Scraper filing 45 vs 90 degrees

Re: Scraper filing 45 vs 90 degrees

Don Stephan

"Why buy a LN No 4 when Stanley's were available for $40?"

My experience every time I wanted to use a Stanley plane I would have to spend an hour working ON the plane before I could work WITH the plane. And the next time I wanted to use it, the same experience. Work on the plane was guided by several articles I had collected over the years from Fine Woodworking and other sources. Eventually I purchased a Lie Nielsen plane, and every time I needed to use it I did not have to spend any time working on it. I've since purchased several more LN planes, with the same experience. I do not doubt there are people who have had very positive experiences with Stanley planes, and I am happy for them.

curious

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

What exactly was the work required to make this plane useable each time?

The LN plane is an exact copy of the Stanley Bedrock design. While a used plane could have some defect that rendered it deficient or unfixable, there is no superior design in the LN. Personally, I do not see a detectable difference in my use of the planes between the regular and Bedrock design. I will, however, say that execution of these designs in planes build after about 1960 +/- is so sloppy that many are unusable.

Re: Tell us more

Don Stephan

Haven't used those Stanley planes in years because they were so frustrating, so I don't remember the details all that well.

But taking off the shelf, wouldn't take a nice shaving. So I pulled out the articles on how to "fettle" if that is the word an old Stanley to make it work well. I'm sure some of the steps involved making sure the bottom was flat, dressing the chip breaker, honing the blade, checking the mouth clearance, and so on. Basically I followed all the steps, in order, presesented in the articles, and there was quite a bit of agreement on the needed steps and sequence between articles. After an hour or so following the articles, the plane would work very well. But the next time I used it several months later, . . .

What to buy?

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

When we got into the sheep business we asked to buy some lambs. The farmer sized us up and said, "since you don't know what you are doing, buy some old ewes that do".

Sage advice for planes too. Buy a LV or LN and it will work out of the box. When it doesn't you will be confident it is you and not the plane. Around the second or third plane it will be safe to buy used for you will know what to look for and how to use it. An undamaged Stanley from the era when they were well made will perform equivalent to the new LN. Used is a cost effective way to get planes you may not use often enough to justify buying new.

Re: What to buy?

Don Stephan

Great advice!

Re:I disagree

Hank Knight

Years ago when I got seriously into hand tool woodworking, I collected all my bench planes from the Internet (Ebay mostly). They were all Stanley Bedrocks. I spent the time to learn how to set them up and I purchased modern irons and chip breakers for them. They have performed flawlessly ever since. They live in a wall mounted plane rack near my bench and are ready to go when I need them. I never have to spend time "setting them up" before I use them - except for perhaps setting the depth adjustment - they are ready to go off the wall. I also own some LN bench and specialty planes. I can't tell the difference between my hundred-year-old Stanhleys and the modern Lie Nielsens. They both do a great job.