A Visit to Lie-Nielsen Toolworks
Mark Meier (Ann Arbor, MI)
>I attended a seminar at Lie-Nielsen Toolworks last weekend. David Charlesworth was the speaker on the topic of advanced hand tool techniques. I found his voice so charming he could have been speaking about gravel production methodology and I�d have been engrossed. Fortunately however he spoke about hand tool related topics like making and using shooting boards, avoiding �spelch� (good word � that�s the breaking loose of the fibers when planning endgrain), techniques for edge jointing narrow work, planning around changing grain direction (for example in flattening a door panel frame), and sharpening and adjusting a scraper plane. He also talked about dual bevel (back bevel) sharpening as a technique to deal with difficult grain.
I found it very refreshing to hear him talk about getting the most from his tools. I�m inspired to get back out to my shop and experiment.
Here�s David holding one of the narrow wheel edge clamping honing guides he prefers. The narrow wheel allows him to more easily put variable pressure on one edge or the other to create a crown along the cutting edge.
During the introduction, Tom Lie-Nielsen mentioned a few new tools that will be coming out this summer. One is a small block plane, similar to the squirrel tail handle Stanley 100 or 100 1/2. Here is a picture of the casting of one (I didn�t see a finished plane). The L-N version will be low angle unlike the Stanley original. Tiny little guy.
Also coming are a new bullnose plane and a medium size (3/4�) shoulder plane. Sorry, no pictures or details of those � I didn�t get to see them. The small panel saws may also appear later this summer.
Lie-Nielsen is now making benches. In fact, the Marc Adams School of Woodworking just took delivery of 21 of them a few weeks ago. (They needed them � the Sjoberg benches they had when I was there were a bit on the light-duty side by comparison). The L-N benches are made of rock maple and can be custom built in various lengths (typically 7� or 8�), heights, and vice configurations. The vise shown on the front of the bench below features a quick release allowing the jaws to be slid freely with the threads disengaged and then quickly reengaged for tightening. Nice.
Another feature is the removable tool tray. As you can see in the photo below, the bottom of the tray has panels which can be slid out of the way allowing clamps to penetrate and grip the work at the back of the bench. With the clamps not in use the panels can be slid back across the runners shown. This is a great idea and I�m going to retro-fit my bench to do the same (you know� when I, uh, get around to it).
Here�s a shot of the underside showing the construction. I believe that the production benches have wider supports holding the back edge of the tool tray in place.
Here�s the end vise. Note the �proper� end caps on the handle � Ulmia take note!
As most people know, L-N has been producing chisels for a little while now. Here�s a picture of some (along with a prototype of a small marking knife).
I spoke with David Charlesworth about these and he seemed very excited by their edge holding ability.
Incidentally, here are the shooting board and accessories David discussed. The piece in the foreground is used for shooting then endgrain of narrow stock at a 45 degree angle. The clipped corner triangular piece on the shooting board in back is removable to allow either 45 or 90 degree shooting.
I learned L-N is up to 70 employees now! Most are located in this building while 12 employees are at a separate location. Primarily those are the folks doing the woodworking operations: knobs, totes, saws, along with the pattern maker.
They are expanding. Both sides of the building have additions under construction.
I got a tour of the shop but my pictures are so haphazard I�ll spare you them. It was a great trip and I really learned a lot from David.
Mark
PS: If you ever visit L-N yourself try to drop by the �Brass Compass Caf� in neighboring Rockland. Mmmmmmm!
