For the LA crowd

Jonathan is smokin sumthin!

Ernie Miller Topeka

>I use some S4S but that is because what was in the dumpster when I hit it. I'm using some of it now an a blanket chest. just this weekend I used #7 damn blade was dull or it wasn't set right for this project put it back #8 worked like a charm. some of the boards were way out and rough so I hit them with the #5 first Same problem dull blade but lucky me I have a back up wait the mouth is to tight to get them big shavings I was wanting third #5 worked like a charm. Si I got the boards edge jointed jointed and that is 5 planes. I cheated and riped them parralell on the table saw Wife wants it finished befor the dog can't walk at all it's a step chest so the dog has stairs to the bed. I used the #8 to joint the second edge. Only needed one plane there. I'm glueing up the pannels so I will need a smoother. again big question? Steve knight, that new infill, #3, if the grain is nasty I will need the 112 from LV. and there are them nasty glue lines I will need the #80. There is going to be lots of joints I knew Jonathan was smoking somthing! I will use a squed blade woodie for them it it is a stoped joint it will need the 71 or 71 1/2. There were a lot of Joints in that chest I'm getting lost it takes every plane in the shop and a few you don't have at a minumim.

Re: For the LA crowd

Steve Kubien

>Well, I seem to get by with a low-angle block, shoulder plane, home-made scrub, Knight smoother, Knight jointer and (this is a blatant drive-gloat), Knight plough plane (it's here! it's here!). I have a couple of other smoothers and a jack but I don't use them much. The 2 Knight bench planes get most of my attention in the shop.

Hi everybody. My name is Steve and I don't have enough tools.

Steve Kubien

A slight disagreement...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>S4S lumber is �surfaced� on all four sides.

In my use of it, S4S lumber usually has nice planer marks on it (smoothers we need more than 1 in IMHO). It is rarely square, flat and true. (To take twist out, we need a scrub IMHO, also a jack, jointer & block plane).

Provided you can get by with less, yes but the amount of time saved by adding a few planes outweighs the time spent only using two.

Is that Los Angeles? *LINK*

David Miller from Iowa

>Ah yes, practicality. Can�t disagree with your rationale, Jonathan

But you forget about the critical aspect of non-shop woodworking activities. When LOML wants to go to the flea market/auction/garage sale, I go because I �NEED� more tools. (This works for me � She says � �Why do you need another one of those � you have dozens already� Me � �This is a rare Stanley 9 � with the brass blade advance wheel � it�s probably worth $100 so this $5 is a real bargain�)

There is also the �spend-more-time-playing-with-the-tools-than-actually-working-wood� scenario. She - �When is that jewelry box going to be done?� Me � �Since this is a once in a lifetime heirloom gift, I�m going all out and hand cutting teeny dovetails � just for you � where is my Lie Nielsen Independence saws catalogue? Oops, I need a smaller paring chisel�).

Or how about the �I�m-an-elite-tool-guy� persona we sometimes bask in. Neighbor � �Say, I got this plane from my Grandpa�s basement� Me � �Wow, a Stanley transitional jack plane number 26 type 16 made only from 1922-1939� � hard to believe that Calvin Coolidge was President when that thing was made.� Or when the guys come over having the Lee Valley catalogue conspicuously laid out with hand written notes I�ve plagiarized from this board (�good heft, a little backlash in the lateral adjuster� and �I just got an email from Rob Lee today�).

And how about the euphemism �the slippery slope�? Let�s face it � for many of us it is a compulsive behavior that could well benefit from a 12-step program. Maybe the tool companies should have to put money into social programs like the casinos do for compulsive gamblers�

Anyway, bottoms up to all of us who spend more time chatting up, stalking, gloating, and tuning tools than we actually do transmogrifying wood.

Still though, Jonathan�s right. - Although you should check out his shop:)


Jonathan "two planes" Peck's Shop

I think you miss the point

Bob Hackett

>It`s when you move away from those two must have bench planes that the LA/BU plane comes into it`s own.With only a blade change it can become a scraper plane and a high angle plane(which requires a different frog in a BD plane).Add to that the fact that it`s made for end grain and works better on wild grain and still does what a BD plane can do and,well...you`ve already heard this more than once.

If I was ever in a position to take my show on the road I believe I`d rather carry 1 or 2 complete planes plus afew specialty blades as opposed to having to lug around a basket of planes that only do one thing well.

Just my .02.

Just so you know,I have nothing against folks who like to own and/or use alot of planes in ANY configuration either BU or BD.I just can`t understand why this is such a sore point for the staunch BD crowd of which you seem to be a member.

I feel that a chisel works just as well as a shoulder plane for trimming tenons in all respects yet I don`t hold anything against those who own those planes.When times get better for me I`ll probably be in the market for a shoulder plane.Till then I use what I have at hand and try not to say anything to annoy the guy next to me who has that plane I may want to try before I jump off into a new purchase.

Mainely,Bob-Who can`t recall anyone ever proving one or the other type was BETTER,just that one type seems to be more versatile.

That splanes it Lucy.

Ernie Miller Topeka

>If you look at the picture "work Horses" I don't see a single LA plane? odd? and you realy only need two planes but hay I gotta have six mallets and I'm betting there are more in a drawer some where. There is somthing wrong with that boy. He just ain't right.

you have three #6, you're a devil

Ian N in Sydney

>

Two 6's and a 7...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>The neighbor of the beast =;)

Totally agree

Jonathan Peck - N.Y.

>I totally agree with your list of planes and the reasons why you/me/us need them/use them. Well said

Regards

Jonathan

Re: For the LA crowd

Alan Hamilton

>Jonathan,

Aren't you leaving out an entire catagory of planes? Two or three bench planes may be plenty to get your stock properly dimensioned and smoothed, and another for making rabbets, but that leaves no way to do edge treatments, fluting, reeds, and so on--other than a scratch stock.

Surely the aesthetics of some pieces need something other than a flat, square board. A little decoration can add a great deal to the look of many types of furniture. Obviously you would need tools to make such decorations. So I would add just one more plane: a good, versatile combination plane such as a Stanley #45, #55 or #12-250, or a Clifton/Clico. (Yes, yes, I know. Some think there's no such thing as a "good" combination plane.) Unless, of course, you meant to restrict this to just stock preparation planes.

Alan

Re: I think you miss the point

Jonathan Peck - N.Y.

>hey Bob,

I have an LA jack and think it's a fine plane. I also think it can be a versatile plane, but I don't use mine that way, and maybe never will. So..I guess what I'm saying is..I don't think I'm in any camp really.

Funny you mention it but I'm starting to segragate some tools out for a wooden tool box I'm going to build. I want it to be light so I can take it with me easilly, and it'll probably have skateboard wheels and a good handle. I want to stock it with the minimal amount of tools I think I'll need, and for planes I'm thinking....

Knight jointer plane, Stanley 605 jack plane flat sided with frog adjustment screw, a Knight smoother, a Stanley #80 scraper plane and an adjustable mouth block plane like the Stanley 60+1/2.

Regards

Jonathan

Why is that?

jim_reed@marietta

>I have a whole gaggle of bench planes in the box and darned if I don't use them all the time. Sometimes the first #5 does not like the wood grain, but the second #5 loves it. Sometimes the 5 1/4 comes in handy. Then there is always the trusty #7. Seems like even a small project gets to meet almost a dozen planes.

You know.....

Todd Hughes

>I thought this was going to be about folks out in Los Angeles Todd

Re: You know.....

Dennis

>Kind of reminds me of people comparing rolex's............

Dennis, rolls eyes and moves on

Re: For the LA crowd

Victor Parisian - Houston

>You forgot, one plane to hold the shop door open; and another to hold the plans down... I've still got that ebay special #3 bedrock/frankenplane if you need another.

Sheeze

David Miller from Iowa

>Agree with the last few - no need to get intense. Jonathan is a solid contributor and expressed an opinion. Take it within the context it was offered and move on. Splitting hairs like a lawyer and examining the record is a bit much. I, for one, (even though I was a key rascal) thoroughly enjoy Mr. Pecks posts and dialogue. And he has a bitchin shop.

David (who hopes when I go on a rant people will cut me some slack). Wait, haven't I done that?

You Go Ernie!

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>

Shhhhhh. You are going to scare off the newbies!

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>

You already have!!!!

Gerry Doll

>

All seriousness

Ernie Miller Topeka

>After learning a little more about you background and comprehending what you are saying. I think I realy must agree with you if you want a small tool group with the most versitility. LA and several blades is the way to go. in the end it might be one of the cheapest way for some one just getting started to have a plane that will do most of there tasks. It will also give the person just starting out time to figure out what are the most logical additional planes to purchase.

Re: You know.....

Rod Cole

>Jonathan said something in a similar thread some time back when I came to Greg's defense that I think has merit here.

While a low angle jack, for example, is more versatile, one can easily pick a decent collection of user bench planes for rather less money than a LN or LV low angle jack.

So, if you are traveling to shows or to job sites, yeah maybe having just a couple of planes is very useful. On the other hand, just for example, my set of #3,#4,#5C, and #7, plus #220 and #60.5 block planes cost rather less than one low angle jack. I think one can argue that I may not have gotten more from one plane, but did get more versatility per dollar spent.

- Rod Cole

Re: You know.....

Greg Sloop, Portland Oregon

>True enough Rod...but can the average Joe who is a new plane user fairly easily pick up the skills to know where to find user planes, how much to pay, and how to rehab them?

I don't know the answer to these questions, but figuring out which years to buy, bedrock or not, etc was more work than I'm ready to invest. But perhaps I'm more lazy than the average Joe.

Just curious for your thoughts.

Cheers,

Greg

I thought LA is...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>Lower Alabama;)

Steve, Please post pic of plow

Gerry Doll

>