Low angle: Smoother or Jack?

Re: Low angle: Smoother or Jack?

Eric Hedberg

>Mike,

I'd keep my eye on this board tomorrow. Mr. Lee will be giving us a peek at the latest and greatest Veritas. A betting man would bet on an impending Low Angle Jack's announcement (fingers crossed). If that happens, your choice would be easier (or harder). Eric

Re: Low angle: Smoother or Jack?

Paul M. in San Diego

>Hi Mike,

A question on usage... Do you use power tools to cut lumber to length or are you planning on using a shooting board to get clean endgrain?

If you want to use a shooting board, then I would definately get a low-angle plane and dedicate it to the task of working endgrain. Otherwise, you are already better equipped plane-wise than myself. You already have a good jack, joiner, and smoother in that kit.

I have the Veritas low-angle smoother, and it works fine for shooting. I was shooting some 1.75" stock last night, and I wished the plane had more heft to keep it going while taking an end-grain shaving that wide. But with standard 4/4 or 5/4 stock, it works just fine.

Short answer... you don't need one. But if you want one, that's entirely different. ;-)

Re: Low angle: Smoother or Jack?

Mark Meier (Ann Arbor, MI)

>Mike,

For "fun" planes I put those low angle bench planes at the top of the list. Presumably if you're thinking of the jack then it's the L-N 62 and for a smoother it's the Veritas or the L-N 164.

The L-N 62 is my favorite plane. If you got one I'm positive you'd love it.

If you go with the smoother I'd suggest going with the Veritas version. I find the adjuster on the L-N kind of a pain to re-setup after sharpening. One the downside to the Veritas the handles are skinnier (~3/4" thick) whereas most totes are ~1". I find that makes a difference. (The original totes that came with the Veritas were about 1" wide but then they switched to a fancier wood and trimmed them down).

I wouldn't worry about need... get one of them... they are a joy to use.

Mark

Re: Low angle: Smoother or Jack?

Rob Lee

>Paul -

I've often wished for a 5.88 pound plane too....

Rob

:)

Re: Low angle: Smoother or Jack?

David Barnett

>I'll jump in, too, because I use my LA jack and smoother more for endgrain than anything, and although I adore using the LN LA smoother, truth be told, I could do all the endgrain work with just the jack and a small LA block. I think the 62 is superb for shooting, having the length and momentum to easily handle wide panels, and if you're DTing a wide panel, it's a blessing to have the end dead flat. I just like a longer plane for shooting, anyway.

Also, the jack was very handy for flattening the ends of my workbench before attaching the twin screw endvise or the opposing endcap. All that bearing surface against the 3" thick top made it a cinch with the top in its natural position on the base. As I tend to build shop furniture bases (et al) from 12/4 and 16/4 hardwood, the 62 gets a similar workouts now and then. This isn't often, but when I need to do this it's a joy. So for my style of woodworking, I'd choose the LA jack.

That sounds like another hint;-)

Dan Donaldson

>

But he hasn't given a clue to

Lyn J. Mangiameli

>one of the things that makes that 5.88 pounds really special.

Re: Low angle: Smoother or Jack?

Alan Hamilton

>Mike,

What Paul said!

I have a total of one low angle plane: a Lee Valley low angle smoother. I got it for a dedicated miter plane, and it does that extremely well. I'm not the least tempted by a Lie-Nielsen #9 or any other miter plane--well....maybe a little.

I have tried it on long grain. I'm not much impressed with its performance on face grain. It had the usual faults of a low angle plane on long grain, chiefly tear out. Lots of others swear by it for use as a smoother though, so take what I say as a minority opinion.

Alan

That it's the price UK not the weight? ;-)

Eric Hedberg

>

Re: Low angle: Smoother or Jack?

Lyn J. Mangiameli

>I'm on record (e.g., my review of the LV #4.5) of not being that fond of the LA (really bevel up) bench planes. That was based on using them as delivered and originally intended, that is, with a 25 degree bevelled blade on top of the 12 degree or so bed. I found them really only desirable for cutting end grain (for which they were designed) such as trimming up dovetails, trimming mitres and surfacing butcher blocks.

My opinion was entirely transformed the first time I applied a high angle (38 degree and higher) bevel to the blade. This simple transformation of a LA plane into a HA (but still bevel up) plane was quite eye opening. In such a configuration, they can be a very effective, and fairly inexpensive, smoother.

Re: Low angle: Smoother or Jack?

Paul M. in San Diego

>Rob,

Is that 5.88 pounds with or without your lucky hot-dog? ;-)

-- Paul M.

Re: Jack

paul womack

>A LA jack will do most of what a LA smoother will do, but is more useful (indeed - VERY useful) for shooting. Since square stock is a key factor in stock preparation in hand work, I regard this alone as adequate justification to get one.

BugBear

Gosh, I hope so... :~)

Alice Frampton, UK

>

Re: Low angle: Smoother or Jack?

mlogman

>Thanks everyone for the great suggestions and information.

I'll keep my eyes open for the news from Lee Valley, but I think my mind is made up now to get a low angle jack. I haven't got a LN plane yet, so..... ;-)

Mike

Darn...

Rob Lee

>... my wife (who'll be reading this) isn't real happy people know about the hot dog....(have to take it out next Wednesday).

Cheers -

Rob

I have got to stay away from this forum.

Brent Langdon, Sterling VA

>My wife thought that I was crazy for spending $180 on the Veritas # 4 1/2 which has been mostly sitting in my garage..err..shop for the last 2 months while the kitchen remodel takes most of my time. Just yesterday I found some time to sharpen the block plane that I picked up at the Patina sale last month (it is my only decent block plane). I do not even have a shooting board (it is on my "to do" list for this weekend, if my wife does not end up going into labor).

Yet I find myself thinking that a low angle jack plane sure would be nice. I am not sure why, but I know that I need one. At some point I am might have to actually build some furniture before my wife starts to get suspicious. Oh well, there will be plenty of time for that later but now I need to build a case to hold my growing number of planes and saws.

- Brent

Brent, of course

Frank Mutchler in Colorado Springs

>you NEED the new LV low angle Jack. You need it to level the top of your new bench upon which your new shooting board will live....be great if you had it right now to build those new face frames, cabinet doors & drawers ;>)!!

Hot Dog Hijack

Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL

>Is this an actual frankfurter? Do you carry it to games with you?

Do you have one?

Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL

>

Re: Hot Dog Hijack

Paul M. in San Diego

>I know how Rob feels. My wife doesn't like me talking about my "lucky hot-dog" on public forums either. :-O

Don`t know why...

Bob Hackett

>it`s sure to be a weiner.

Hey,you guys started it!

MB

LOL!

Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL

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