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Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge

This $39 jig will make you a WOODWORKING GOD!

don't do it

Posts

don't do it

#1

don't do it

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>It's a trap. I know now for a fact. I sharpened the iron on my LV large shoulder plane, boy is it sweet. I should'a had one of those years ago. Now I was looking through the catalog again last night, and started looking at their low angle block plane with all the gizmos. A champhering guide, front and back knobs, what right do they have to tempt us like this? At first glance that little plane doesn't look like much, but it is definitely designed to draw you in and suck you under. The whole thing is rigged right from the start; talk about slippery slopes, here is one greased and just waiting for one misstep.

This of course is written in jest (mostly) I love the shoulder plane, and will definitely have more of their tools in the future.

Re: don't do it

#2

Re: don't do it

Robert R. Clough - Thorncraft

>You know, Moses, the low angle block plane with front and back knobs works amazingly well as a small smoother. (I just got one) But I agree that the descriptions in the catalog really do as you say.

Re: don't do it

#3

Re: don't do it

Tony Zaffuto

>Moses,

I've been ready to pull the trigger on that LA block plane with the gizmo's for some time, in spite of already having several LA blocks. I just think the handles and chamfering guide would make it one of my most used small planes.

My issue is that I just can't get past those three machined circles on each side of the plane! Rob Lee, please make your plane available without those! Failing that I'll probably have to get some JB weld and fill them in.

Tony Z.

Re: don't do it

#4

Re: don't do it

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>Those three round circles are there for a good reason. They make the plane easier to use, since you don't have to hold it so tight when you pick it up. Without them, a plane that massive would quickly tire the muscles in your arm and hand, and you would lose accuracy. With the optional large wooden knob and tail, maybe you could get by without them, but without those add-ons, you would find no place to grip the plane.

Now, Rob could have made the grip indents a different shape or size, but why? Someone would complain about their looks, no matter what shapes he chose. I think the chosen shapes and sizes should work well for most people's hands, while removing the minimal amount of metal. Remove more metal and you only increase manufacturing costs without improving the plane's performance.

BTW, I think the wooden knob singificantly helps the plane's functionality, and I leave it on all the time. But thewooden ball tail is more difficult to install and remove, and can get in the way, so I don't use that one. If I were using it as a small smoother, I would probably have a different opinion on the tail, as comfortable, balanced two handed operation is important for smoothing.

Re: don't do it

#5

Re: don't do it

jtodd52

>Those three circles on the LV Block Planes do make the planes much easier to hold than other blocks. LV has similarly worked magic on their line of shoulder planes. The holes in the LA Jack might offend some, but I think make it more comfortable when using it with a shooting board.

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