Block Plane Choice

[NYC Tiny Shop]

I have 3 block planes, a Stanley, 12-247 that I got from HD for about $12.00, the 102 in brass and the 60 1/2 which is my favorite.
I keep the Stanley 12-247 in my tool box and it gets a fair amount of use and abuse but is a pain to adjust. It really is terrible for end grain but it's really handy to have.
I have large hands and the 102 just feels too small. I have used it for chamfering and cleaning the end grain on small pieces of wood but it's not used as much as the 60 1/2 which was my first LN purchase. I keep the hand written receipt from LN in the box, I don't know why.
Tim

Tim, you might like an old Stanley #4, if your hands are so big. I often use it as a block plane...heck, I use it for just about everything. PM me a price, if you ever want to sell the LN 102...could use another.

 

[jeep jake]

i also always use my LN small block plane. I know it doesn't have a adjustable mouth. But its by far my favorite.

 

[hrrb]

No doubt Lie Nielsen and Veritas make some of the best planes...and some day I'll go that route.  [tongue]

But so far my needs haven't justified using that much money on planes.  [embarassed]

Most of my planes are Stanley's and I find them to be okay. With a little fine tuning, polishing and sharpening they are actually quite good.  [smile]

Last week I bought an Anant bullnose plane...and I dont see myself ever buying an Anant plane again. Out of the box the blade wasn't able to cut a soft sausage in slices. The finish of the plane body was horrible...as if it was shaped and polished on one of the concrete slabs in my backyard. Plus it wasn't even square. Never again!  [mad]

I know I could return it to Rutlands and they'd with no doubt give me back my money (I have only nice things to say about Rutlands). But I didn't bother.

After an hour grinding on the belt sander, polishing and sharpening, it became acceptable and I'll just keep it as it is. (I think I'll mainly use it as a chisel plane).

But never ever ever Anant again!

Kind regards
Henrik

 

[Kev]

No doubt Lie Nielsen and Veritas make some of the best planes...and some day I'll go that route.  [tongue]

But so far my needs haven't justified using that much money on planes.  [embarassed]

I share you feeling Henrik.

Don't get me wrong guys - I have a high impulse to buy response when I touch or look at LN planes (and some higher exotica) ... but haven't found shortcomings in the various Stanley, Record, etc offerings. I do make the effort to keep them sharp though.

Just take care if you do go for a mid price planes though - for example Stanley make some pretty good stuff, but they also make some rubbish.

I do like the Record 60-1/2 ... cheap enough to have a couple of - it's not the sort of tool I want to be in the middle of using and need to stop and sharpen, so an extra one comes in handy.

 

[w802h]

I'm really impressed by the respectful tone of this thread.  Everyone seems to acknowledge that it's a personal subject. 

I think we can all agree that a sharp plane cuts better than a dull one and that the user's interaction with the tool - how it fits in the individual's hand - matters a lot. 

Can we also agree that the task should dictate the type of plane and bedding angle, etc?  And that tools that have the above characteristics and perhaps a higher build quality will be enjoyed more and in a wider range of uses. 

And maybe it's just me... but it would be a nice indulgence to have so many planes that I needed a caddy to follow me around to carry them all.  Wait, there are definitely times I don't want anyone else touching them!

 

[Kev]

I'm really impressed by the respectful tone of this thread.  Everyone seems to acknowledge that it's a personal subject. 

I think we can all agree that a sharp plane cuts better than a dull one and that the user's interaction with the tool - how it fits in the individual's hand - matters a lot. 

Can we also agree that the task should dictate the type of plane and bedding angle, etc?  And that tools that have the above characteristics and perhaps a higher build quality will be enjoyed more and in a wider range of uses. 

And maybe it's just me... but it would be a nice indulgence to have so many planes that I needed a caddy to follow me around to carry them all.  Wait, there are definitely times I don't want anyone else touching them!

"I think I'll use the 5 on this one ... James, the 5 if you would ..." Priceless  [big grin]

Back on block planes - if I had to acquire something for refined work, the Veritas seems to fall to hand in the nicest way of all the small planes I have fondled.

 

[pmarcusm]

Well, I settled on the Veritas low angle block plane and part of the choice was that I had to place an order to Lee Valley for some brackets to hang some Roman shades the wife made. I will play around with this one and see how I like it. Hopefully a lot  [smile]
It's due to me Tuesday.

Marcus

 

[Knight Woodworks]

Congratulations! 
It's a really nice plane made by a great Co. with excellent customer service. I bet you'll love it.

John

 

[PaulMarcel]

For my shop bench I have 60.5 and low angel jack plane from lie Nelson both adjustable throat
And a 60.5 in my to go kit . The bridge city tool porn on the shelve to remind me what  uber details are like.
Rc

Ah, you should use the Bridge City block! More than just pretty... it'll still sell for more than you paid even if you use it

 

[polarsea1]

I use a Record 60 1/2 and a Stanley #18 knuckle block. 

 

[dpetrzelka]

My favorite is the Veritas / Lee Valley low angle block plane - I use it on many things from furniture to thinning guitar braces. I also use it for shooting small pieces.

With low angle planes only buy the 25 degree blades and add a micro bevel to get your higher angles - much more flexible in the long run should you decide to add a little camber or change angles. Order at least one if not two of these extra blades to take advantage of the low angle system.

The ball and tail accessory for this plane is actually really nice - I use it in conjunction with a slightly cambered blade with a 35-45 micro bevel for use as a small smoother on end table legs. Works beautifully.

 

[demographic]

My favorite is the Veritas / Lee Valley low angle block plane - I use it on many things from furniture to thinning guitar braces. I also use it for shooting small pieces.

With low angle planes only buy the 25 degree blades and add a micro bevel to get your higher angles - much more flexible in the long run should you decide to add a little camber or change angles. Order at least one if not two of these extra blades to take advantage of the low angle system.

The ball and tail accessory for this plane is actually really nice - I use it in conjunction with a slightly cambered blade with a 35-45 micro bevel for use as a small smoother on end table legs. Works beautifully.

Yup, thats the same as mine, although mine lives in a toolbox and gets used on site so if it was a house it would be said to look more looking more erm "lived in".

I had a go with a Lie Neilson low angle block plane and to be honest I couldn't get on with it. I have pretty big hands and found it too narrow.
Always preferred the slightly wider blockplanes that Stanley did (might have been a 91/2) over the narrow one (which could have been a 60 1/2).

 

[tiralie]

Always preferred the slightly wider blockplanes that Stanley did (might have been a 91/2) over the narrow one (which could have been a 60 1/2).

So is the Veritas/LeeValley wider than the LN?

I believe the LN was modeled after the Stanley 60 1/2.
Tim

 

[Julian Tracy]

I had a Veritas low-angle block plane as well as a few others.  I will say that though they are very nice tools in form and function, after I got my blade sharpening skills down, I found that they didn't work any better than my tuned up older Stanley planes.  Ended  selling them all except for a LN bronze edge plane that's pretty slick.

Julian

 

[waho6o9]

Get one with a fence so you can add a block to make chamfers.

Love my Lie Nielsen skew block.

[attachimg=1]

https://www.lie-nielsen.com/product/block-planes/skew-block-plane-left?node=4072

 

[ishmerc]

This is the one you should get LV NX60
http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=61963&cat=1,41182,48942

 

[jacko9]

This is the one you should get LV NX60
http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=61963&cat=1,41182,48942

If you get one of those planes, get it with the PM-V11 steel blade.  I got there chisel with that steel and it sharpens to an incredable edge and retains the edge with some heavy duty use.

Jack

 

[demographic]

Always preferred the slightly wider blockplanes that Stanley did (might have been a 91/2) over the narrow one (which could have been a 60 1/2).

So is the Veritas/LeeValley wider than the LN?

I believe the LN was modeled after the Stanley 60 1/2.
Tim

Veritas low angle block plane 1 5/8" wide iron and 2" wide overall.
LN low angle block plane 1 3/8" wide iron and I couldn't find the overall width. Its definitely narrower than my Veritas Low angle block plane and personally I didn't like it. I can even touch up a door edge with mine if needed and the narrower one would leave tramlines if I did that. Plus the main point is that I just didn't like it as much.
People with smaller hands may well feel different about it but I always felt that the 60 1/2 was too narrow for me anyway.

Also I kind of get the idea that LN took classic planes and refined the designs but Veritas started off from scratch and designed what they felt was the best tool.

 

[Tinker]

I have been thinking about getting a good block plane.  I now have 2.  Both Stanleys
I did not realize there were different sizes of block planes, but after reading all of above, i decided to check mine.  I cannot find any model # on other one of them, but the one i like best came in a sheath marked Bailey.  The Name "Stanley" is stamped on both planes.  After reading above, i got to wondering why I liked one,but not particularly crazy in love with the other.

One has an adjustable throat, slightly lower angle and is an inch or so shorter. The larger of the two does not have adjustable thread and is 8" (measured from finger tip to thump tip)  The Bailey is just more comfortable in my small hand. I have been using it for leveling across con caved wood where I wanted to keep the curve.  It is great for use as a small smoother and for beveling edges.  Instead of using curved router bits, i an starting to use it for rounding edges.  Not quite purfic yet, but the project I have been doing that with I am doing as much hand work as my abilities allow. 

I had not realized how import and plane/hand size would be in a block plane.  I will definitely need to look closely between LN and LV block planes.
Tinker

 

[dpetrzelka]

Just one more reminder why I recommend the Lee Valley low angle block plane - precision adjustment...