Clifton 5 1/2 jack plane

7.36 lbs = 3.34 kg

Dieter

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Thanks Dieter(nm)

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Re: Clifton 5 1/2 jack plane

joel

>Dieter is correct - like the entire Clifton line it's heavier than its equivilant Stanley and feels in use dead solid. Balance I would put at a little better than the Stanley which I think is even more important than the added weight

Re: Clifton 5 1/2 jack plane

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>Thanks Joel,

How would you rate the clifton 5 1/2 against the LN 5 1/2? They are starting to get fairly close in price so I reckon they must be getting close in quality too.

Also. some of the blurb I have seen on the clifton claims that backlash is almost eliminated on their planes is this true?

regards,

Andrew

Re: Clifton 5 1/2 jack plane

joel

>I can't really compare the LN vs the Clifton.

American reviewers are usually partial to the LN, English ones the Clifton. The major complaint about Clifton was in the early days their first prodution was inconsistent. Since we guarentee everything we sell that was more our problem then the customers. But they seem to be past that problem and we don't hear any complaints these days just enthusiasm.

I've always considered Clifton planes to be prettier than the LN and they might have a better balance. but certainly both makers make a great premium plane - you can nickel and dime either maker, both makers have their share of specific samples that are perfect out of the shop, and also their share of ones that needed a little bit of work but overall you can't go wrong with either maker. That being said individuals might form specific preferences based on minor features.

As for the adjuster backlash - Certainly a lot less than any stanley I have, but not zero and I am a long time Stanley user, the Clifton mechanism is just silky magic. I suppose LN's is similar but I don't have any to compare.

Re: Clifton 5 1/2 jack plane

William Duffield on the Cohansey

>I don't think you can totally eliminate backlash from any mechanical linkage. Therefore, no matter which plane you buy, you have to understand where the backlash is, and what effect it has on adjusting the tool, and you have to deal with it EVERY time you make an adjustment. Whether you have to turn the knob a quarter of a turn or a half a turn is not really significant in the overall plan of the universe. Now, you might find some planes that are so sloppy that you cannot tweak one parameter without pushing three other parameters out of spec, but I think Leonard Bailey dealt with the important bench plane nonlinearities most competently a long time ago, and Clifton, L-N and LV, while continuing to make refinements to his designs, have not lost his vision. Any of them should work very well for you, but don't expect perfection this side of the Rainbow Bridge.

Re: Clifton 5 1/2 jack plane

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>Snip

Therefore, no matter which plane you buy, you have to understand where the backlash is, and what effect it has on adjusting the tool, and you have to deal with it EVERY time you make an adjustment. Snip

The act of "taking up the slack" before using the plane was a major step forward in reducing frustration in my woodworking. JR