LN #7 or #8 Jointer?

Re: or BU jointers?

paul womack

>The virtues of bevel up planes have been discussed at length.

I understand a Veritas version is on its way, and LN is already here.

http://www.lie-nielsen.com/tool.html?id=7_5

Its 295 dollars, compared to the #7's 400 dollars.

BugBear

Re: LN #7 or #8 Jointer?

Matt Dworman

>Glenn,

If you can afford the #8 - get it. It's longer, wider and heavier - the longer and wider will assure a flatter board (on bigger boards) and the Extra weight gives the plane more momentum when using it and actually makes the plane easier to use. I have owned it for about a year and must say it is awesome - literaly

Matt

Re: LN #7 or #8 Jointer?

John Hoffman

>I concur the 8 is awesome. The 7 is great and I am using an old stanley 7 while I save money. I played with both when I was there and if I had the money I would get the 8 because it is heavier, longer and wider. I use my 7 all the time until I get an 8.

Good luck.

JH

Re: Correct me if I'm wrong here...

Dale Lenz

>I've been using a #7 for 23 years now. 8 were not commonly available back in '82. One thing I've noticed than could be a small problem is: most sharpening stone are 2.5" wide. A #7 iron is 2-3/8" in width and a #8 is 2-5/8". Just an observation......Dale

Re: LN #7 or #8 Jointer?

R.J.Whelan

>Glenn ... I have LN #7 and Bailey #8 (w/Hock iron and homemade breaker): if I didn't have arthritis in my shoulder and elbows I'd probably use the #8 all the time - as it is, I use it for jointing and go to the #7 for face planing. This is what works for me; if you're a young buck go for the longer, heavier plane and trade down when you get to be an old man, like me .... rj

Re: LN #7 or #8 Jointer?

Jim in Burlington Ontario

>Used both of them and there's a huge difference the #8 is alot heavier and seems to do a better job with less effort for me. I am awaiting the LV bevel up plane to come out and probably sell off my 608

High Angle Frog

Dave Thompson - Champaign

>Assuming you primarily work with hardwoods, something unique about an LN#7 is that you can get a high angle frog for it. I don't know of any other bevel down jointer (other than perhaps a woodie) that you can do that with.

The extra width of the #8 is not a good thing if you plan to do edge jointing with this plane. #8 is better suited for jointing a large surface.

While I usually gravitate more to the heavier planes thinking it will reduce my chances of skipping, when you get to #7 and #8's, they're so heavy that this plus is not so significant.

You may want to ask yourself, how many large tables or laminate workbench tops do you plan to make and handplane flat. If it's alot, then the #8 has a few minor perks over a #7.

Dave

Re: LN #7 or #8 Jointer?

Todd Stock

>I used a #8 for 24 years (20 spent without a motorized jointer in the shop), but now use a #7 (LN). The extra weight of the #8 is nice for punching through knots, etc., but being able to swap a single HA frog between my 5.5 and the 7 is a plus, and I don;t find myself missing the extra weight at the end of the day.

The longer I do this stuff, the more I appreciate Kirby's approach of a single width/config of bench iron.

Re: Correct me if I'm wrong here...

Todd Stock

>There are smaller stones out there, but Scary Sharp or any of the water stones are fine. The bigger issue is available training wheels - the original LV honing guide favored by some had a 2.5" limit, while the newer, more expensive Mk 2 version is wider.

The Eclipse style (edge clamping) jigs take the wider irons and scraper blades.

Re: LN #7 or #8 Jointer?

Stephen in Ottawa

>Glenn,

For almost every application of the jointer / try plane, the LN #8 is superior to the #7. For edge and face jointing it's extra length is an asset. Also, if you use it as a try plane, to surface lumber after a scrub or jack, the extra mass is great for being able to take heavier cuts. It's momentum keeps it going and you actually need less effort to work it. Where some do find it's mass to be a disadvantage is if you lift the plane on the return stroke, but that is a matter of technique. I don't find it is a problem.

- Stephen