a little bit of work. It’s not difficult work, but some people won’t do that. If you already have a good Bailey you don't need this plane to make you a better woodworker. If you’re a beginner and given advice of “Don’t buy Quangsheng, if you can’t afford a Lie-Nielsen you should make your own” or any similar claptrap I suggest you ignore it. You’re a grown up, don’t listen to such sanctimonious rubbish.
Where are Quangsheng Planes Made?
China. It's likely the device your reading this on comes from China. I don't think I need to educate people about how the far reaching global economy works. I’ve read people dismiss things coming from China as “trash”. This simply isn't accurate in terms of quality. Trash can be made anywhere, just look at British Leyland! I respect people choosing where to spend their money. From my perspective it's a strange position to be a “no Chinese product woodworker”. Why not go further? You don't need a phone, computer, car, television or light bulbs to live. Cherry picking and virtue signalling is amusing to me. No problem if you’re into that kind of thing, it just doesn’t sit well with me. If China is a big problem for you, take that stand. Just know that a home woodworker not buying a Chinese made hand plane doesn't change a thing. I'll expand on that later. Oh, and just because I have bought a plane from China, it doesn't mean I endorse or condem their political system. Again, I'm not here for that discussion. Your a grown up, make your own choices.
Are Quangsheng Hand Planes Copies?
Here's my opinion. Quansheng planes have the same silhouette and layout as Stanley’s ill fated Bedrock design. Ill fated only in terms of being over priced and offering no practical benefit. Therefore the Stanley had a short production run. Frankly, it’s not the panacea of tool design it’s made out to be. It’s great, appropriate and up to the job, but no better than a Bailey. Due to the rarity of the original Stanley Bedrock design they are expensive, collectable and for many people, desirable. Adding to that, the Bedrock concept was the choice for the Lie-Nielsen and Clifton Planes. Clifton Planes look very Clifton, Lie-Nielsen look like a proud and skilled engineer made a Stanley, they are very nicely put together tools.
In my opinion, albeit after researching online, it looks like the Quangsheng branded planes did a Record. What do I mean by that? Record, like I’m sure many others tool makers did, sat on their hands waiting for Stanley’s all conquering Bailey patents to expire. From the 1930’s onwards it was open season. Stanley had enjoyed 20 years of nobody copying their design. Now there was competion.
As well made as Lie-Nielsen planes are, I’m not sure there is anything on them that can be patented. Perhaps the Cap Iron? But even that would’ve been a stretch. I don’t know when Lie-Nielsen made their first Bedrock Plane (please enlighten me). I understand their business began in 1981, perhaps 1990 for the first Bedrock? It was around 2009 that the “WoodRiver” was launched. Likely the close cousin of the Quangsheng (more on that later). It had some very similar details to the Lie-Nielsen but there are also visual and material differences too. You’ll need to decide for yourself, after close comparison, if the Quangsheng plane is a carbon copy of Lie-Nielsen, and if you believe it is, make your own judgements as to whether you think that’s wrong.
Quangsheng have also been able to come up with a decent plough plane, their own shoulder planes and side rebate planes too. This is why I see Quangsheng in a similar light to Record. Lie-Nielsen, much to my surprise, have never made a plough and their shoulder planes are very similar to the Record planes.
Do Quangsheng Planes do Harm to Domestic Makers?
There was legitimate concern about this when WoodRiver came on the scene. After all, even though Lie-Nielsen didn’t reinvent the wheel, and to the best of my knowledge had no patents, there would clearly have been bucket loads of investment and development work required. Some 14 years on Lie-Nielsen have gone from strength to strength. So much so, their products are rarely in stock. Even though here in the UK they cost up to 3x the price of a Quangsheng.
I would speculatively say that Lie-Nielsen didn’t, and don’t loose any sales to Quangsheng Perhaps I'll go further, Quangsheng have no effect on Lie-Nielsen’s business. Lie-Nielsen have a special place in woodworkers hearts and it’s become an “aspirational brand”. Remember though, a standard Bailey is just as capable. I think people identify with the care, the romantic woodworking ethic of how Lie-Nielsen make things. It’s how many people within woodworking would like to see themselves.
But, many people also have a budget. Not that I recommend this, but lets say I buy a No.4, No.5 and No. 7. Today the Quangsheng would cost me £615, the Lie-Nielsen would be £1605. My car cost me the difference. I’m not ashamed to say that I’m not the Lie-Nielsen’s target market. We all have a range of responsibilities and I simply couldn’t justify spending an extra £1000 on planes. Not that I’m even going to pony up for 3 Quangsheng. I don’t think that Lie-Nielsen are unfairly priced, but for many of us they are expensive. That’s our problem, not theirs.
If like me you’re in the UK please take another look at Clifton. If you run the numbers the same three Clifton planes would cost you £1019. Not cheap, but there is no way on earth that that three Lie-Nielsens are £600 better than three Clliftons. One day I’ll get my hands on a new Clifton and review that.
My recent grumble with this situation is always do a little research. There is a router plane doing the rounds at the moment that is the same price as a North American counterpart and looks very similar to it as well. I can’t wrap my head around buying an outsourced product made for less and paying the same for it as you would a domestic brand. It’s like spending the same on a DACIA as you would a BMW. Odd.
Are Quangsheng Planes available outside the UK?
Yes, with the exception of North America. The UK seller of Quangsheng planes will ship worldwide but “we are unable to ship Quangsheng products to North America due to retail exclusivity restrictions.”. Here’s where we expand into the WoodRiver brand. We don’t have a UK retailer that sells WoodRiver, but my hunch is they all come out of the same factory as Quangsheng. Having reviewed a WoodRiver it seems highly likely they are just versions of Luban, Juma, Qiangsheng, Dictum etc. Ultimately, if you’re a retailer you can have a plane dressed just for you by the Chinese factory.
Is that it?
I hope so! But please feel free to add anything. I may not agree with you but I’m happy to hear it. Perhaps you'll shift my perspective! This is why I had to do this “pre-review”. There is so much opinion around tools that it’s hard just to do a review, especially a tool made in China.
