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Shepherd plane models question *LINK*

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Shepherd plane models question *LINK*

#1

Shepherd plane models question *LINK*

Clay C in Miami

>I feel just certain that this is one of those questions whose answer will occur to me only immediately after I've revealed some profound level of ignorance by asking it ...

On the Shepherd products page (link below), there are two Spiers #7 steel smoothers listed. One (at $495) is listed as "No 7 Spiers Smoother (WN)-Steel." The other is the exact same listing, but at $599 and without the (WN) notation (instead, that $599 one's model number has a 'CO').

What's the difference? I tried to think of 'WN' as 'Without (something starting with 'N' worth $104),' but only 'nickers' came to mind, and it's hard to think of anything less useful than nickers on that plane.

I hunted the archives without success ... Now, let's see if indeed the answer becomes clear to me as soon as I hit Post Message.

Clay


Shepherd products page

Re: Shepherd plane models question *LINK*

#2

Re: Shepherd plane models question

Dave Anderson Chester,NH

>The prices are with and without Norris style adjusters which add considerable manufacturing cost. Personally, my #7 is without the adjuster and I prefer it that way.

Re: Shepherd plane models question *LINK*

#3

Re: Shepherd plane models question

Ted Shuck

>I think the (WN) version with the lower price is for WalNut wood infill. The higher priced (CO) version is for COcobolo infill.

Looking forward to receiving my kit with the CO infill!

beep, beep,

Ted

Re: Shepherd plane models question *LINK*

#4

Re: Shepherd plane models question

Rick Hoppe (Los Angeles)

>I agree with Dave. I think the Norris style adjuster is very fussy. I have an infill smoother with one. After I use the adjuster to set the depth (which isn't easy), I find I get better results tapping with a small hammer to adjust side to side.

Re: Shepherd plane models question *LINK*

#5

The Answer

Clay C in Miami

>Well, when I saw Dave's answer, I assumed it was right - without a Norris adjuster would be cheaper, and the CO could've been just a random item code. It worried me slightly that none of the images showed a Norris adjuster, including the photos of all the disassembled kit bits (there'a also a WN and CO kit, $40 price difference). But, I figured a photo 'typo' would explain that.

But no ... Ted is correct, its walnut v. cocobolo. I got an email from Doug, saying so (and I did notice at some level that the two woods looked different, dunno why this didn't occur to me).

Yesterday I also got (along with every other prior customer, I assume) an e-coupon from Shepherd. It came into my email box three times, some email glitch on their end. Then, I get another email from them, apologizing for the extra deliveries, and saying that, since we got it three times, we can USE it three times! (On three different items, natch, and only before 3/05 - but it's still quite a beefy discount, and a very nice gesture.)

BTW, Doug also said in his email that they have some particularly nice cocobolo in today for smoothers, in case that's just the tiny extra push someone needs. (No affiliation, etc - but always happy to provide some Astroglide for the slope.)

Clay

Re: Shepherd plane models question *LINK*

#6

Re: The Answer

Bill White

>Hey!!!! I have a plane with nickers. Its a dado plane, and the nickers act as a "scoring" blade.

Re: Shepherd plane models question *LINK*

#7

Re: The Answer

Clay C in Miami

>Right ... but, I bet you don't want them mounted on your smoother!

C

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