Scrub plane decision

Re: Scrub plane decision

alan womack

>You have to wrap your hand around the back of the ECE scrub, might not be a comfortable choice for you.

Alan

Re: Scrub plane decision

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>I like the light weight of a wooden European style horned scrub, but I do caution about watching your hand behind the plane, tend to get a bit of soreness between thumb and forefinger, which would probably work its way into a blister if I used it for hours at a time.

I don't have any experience with metal scrubs; but bought the C&W jack, which is narrow and has a highly cambered blade, works just like a scrub but longer and a bit wider. Certainly worth checking out.

Pam

Re: Scrub plane decision *LINK*

MikeW

>Hi Alan,

I'm a firm believer in heavier is better. The LV metal scrub comes the closest to my ideal scrub. That said, I do like the wood-on-wood ECE scrub, *except* as noted. I cannot use it for long without the soreness and for me, more importantly, my hand tires from just lifting over and over at the end of the stroke due to the lack of a rear tote.

Check out Alf's review of the LV scrub in the link below. Also, Derek Cohen will be formalizing his review in the near future if you can wait for another opinion.


Alf's Scrub Review

Re: Scrub plane decision

mike recchione

>I have two old wooden horned scrubs, both Joh. Weiss. One was hot-rodded by the addition of a brass plate screwed to the sole. This gives it just a little more weight than an unmodified wooden scrub. This plane is awesome - hogs wood off really quickly and without too much effort. I've never tried a metal scrub.

Re: Scrub plane decision

Greg Bétit, Crown Point NY

>I love my ECE scrub, and I've used it for hours on end. The grip has never been an issue for me, but as a former oarsman, my hands are relatively impervious to hard use. If you get the ECE, you will never be disappointed with it. But the LV scrub may be better...

Scrubbing can be hard work, and I can see where the extra mass of a metal plane would help you through knots and difficult grain. Physics tells me it's also going to be more work using a heavier plane. But I have no experience with a metal one, so can't say whether the inertial advantage they have over a woodie overcomes the disadvantage of doing more work.

My recommendation would be that if your planned use will require scrubbing for hours on end, get the woodie. If you're going to be doing occasional scrubbing for shorter periods, get a metal one.

Greg

Greg

Re: Scrub plane decision

Jack Guzman from Maine

>I also use the ECE and love it.However,I never owned or used any other.---Jack

What I use

jim reed @ Tallahassee

>LN, old Stanley #40, and Ulmia woodie. I like the LN the best because of its tote. The LV looks nice.

Re: Scrub plane decision

Glenn

>I have at Stanley 40. It is very easy to use though I don't scrub for hours at a time. I have used this plane for about three months now and am amazed at how much material it removes and how easy it is to use. I will probably replace it with the LN version, not because there is anything wrong with the Stanley but because I am becoming a LN junky:)

If you can be patient a little longer ...

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>Hi Alan (and all)

I am in the process of collecting the data on scrub plane use. It should be ready within two weeks (as long as I do not have a flood of reports to write, as has been the case over the past 10 days!).

Briefly, I am looking at the new LV, which is a relatively heavy plane, against the lighter Stanley #40 and ECE-type woodie. I loved using the woodie, but when I acquired the #40 I began to see the advantage of a heavier scrub when flattening hard timber. So the assessment includes both soft and hard timbers.

There is another factor of importance, this being one-handed use. Such as when one is removing high spots as part of preparing the base side to lie flat on the bench surface (well, I do it one-handed). The question is whether the LV's extra heft is a negative factor here, or whether "balance" can negate this.

There are considerable differences among these planes in tote design. Plus the LV's blade is available in both a high-carbon steel or an A2 tool steel blade. I am including both these.

I am trying to keep all this in a Real World context, that is, as part of the process of building something (I've kept this small - my wife requested a jewellery box, which is a good excuse to use several different timbers from both the USA amd Australia), so I also have a less clinical and more User experience.

Lastly, the freshly flattened boards will form the basis of Part II, an assessment and comparison of the LV smoothers (LA and BU).

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Scrub plane decision

Stephen in Ottawa

>I have and use the ECE scrub regularly and like it a lot. I've used it on a lot of hard maple, red oak and other woods. I've never found it's mass to be a problem, in fact, I like it's light weight since I use it for long periods. My bench is low and well suited for hand planing which allows me to get my weight above and behing the plane which is why I don't find the lower mass of the ECE plane a disadvantage. Also I find the grip to be an advantage as it lets me get my weight over the plane quite effectively. Depending on your bench height and style of planing your preferences may differ.

- Stephen