Shoulder Plane Question

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

Paul in NJ

>Bill,

The LN plane is based on a traditional design using modern materials with impeccable machining and finish. The LV plane is a new look at that design with added features such as set screws to help position the blade. Ergonomically speaking many find it more comfortable to use. They are both fine planes backed by exceptional companies. I own the large LN shoulder plane.

Paul Dzioba

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

Ted Owen, Pittsburgh

>Bill, I have only the LV so can't really add anything to what Paul said. Except to confirm that the LV, due to its comfort, is one of my favorite planes. Difficult to put into words how it feels in the hand, but it's wonderful.

Best, Ted

P.S.

Ted Owen, Pittsburgh

>You getting over this way to Geneva in the next couple weeks?

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

Bill Grumbine (Kutztown PA)

>Thanks for the quick responses guys. I will be interested to see if more show up. Ted, look for an email on Geneva.

Bill

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

ydb1md

>I have the LV large shoulder plane and love it. Like the rest of the LV line, it's function and engineering first w/ aesthetics second. My wife thinks the LN offerings are prettier.

I won't hesitate to pick up the LV medium shoulder plane when the need arises.

What other planes are in your livery?

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

John Todd

>I have both large and medium Lee Valley/Veritas shoulder planes and love them. While the LN are undoubtedly fine tools (and beautiful too!), I can't imagine they're as easy to handle as the LV tools. Never used an LN, or older ones they're modeled after, but I can't imagine the traditional design being as functional. The LV are machined very well.

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

bob fawcett

>If you could only have one, the large or the medium, which one and why?

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

Bill Grumbine (Kutztown PA)

>Thanks guys. Currently I have a new LN low angle block plane, and old Stanley #4 from between 1919 and 1926, and a LV scraper plane. I also have a nondescript Stanley bench plane of unknown size (i.e. I can't remember at the moment) that was given to me new in the 80s and an AMT block plane that would make a good paperweight.

I am doing a job right now that needs some tenon cleanup for tight joints in curly maple. I would like the medium over the large, since I can also use it for cleaning up dados.

Bill

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

mikew

>Hi Bill,

I like the looks of the LN medium as I own a few old Prestons. I prefer the feel during use of the LV.

I do find the LN large shoulder to be too uncomfortable for use. I've got smaller hands though.

Both brands work just as well as the other.

Mike

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

John Todd

>Hard to say, but probably the large to clean up tenon cheeks and shoulders. It is massive though! The medium is handy to clean up dado type cuts that the large is to wide for. For the first use I'm lucky to also have the LN 60 1/2R rabbet block plane. Some people don't seem to like it, I do very much.

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

Dean J in MN

>

I am doing a job right now that needs some tenon cleanup for tight joints in curly maple. I would like the medium over the large, since I can also use it for cleaning up dados.

Tenon cleanup? Or shoulder trimming?

I know this has been covered before, but a shoulder plane isn't the best choice for tenon cleanup. It's fine for shoulders, but for tenons there are better choices IMO.

-Dean

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

R.J.Whelan

>Bill ... I had the LN #073, which I ended up selling because it was too heavy and unwieldy for my old hands.

I currently own the LV medium and large shoulder planes; I like them both very much - comfortable to use and finish is good on both.

Good luck with you decision ... rj

Agree

Frank D. in Montreal

>For tenons I really like the 60 1/2 R. I even use it for shoulders, I find it easier to control. It gives goods results for me, here's the leg of a vanity that I scribed to a ceramic plinthe. I planed only across the grain to clean up the saw marks:

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>The LV shoulder plane will work good for cleaning tenon faces, but personally I would choose the large over the medium; especially for your big mitts ;) The medium is a pretty small plane for me. At one time I thought I would get the medium first, but after seeing both I chose the large because I thought the larger plane fit better in my hands, and being a little taller gets my hands up off the work a little more and gives me a better grip. Plus the wider blade for tenon faces works better. Either one of these planes is an exceptional tool, and you will not be disappointed in the money spent.

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

Wendell @ Murphy, TX

>I can't really comment on the LN medium shoulder plane since I've never seen it. I do own a LV medium shoulder . I love it. It gets a lot of use in my blended shop.

Wendell

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

bob marino

>Hi Bill,

I can't comment on the LV shoulder planes, but I have the LN medium shoulder and like it plenty. Ican see where many would feel the large LN is too heavy, but the medium LN is a pleasure to use and nice lookin' to boot!

Bob

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

HC Sakman

>Hi Bill,

I "hands down" vote for the Lee Valley version. LN is sure very well made and high quality, as well as "good looks", though, LV is simply a modern design which is designed with "ergonomy" in mind. So, I am not saying LV is inferior as far as the quality of workmanship and materials, but it lacks "ergonomical design/user comfort". LV is so much more convenient to use. (I've been using them both since first they came out.)

Chico...

Bill, I guess they called it a

Frank Mutchler in Colorado Springs

>'shoulder plane' for a reason. If its intended purpose was to true up a cheek, maybe they would have called it a 'cheek plane' instead? If you haven't seen George's Video you really should take a few minutes to watch his method of cleaning up the cheeks of a tenon. Sure makes a lot of sense to me to use a #71 that can register on a flat surface to insure that the tenon is flat. Once the tenon is flat it seems to me that a shoulder plane would have a nice true cheek surface to register on when truing up the shoulder... if that were necessary.

Everyone has their preferences and I don't mean to imply that this is the 'best' way for anyone but me ;>)!!

Re: Bill, I guess they called it a

Bill Grumbine (Kutztown PA)

>Hi Frank

How big is this video file? I clicked on the link thinking I would get some info or indication, but it just started loading. Here is it two hours later and it is STILL loading! SWMBO is about to go on the warpath because she can't get some things done, but it has gone on long enough I hate to stop the process at this point. We are stuck with a rural dialup and no high speed available.

Bill

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

Bill Grumbine (Kutztown PA)

>Thanks for the continued resposes guys! I appreciate the input, especially from names I know. For those of you I don't know, I'm working on it.

Frank, after 2 1/2 hours my machine went belly up and I had less than half the video. I got to the part where he was paring the cheeks with the chisel and that was it.

Bill

It's large, almost 96 Mb

Ed Thomas, Leaside (Toronto) Ontario

>

Re: It's large, almost 96 Mb

Bill Grumbine (Kutztown PA)

>Thanks Ed. That puts it out of my reach! That would take a day or two with my modem!

Bill

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

Jack Guzman from Maine

>Bill,I have slow dial-up internet and all I got was a still picture that after 2 or 3 minutes moved slightly. I gave up.---Jack

Re: Shoulder Plane Question

Todd Stock

>I've got the 1/2, medium, and large LN, plus a half dozen others by Stanley, Preston, Clifton and some no-name woodies. All work fine, with the 1/2 being my go-to plane for shaping and general clean-up.

If you have problems with fine motor control, a weaker grip, or really small hands, def go with the LV medium, due to assorted odd handles, holes and other grip-enhancing stuff. Ugly as sin, but after shutting down for the evening, you can always try drinking it pretty.

Both the LV and LN 073 knock-offs are larger and heavier than some prefer, just as the #8 is too much plane for some. I like the stability, and find nothing else comes close for trimming the final miter cuts on a hidden dovetail.