Some time back I bought a very nice old Stanley rabbet plane complete with fence. Properly fettled and with a well honed blade, it cuts like a dream. I bought it to use on tenons, shoulders, etc.. Places where you would also use a shoulder plane. And that is my question. What does a shoulder plane do that can not be done with a rabbet plane? I would like to have a nice shoulder plane but struggle to justify the price of one, especially as well as my rabbet plane performs for me. Comments?
Jeff
Replies
If the nose is removable then the shoulder plane can double duty as a chisel plane. Also, I don't think a shoulder plane has a knicker.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
What sort of Stanley rabbet plane? You mention a fence, so maybe a 78? If so, a 78 is quite a differnet beast than a shoulder plane.
A block rabbet, like LN's, will do much of what a shoulder plane does, but not everything - at least not as precisely.
The mass of shoulder plane and it's precisely machined base and sides make it superior for trimming - well, uh - shoulders of tenons. It also does a nice job on the cheeks. Personally, I find it as fast and accurate to pare tenon shoulders to a knife line.
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