With its ability to control depth with precision, the router plane excels at fine tuning machinecut joinery, stepping in to flatten and level the bottoms of dadoes and half-laps. It’s also great for delicate work, such as trimming a tooshallow hinge mortise.

As I mentioned in a previous article (“Why You Need a Router Plane,” FWW #229, p.24), I prefer the closed-throat type, because it handles narrow stock better than openthroat models, so I was happy to test Lie-Nielsen’s new offering.

The initial fit and finish of the plane was quite nice, but there was some tune-up required to correct a sole considerably crowned front to back. It took 45 minutes to fix the problem, first with a mill file and then polishing with sandpaper (starting with 80 grit) on a steel flattening plate. The good news is that it’s a one-time fix, so it was time well spent.

The iron was square to the sole and was easy to flatten and polish with bench stones. The cutting edge held up really well while in use.

Adjusting the depth was easy and precise with the finely fitted threads on the knurled knob. The cutter lock also worked well with no slipping or loosening during use.

The Lie-Nielsen closedthroat router plane is well made overall and would be a welcome addition in any woodworking shop.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Lie-Nielsen No. 102 Low Angle Block Plane

With smooth, precise adjustments and wonderful balance, this compact block plane is a joy to use. It doesn’t have any bells and whistles, but there’s not a better block plane available for the money.

Buy at Direct

Veritas Precision Square

This precision square is incredibly versatile, from checking squareness to dialing in machine setups.

Buy at Lee Valley

Suizan Japanese Pull Saw

A versatile saw that can be used for anything from kumiko to dovetails. Mike Pekovich recommends them as a woodworker's first handsaw.

Buy at Amazon