What an outrageous tool (low-angle jack plane.) With that toothed blade it scrubs like nobody’s business with no tearout whatsoever. Adjustment is far easier than anticipated. I find it both easier and faster than using my jointer (although I’ll grant you that my jointer is an unmitigated piece of feces for which there can be no alibi. Delta should hang it’s collective head in shame.) 3 minutes with the #62, 2 minutes with the York pitch #4 smoother and presto–a beautiful glass-smooth iridescent surface; no noise, minimal risk of injury, no dust in my lungs and fits in a simple drawer.
This is my kind of tool. I’m a happy guy.
Charlie
I tell you, we are here to fart around, and don’t let anybody tell you different. –K Vonnegut
Replies
CharlieD,
I share your mad infatuation with the LN brand. I live about 25 miles from Japan Woodworker in Alameda, Ca, where they run a no tax sale every six months or so; I would imagine that the bulk of their LN sales happen on those days. There is usually a small but steady line of customers, where sensible men act like little boys when ordering their planes. (Guilty as charged.)
My "library" includes a 3, 4.5, 5.5, 7, large shoulder and low angle block. I have 4 of the spokeshaves (flat and curved Boggs, and the light duty 'shaves). I used the 5.5, in earnest, on my bench's top last weekend, and cackled in a mad, disturbing-the-peace/felony offense sort of way while doing so.
A buddy of mine is intent upon owning the entire LN catalog one day (he's a good portion accomplished there), so I usually drop by his house when I have the need to "shop". He went low angle on the 4, 5 and 7; everything I have is bench style, and I've not yet found the need for low angle.
Cheers,
Seth
"There is usually a small but steady line of customers, where sensible men act like little boys when ordering their planes. (Guilty as charged.)"
I'm up to about 6 or 7 L-N tools now.
To think that I used to make fun of all those Beenie Baby collectors! I don't feel quite so smug now.
Not trying to hijack this thread, but if you ever get a chance to visit the Japan Woodworker, do it. It is a Neandertal's heaven.
It is a bit pricey, like the set of 12 Japanese chisels in the case to the left as you walk in the door, for $3,200.
They are oriented primarily to Japanese tools (duh) but have a very large selection of "western" tools like the L-N's. Their catalog is worth having, and buying from. A first class organization.
Not affiliated with them, but did live around the corner for a couple of months._________________________________
Michael in San Jose
"In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell
If this is your first L-N Charlie, keep an eye out for that slippery slope... ;)
Glad to hear you like the tool....
Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
Join the club, my friend.
Most used tool in my chest. Couldn't live without it.
I have one, too, without the toothed blade. Do you feel the toothed blade surpasses a dedicated scrub plane, which I already have and find extremely useful?
You might also check out the L-N scew angle block plane. It's a real gem.
Jim,The toothed blade is great; I don't own a real scrub plane though--let alone a L-N one--so I can't say for certain about your question. However, I did try both at the show, and the demonstrator demo'd them both for me. The scrub plane was
*much* faster, but caused more tearout. The #62 toothed did a great job, no tearout (combination of the toothed blade and adjustable mouth) but more slowly. If I had my way, I'd have both, naturally.I bought the #62 due to limited funds; it was presented as the most versatile plane they've got. This is because you can just vary the 2ndary bevel with a few quick strokes on the 1000 grit then 8000 stone, adjust the mouth to campensate and you've got the perfect angle to match your grain. I also bought a #4 smoother, with both frogs; in retrospect, I wish I'd bought the low-angle smoother, to have the same versatility for less $ than I spent on the #4 (although it's a real beauty.)Thanks for the tip on the skewed block. I'll satrt saving. Need a rabbetting plane, though...CharlieI tell you, we are here to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different. --K Vonnegut
Thanks for the info on the "teeth". I've used the scrub plane quite a bit as it was the first L-N I got. Like anything, though, it takes some practice and fiddling to only take off what you want without tearing up the workpiece. You'll probably be better off with the teeth on that #7 for all chores except really hogging off major amounts of wood. The blade on the scrub is a rather dramatic chamfer (cresent shape, really) and it had a wide, fixed mouth as you no doubt noticed. But, if you set it really shalow there's not much tearout and it's a whole lot easier to use.The skew-angle plane can be used as a rabbet plane as the blade comes out to the edge,but only on one side. I think it's my favorite plane and I use it on tenons all the time.When I was in the market for a couple of planes to make a commissioned project the way the client wanted it made, I called L-N and they recommended I get the #4 1/2 . It's a great tool on cherry, nice feel and weight.I made the mistake of going into the L-N showroom with my wife. I told the sales guy I wanted to buy another plane. He asked me which ones I already had and, when I told him, he said -- right there before my wife -- that I really didn't need any more! Bad news!
He asked me which ones I already had and, when I told him, he said -- right there before my wife -- that I really didn't need any more! Bad news!
You'd think that they, of all people would know better than say something as rash as that....Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
Jim,
Thanks for sharing you LN showroom experience. Clearly that kind of un-abashed flirting with your spouse is totally unacceptable....this is why we call them Maine Maniacs...lol
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