need some advice

Re: need some advice

Glenn Madsen

>Mike, I had a chance to play with the LN Rabbet block plane last evening for a few minutes, and I'd have to say, my reaction was mixed.

I have the LN Adjustable Mouth block plane, and think it a marvelous tool. I also have the LV Medium Shoulder, and love it as well. The Rabbet Block seemed neither fish nor fowl, in my hands.

Speaking as one who is not particularly hesitant to purchase a handplane, I'd have to say, this one didn't call out my name.

I'm not sure what I'll be using for the tenon trimming task you mentioned, as I slide towards the quiet side. I'm in no hurry, however.

Let us know what you come up with?

Re: need some advice

Dean J From MN

>FWIW - I have both the LV Med shoulder and the LN 60-1/1R (rabbet block). I use both when trimming tenons, the LV is great on the shoulders and the LN is fine on the tenons if you take a light cut. We should strive to cut the tenons to fit, not cut thick and trim, so over time the LN will probably be just right as you may only need to take a hair off.

As for ergonomics -- Yes the LN is a little tricky to get comfortable with, but then, shoulder planes (even the LV) take a little time to get used to.

I say if you can get your hands on a LN Rabbet block, give it a test run and see how it feels...

Good Luck!

-Dean

Re: need some advice

Frank D. in Montreal

>Hi Mike,

It might just be me but I love my rabbeting block to trim tenons. I have the LV medium shoulder and a LN 073 but for tenons I find nothing comes close to the RB. It just fits in my hand perfectly, very easy to control yet heavy enough to do the job. If I only have a few tenons I often don't bother grabbing a shoulder plane and use it for shoulders too.

I can't say much about the knives. I don't like double-edged knives to trace the pins because I often end up shaving some wood off the tails. Again, maybe it's just me...

FWIW,

Frank

Re: need some advice

paul womack

>I'm thinking of getting a plane for the purposes of trimming tenon cheeks (as opposed to only shoulders).

I use a spacer'd-up #71 for accurate work, or a skew bladed woody skew for fast work.

BugBear

Re: need some advice

GolfSteve in Calgary

>I don't like double-edged knives to trace the pins because I often end up shaving some wood off the tails. This is also my experience with the Lee Valley marking knife.

The best thing I've found for marking dovetail pins is the short knife blade on my Swiss Army knife. Works perfectly every time for me.

Re: need some advice

Lyn J. Mangiameli

>with regards to tenon cheeks, the plane I almost always use for this is the Lie-Nielsen #140 skewed blade LA rabetting block plane in its left hand version (I am primarily right handed). This plane does a better job cutting the shorter cross grain fibers of tenons, and the size and weight of this large brass block plane provides the necessary heft and controlability. It also has other useful purposes in the shop, not the least of which is dealing with rebate clean up and even making small rebates (you can get it with or without a nicker). Mostly, though, this is my dedicated cheek plane.

As for marking dovetails, my preference is for the Superior Works (Patrick Leach) Cocobolo handles, carbon steel, double edged marking knife. I find it easy to maintain, and offering a fine point for the tighter dovetails. Perhaps a little overkill in the handle department, but it is a pretty little thing that is very functional as well.

Re: need some advice

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>>The best thing I've found for marking dovetail pins is the short knife blade on my Swiss Army knife. Works perfectly every time for me.

Ian Kirby recommends something similar.

I have a pocket knife and it works fine for this...

Re: need some advice

Roger Myers

>Mike,

I'll start with the disclaimer...Dave Anderson of Chester Toolworks is a good friend of mine....

Now, I've used a lot of different marking setups and had become fond of the Lee Valley marking knife when I had the opportunity to get one of Dave's knives...it is my go-to knife for cross grain marking, with a sharp awl my choice for with grain marking... Dave's knives have a great feel and the blade geometry suits me...Now, I got mine before he moved on to some even prettier options like snakewood...but, how many knives do you really need (let's see, I thought I set that down right over there....hmmmmm)

Roger

Re: need some advice

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>I mostly use the LN 073 and/or 140 RH (haven't got the LH yet) for this job. As Wiley said somewhere recently, he planes from outside in on the cheeks to avoid spelching, which I also do; but the rebate on the 140 RH only works when planing from right to left. So until I get the LH, I'll continue to use the 073 for the left to right.

I like the looks of Dave's marking knives quite a bit, as well as Dave Jeske's (Blue Spruce Toolworks); but I don't much like the idea of a pointed handle aimed at my eye. So I normally use Steve Knight's knife.

Pam

Re: need some advice

Rick Hoppe

>Mike, I'm with GolfSteve, Christopher and Ian. I use a Swiss Army knife. I've tried designated marking knives and didn't care for them. I've found that the curved edge of the SA knife makes a more distict line in endgrain than a strait-bladed marking knife. You just have to tilt the back of the blade slightly away from your reference edge (tri-square, tail etc.) so the bevel on that side of the knife registers right up against your reference edge: very easy.

LN 140

Don Thompson - South of Miami

>I use the LN 140 for cheek trimming. You probably will prefer the left-handed (new) one if you are right handed, and anticipate putting your left hand on the workpiece, and planing with your right hand.

I mostly mark with a Knight Tool-works double-bevel knife, but some prefer narrower and longer blades for dovetail marking.

Re: need some advice

Tony Z.

>Pam,

In your opinion, which of the L-N 140 is better suited to a right handed person?

Tony Z.

Re: need some advice

Jack Guzman from Maine

>I use the LN skew block for cheeks.It does the job just fine.I also find it great for rabbeting.I also use the Chester toolworks marking knife and it's the best tool I've found for the job.No marking tool is perfect for everything but this one I use more than anything else. Besides it is a nice tool to handle.---Jack

Re: need some advice

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>IME this isn't a RH/LH thing, mainly because I'm what's called non-right handed, meaning the right hand is dominant, but just barely. To further complicate this issue, I'm very comfortable pushing and pulling planes, both western and eastern both ways.

So the issue for me is what direction is dictated by the clamped piece and which way I have to plane or reclamp. Since it's inconvenient to reclamp a lot, I'd much rather pick up another plane.

Now most, including Lyn, say the 140 LH is more suited to a right hander for cheek trimming. But I don't know what they do when exiting the cheek. Maybe a sacrifice stop?

How's that for flip-flopping? Which it's not really, just that ..... :)

Pam

I'll put my vote for the...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>LN 140 also. I like Lyn use the left handed one. Works great on panel raising too. On the other hand the LN 60.5R is a nice plane also. Not quite usefull as the 140 (mostly cross grain applications) IMHO.

I use a home made marking knife out of a hacksaw blade ala Jim Kingshott. Sharpened on one side, double beveled edge, gets into those narrow DT well.

Re: I'll put my vote for the...

Steve Denvir

>I'll second the suggestion regarding Dave Jeske's (Blue Spruce Toolworks) marking knife. It looks great and works even better.

Steve

Thanks, everyone! Great suggestions.

Mike in Mystic

>

Marking knife comment

Ian N in Sydney

>Mike

my prefered marking knife is a Pfeil chip carving tool, the Kerb 6.

It has a trapezoidal blade, flat on the back with an edge on all three sides of the blade. I can mark to the left or right just by changing the angle at which I hold the knife.

I can find an image if you want.

Is this it?  *LINK*

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>




House of Tools

Or this? *LINK*

Rod Cole

>From a google search.


http://www.treverktoy.no/pfeil/Kerbkniver/Kerb6.ht

I use one of these as a marking knife.

Mark Harrison -- in Sydney, Australia

>Perfect for the job.

Nope NM

Ian N in Sydney

>

That's the one NM

Ian N in Sydney

>

D'oh! You wrote 6, not 5. CRS.

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>