I am ready to buy my next hand plane and am looking for advise on which one to buy next. Without starting a holy war, I prefer Lee Valley tools as there is an outlet in my town, and I love their tools and customer service philosophy.
Soooo…
I already have a no. 4 smoother, a low angle block, a block plane and a medium shoulder plane. Any suggestions?
Replies
Depends what kind of work you plan to do. I've tended to buy specialty planes from LV to fill gaps in my stable of old Stanleys. I use the router plane and the edge -trimming plane a lot. However, the one I use most is the LA jack. I reach for it in preference to the LV #4 for smoothing, and for mitres etc. Pleasure to use, and adaptable if you want to buy extra blades.
Having said that, I wouldn't be without a #7 or the #51/2 I use for rough work -- I just haven't needed to buy them new from LV.
Jim
I'd fill in the long end of the stable.
I'd buy a 7, then a 5.
I'd stay with Wood River, for the best value.
First I'd want to know what you build. Still ...
I'd look at the LA Jack - incredible plane for a shooting board, short jointer, panel plane ...
Then a BU Jointer. Add to the short list a router plane.
Regards from Perth
Derek
I do all kinds of different work, The LA jack was where I was leaning. Unfortunatley no-one sells the woodriver planes where I live, so I can't be tempted by them. :-)Any other thoughts?
You must live somewhere in the Outback, then, and even there UPS will find you.The rest is choice.
Nope, just only pay cash. And I like to hold the tools in my (rather large) hand(s) first.
I see.Tell me, how do you "... only pay cash" to Taunton for this account?The rest, as I said, is choice.
This kinda got nasty and personal when it didn't need to. I am looking for input on a new plane, and I happen to really like Lee Valley. To all who replied, thanks!Paul
Edited 4/1/2009 3:05 pm ET by pcott
Paul - Based on the list of tools you already have, I'd suggest thinking about what your next step is (at least as far as hand tools go).
If the answer is that you'd like to learn to 4-square rough boards because they're too large to fit your planer/jointer (or you don't have those), then the suggestions above are certainly needed - you require a roughing plane, which could either be a fore plane or a jack plane, and a long jointer plane (typically a #7 or a #8, or a low-angle BU jointer). If you don't have facilities to cross-cut large boards with power, add a shooting board and a miter plane to the list. While I personally think a miter plane is a better bet for a shooting board, a low-angle BU jack will also work for the purpose, as will a Stanley/Lie Nielsen #5 or #5-1/2.
If the answer is that you want to do more joinery operations by hand, and you have adequate power tools to prepare rough boards (and prefer to use power to do that), then I would suggest that you need a router plane (Lee Valley's offering is a really good one, BTW), a plow plane, and rabbet plane. I would suggest that you want a fenced rabbet plane, and there are a lot of choices - you can go with Lee Valley's new skew rabbet, Lie-Nielsen's version of the Stanley #140 skew rabbet block, or an antique Stanley - a #78, a #278, or a #50 (and there are probably more Stanleys that I haven't thought of).
You might also consider a tongue and groove plane after getting the above joinery planes, though you can certainly use the combination of the plow plane and the rabbet planes to accomplish the same job, though it's slower than a dedicated tongue and groove plane.
Finally, you might consider a panel raising plane. Raising panels on a router table or a shaper is a fairly scary operation, more so than other power tools in the shop, and a panel raiser provides a good hand tool alternative that's reasonably fast and a bit slower - one wrong move won't mess your workpiece up nor cost you your fingers.
Thanks for the thoughtful reply. The fact is I have the power tools to four square lumber, but am interested in being able to do it by hand. I am also very interested in hand joinery as well. So I have a sort of blended interest if you will.Paul
Edited 4/1/2009 3:03 pm ET by pcott
Hmm - Well, welcome to the slippery slope. There was a time when I couldn't have gotten by without my stationary belt sander - now it mostly gathers dust unless I need to take a large amount of metal off of a metal blank for a plane blade. ;-)
Anyone who has access to a LV store lives in Canada. With the Canadian dollar at present worth 79 cents, "choice" is limited by practicality. LV tools, if made in Canada, don't cost any more than they did before, others have a markup of over 20%. Many US companies don't ship to Canada. If they do, the postage rate is high, the courier rate often ruinous, again with a 20% markup. Goods have to clear customs, pay a customs fee and sales tax. This takes time, and makes returns difficult. Not much of a choice when times are bad.
Jim
BU Jack/fore plane
I would purchase a LA Jack. I own the LN but expect that the LV is also great.
I think that the LA Jack is extremely versatile and use mine for many different tasks.
I'm due for a low angle block plane, now only have a cheap Stanely block plane which is OK, though I've had to repair it. I also have become sold on LV, so I guess it'll be one of those new fangled numbers (but not the polished one).
Brian
#7
LV #6
LV BU JACK
Any one of the above will fill out your inventory
Edited 4/1/2009 2:02 am ET by Joel7
If making furniture and general woodwork I would get something from Lee Valley which approximates in length and width to a #51/2 size, which I consider to be the most versatile bench plane. I would be looking at a #7 size as well, but if pressed for one immediate choice it would be that #51/2 size. Why? Because it is long enough to do most edge jointing in furniture making, short enough to work as a smoother for larger surface areas, and reasonable for wasting wood fast when required, and not too small or too cumbersome for a host of other applications. A bevel up format enhances all that as well.
Why not a ..
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=32679&cat=1,41182
I think a better one there also someplace at LV ...
I have a LN #4 Bronze, LN Adjustable mouth block, LN low angle rabbet block, LV BU Jointer and a LV Medium shoulder.
My next plane will be a LV BU Jack. I love the LV BU planes. The truly cool thing about them is the fact that you can sharpen the blade at different angles and... best of all... use the blade in a different LV BU plane! I had to purchase a new Frog to do that with my LN #4.
Go for a BU Jointer or a more versatile BU Jack. Either would be a nice addition to your collection.
Edited 4/3/2009 12:36 pm ET by Tbagn
do you mean the low angle jack (it does have a bevel up blade.)Thanks!
These bad boys. I already have the jointer and I'll go for the jack, next.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=52515&cat=1,41182
pcott:
I agree with everyone who has said get the LV low angle jack plane. In addition to their comments, this plane is designed to provide a functional hand hold when used on its side as a shooting plane. It is a very useful tool. Those who have recommended a #7 jointer plane have made valid points. Instead of getting a LV jointer though, I would suggest you hunt down either an old Stanley or Record #7 and save some money. These planes can be tuned to do everything a jointer should.
gdblake
Don't confuse him. He won't buy either of those, either.
The low angle jack looks like a good choice, thanks. I will bear in mind the suggestions to look for a used Stanley or Record jointer, as I'm sure I would find good use for it.
P,
Which plane would I like to buy next?
That would have to be a Cessna.
Mel
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
That would have to be a Cessna. LOL LOL LOL.... I thought you would say a F16~
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