rabbet planes

Re: rabbet planes

William R. Duffield, on the Cohansey

>The Stanley #90, 92 and 93 are not per se rabbet planes. Technically, they are shoulder planes. The effective cutting angle is lower than a rabbet plane, for cutting end grain. They have neither fences not depth stops. If you want a shoulder plane, you will be much happier with the new Lee Valley medium shoulder plane, on every conceivable point of contention. If you want a rabbet plane, an old Stanley #78 is a much better deal than the #90 series.

Re: rabbet planes

rocky eulo

>Thanks William. What I really want to use it for is cleaning up my tenons.

Re: rabbet planes

Jim DeLaney, Tustin, CA

>For cleaning up tenons, the 92 or 93 will work, but the LV shoulder plane will be much better - and for not much more cost.

Another thing to note is that the LV plane will work perfectly right out of the box. Mine didn't even require honing prior to use. The Stanley 92 & 93 (English made, BTW) are 'nearly finished kits.' They'll require sole flattening, perhaps some casting flash removal, and sharpening and honing prior to use. (I have one of each, BTW) Also, before beginning any tuning on a 92 or 93, check to make sure the sides are actually perpendicular to the sole. Many aren't, an it will take a lot of lapping to make it right. If you get one that isn't square, send it back and ask for a replacement rather than fussing with it. DAMHIKT!

A Stanley #90 is pretty much just the back half of a 93. Same casting. Same sized blade.

Re: Jim. you missed one important point

William R. Duffield, on the Cohansey

>When you drop the #93 on the concrete, it's stone dead, definitely deceased. It's not pining, it's passed on. This #93 is no more. It has ceased to be. It's expired and gone to meet its maker. This is a late #93. It's a stiff. Bereft of life, it rests in peace. If you hadn't nailed it to the bench, it would be pushing up the daisies. It's rung down the curtain and joined the choir invisible. This is an ex-#93. It's spare parts and paperweights. DAMHIKT. ...with appologies to Graham Chapman.

The advantages in durability of the ductile (or nodular) iron used by Lee Valley and Lie-Nielsen should not be dismissed.

Re: Jim. you missed one important point

Will in K.C.

>Santa brought Lonnie and me the LV medium shoulder plane and we have been EXTREMELY pleased. The Stanleys seemed more cumbersome when I picked them up (Lonnie took my word for it). The LV's hole in the middle is a perfect fit for my ring finger, thus avoiding the inevitable fumble onto the floor. Lonnie rates the LV medium shoulder plane 3.75 out of four paws. We will reserve a four paw rating mainly because we have not used the LN yet.

-Will and Lonnie

Does that mean....

Dan Donaldson

>That it might break if I had one and dropped it? ;-)

Re: Jim. you missed one important point

William R. Duffield, on the Cohansey

>I think Lonnie would find the L-N more than a pawfull. He may need to give it an "#8 paw" or "#10 paw" rating. Even a beaver or a capybara would have a bit of a challenge handling that one. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my L-N #073, but even for a Knuckle-dragging Kneanderthal, it can be a bit overwhelming at times, kind of like a #8. But "cumbersome" is a term I relegate to the user-hostile #93 and its ilk.

Is Lonnie Ratus ratus or Ratus norvegicus?

Re: Sweet dreams and flyin' machines...

William R. Duffield, on the Cohansey

>

Re: Jim. you missed one important point

Will in K.C.

>Lonnie, is probably Rattus Norvegicus (he has an 'ever so subtle' Scandanavian accent), but it hasn't come up on conversation. Actually, Lonnie is a refugee from a high school science class. I was to keep him over the summer for a fellow teacher, but that person took another job. The replacement science teacher took the view that Lonnie's best use would be as snake food. After a short application and interview, SWMBO granted Lonnie permanent resident status in the shop. Now, he is earning room and board as a part time hand tool model and a full time friend.

Re: rabbet planes

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>Rocky

I have a #93. It is an older model, which may explain why it works so well. I also like being able to use it as a chisel plane (to work right up to an end). It cuts end grain very well. The only negative I can think of is that it does not clear shavings well (they tend to accumulate and then need to be prized out after a while), but I think that this can be said for other shoulder planes as well.

I also have an old #90 bullnose plane. I would not use this as my first choice to trim shoulders (as a bullnose, by definition, lacks a nose), although it can be done.

Since the #93 (and #90) both are 1" wide, I chose very recently to get a 3/4" shoulder plane to complement these. I could have got another Stanley, the #92, but vintage models are going for more than I think they are worth (a lot more than a new one goes for). And I also fell in love with the HNT Gordon shoulder plane.

The HNT Gordon shoulder plane is simply beautiful. Brass with ironwood infill. 1/4" thick iron. I am not sure what they sell for in your corner of the world, but they are relatively cheap here in Oz (compared to a Veritas, Clifton or LN). Frankly, I would still have bought the Gordon on looks alone. It is deceptively solid, has an authoritative weight in the hand, but above all it looks like a shoulder plane should look (to me). I do not like the looks of the Veritas - too space age (to me) - although it comes with rave reviews from woodworkers who know a lot more about planes than I do.

Just one more choice to make.

Regards from Perth

Derek

OT: Lonnie the Rat

Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL

>The rats around here move pretty fast (especially with a pack of bench dogs after them). How do you get Lonnie to pose on the tools so nicely?

(cute critter, BTW)

Cleaning up Tenons?

Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL

>When you say, "..cleaning up my tenons", are you referring to the cheeks, or to the shoulders (or to both)?

Re: OT: Lonnie the Rat

Will in K.C.

>Lonnie, is very well behaved around the shop. If I set him on the bench or another table around the shop he will sniff around a bit and find things to squeeze under. I have handled him frequently since he came home, so he is neither frightened nor eager to escape. As for his tool posing, he is ever the consummate professional. I just get the tool ready and then pick him up and set him on. I then cluck to him to get him to look and I snap the pic.

Yes, I actually DO have a 'relatively' normal life (all photographic evidence to the contrary).

-Will

Re: Please Clarify ?

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>So you really think the plane would be broken? It's not like you to beat around the bush with such vague language.

Re: OT: rats

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>I found a local backwoods swap meet a couple years ago, and started scanning it for tools. Megan doesn't usually go, but she's an animal freak and I started telling her about all the stuff that was there and she decided to go and look. We came home with two rats and a really nice #4-1/2 plane for $70. The rats make really good pets; I have been somewhat surprised. They are the cleanest rodents we have had, and are good conversation starters ;)

Re: OT: rats

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>So what kinds of conversational topics are the rats interested in?

I have pictures of you and Megan sitting silent, until one of the rats opens with, "So, whattaya think of them Bengals?" No, they probably wouldn't want to talk about anything feline after all. How come there are no Rattus rattus sports teams?

Re: Please Clarify ?

William R. Duffield, on the Cohansey

>My evidence is anecdotal, only. Once upon a time, there was a woodshop with two #93s; one was dropped, once, onto a concrete shop floor. It's now useless. The other one works, but I just don't like the way it feels in my hands. I'd rather use my L-N #073, because it cuts better and it's easier to hold onto. Being a complete lummox, I've managed to drop it. I took down the small ding with a file and 600 grit sandpaper. It does not affect its performance.

In case anyone doesn't recognize the literary allusion, it's from the classic Monty Python "Dead Parrot" skit.