Veritas Apron Plane

A guess?

Dave Anderson Chester, NH

>My guess would be that most woodworkers who have home shops would tend to buy one of the larger LV block planes. Woodworkers who frequent forums tend to be fairly serios about their hobbies and the larger planes are a bit more versatile though at the expense of higher cost and more weight. Not that the apron plane isn't a serious tool, but it's relatively new compared to the other offering and fewer purchasers means less chance of a review. Rob Lee can feel free to correct me if he knows differently.

Shhhh...

Rob Lee

>...I side with Roberto...I reach for my Apron plane before the LA block... it's my favorite "tweak/adjust" plane...

The only other way I can explain it - it depends on the number of swipes I plan on taking... just a few - Apron plane, lots - LA plane....

I don't pretend to have any logic to support my preferences....

Cheers -

Rob

Because..

Jack Guzman from Maine

>we were waiting for to you be the first to review it.---Jack

Hi Rob...

HC Sakman

>Are you receiving my e-mails? Perhaps they go to your junk box???

Chico...

Hi Chico...

Rob Lee

>... I got two in the last 1hr 53 minutes - but have been tied up all day..., and am just now getting close to them....

Watch you inbox!

Cheers -

Rob

Thanks Rob, got them all...

HC Sakman

>

Re: Veritas Apron Plane

John Snyder, Pocono's PA

>I completely dig mine .... my hands down favorite block plane.

Re: Shhhh...

Roberto Perez F

>It will be nice to know what is Rob Lee personal hand tools inventory.

Re: Shhhh...

Rob Lee

>Well...

I have a lot of black and brass stuff.... :0

Not much in the way of big power tools (I use the shops here for that) - but an Inca 10" tablesaw w/sliding table, a noname drillpress, a Makita LS 1011 SCMS (my favorite PT), 3 routers (a trim, a 1 hp, and a 3 hp table mounted), 3 cordless drills, a Veritas Sharpening system (Mk I) and 1 ROS. Add a Jet DC, and an Emerson Air filter.

For hand tools, I have just about every Veritas tool, numerous brands/stlyles of chisels (including LN), a #45, a #50, a bunch of different saws/brands. Many of my hand tools are close-outs, specials, or odds and ends.

What I don't have are a wide selection of carving tools, lathe tools, or whatever I need for my current project... let alone the time to use them!

Probably not much different from the shop most of you have....

Cheers -

Rob

Re: Veritas Apron Plane

Alice Frampton, UK

>I reviewed all three together and liked the apron plane very much indeed. But then I prefer my little bronze L-N to it's adjustable-mouthed brother too.

Cheers, Alf

Re: Veritas Apron Plane

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>I bought one of these as a gift for my brother-in-law last year. It seemed nicely made, and had a good feel to it. I did not use it, as it was to be a gift.

If I were to do it again, I might also consider the Lie-Nielsen 102I Iron Low-Angle Block Plane. For $0.50 more than the LV Apron Plane (as delivered, when purchased from Fine Tool Journal), you get an A2, 1/8" thick blade which is about 28% thicker than the LV blade. On the other hand, the LV has their fancy adjuster.

Or, you could add $10 to get an A2 blade for the LV.

Or, you could add $12 to the LN and get it in bronze.

Or, you could get all of them, and write a great review! ;-)

Re: Veritas Apron Plane

Lyn J. Mangiameli

>I'm reminded of the Three Bears: Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby bear. When it comes to block planes this is for me the LV LA Block, the L-N LA adjustable mouth block plane, and the LV Apron plane. 90+ percent of my block plane use is with Mama Bear (aka L-N adjustable mouth). I love this plane, it fits my hand size just perfectly, looks great, and performs as well as I can expect from a quality block plane. I've never warmed up to Papa Bear, it's too big to comfortably fit in my hand, and is ugly, though it performs pretty much as well as the L-N. But Baby Bear, which I initially didn't care for at all, has been growing on me. I like the size, find it so convenient to carry about, it's so cheap I don't worry about it (I'm protective of the L-N) and it works far better than I had expected for a plane without an adjustable mouth (though I urged Rob to offer the thicker A2 blade and that's the one I always use).

So much of this really relates to hand size. Perhaps some day Rob will bring us a Mama Bear sized adjustable mouth block plane too, and one that will at least fit my hands better. But if the Apron feels good to you (and as I've said, it feels pretty good to me) than by all means go for it. I think with block planes more than any other plane, your satisfaction with the plane will depend at least as much with a good hand fit, as any other characteristic of the plane.