Router planes, anyone?

Re: Router planes, anyone?

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>OK, how about a review, or at least a few comments on its features and ergonomics?

The fence system appears to be very interesting, not to mention innovative. Any experience with it, especially regarding stiffness/stability? Is the fence reversible? Even if not, I see that there are screw holes so a curved auxiliary fence can be easily attached.

How much clearance is there between the top of the fence and the bottom of the router base? That might be important for those contemplating attaching a wooden sub-base, which could be very useful, for example, for flattening the field of a piecrust table.

How many cutters are supplied? Are they A-2? I see a couple of extra brass knobs on the cutter depth adjuster. Fine adjustment, maybe?

If you have any pricing information, I don't want tp hear about it! I'd probably just want to want to kick myself for recently spending all that money on an obviously inferior Stanley #71.

Re: Router planes, anyone?

Rob Lee

>William -

It won't even be available for another 2-3 weeks....but I can answer a few questions...

If you look closely, the fence reverses for round work. It also has screw holes for attaching a wood sub-fence (in addition to the screw holes for attaching a sub-base). The fence is stiff, and mounts on either side of the plane body.

It comes with three blades - 1/4" forged (shown), straight 1/2", and pointed 1/2" blades ( a la Stanley - and they are compatible). The 1/2" blades are HCS (we rejected A2 as excessively costly for the function) - and are of two-piece construction. We also supply a blade holder for sharpening.

The two small brass knobs are for setting/locking heights.... we decided not to use the fine adjust we designed, as it was overkill. Note that the locking collar is trapped.

There is a patent pending on the plane... but you'll have to hang on for the real release for the explanation...

Price? Plane with all three blades will be $125. Add the fence when you buy the plane, and it'll be $135 (all USD). Fence alone (after purchase) will be about $17....

Cheers -

Rob

Re: Router planes, anyone?

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>Thanks, Rob.

Wow, you made it so you can install the fence on either side, and even use it with an extended subbase!

That's a bit more than street price for a beat up old #71, but it sure looks like it'd be worth the extra, if one were in need of anything beyond plain vanilla routing. OK, now I'm going to go kick myself a couple of times, but not too hard :^)

I totally understand your not wanting to use A-2 for the blade shown in Mike's photo, and would have been surprised if you had used A-2 for that one.

Stanley blade compatibility is also a good thing, as the V-shaped cutter on the Stanleys often has gone missing over the years, so you can supply the replacement market as well.

But...but...

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>where are the setscrews?

Very interesting tool. The knobs remind me of the old Stanley electrical routers (one of which I had the chance to buy the other day and am still kicking myself that I didn't make an offer). I find it interesting that you're modeling on the 71-1/2 closed mouth tool - did you find Stanley's arched open mouth design insufficiently strong or just unnecessary?

Looking forward to the review.

Re: But...but...

Rob Lee

>Hi -

Found the open mouth unnecessary...and wanted the support in front, without having a shoe...

Cheers -

Rob

droooooolllll

Steve Kubien

>Now this is a plane I will rush out to purchase. I have a need and I've been reluctant to get my hands on an older Stanley as we knew this was coming. Thanks Mike (and Rob).

Steve Kubien

Ajax, Ontario

Re: Router planes, anyone?

Dave Anderson Chester, NH

>It is really nicely done, but I don't know if I can justify one since I already have both open and closed throat Stanley #71s in my stable. Why is it that all of the new and innovative stuff comes out after I already own the originals?

Same problem here. (:

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>

Re: Router planes, anyone?

mikew

>In my case, it's a MF #67 in box...but I still may sell it. I do use it quite a bit and would need to replace it.

But, just how many RPs do I need? ...

Mike

Re: Router planes, anyone?

Dean in Burlington

>Norm Abram has how many routers????? So why can't we have just as many router planes :)

You need a bunch

Jim Reed @ Tallahassee

>At least one with each type of blade. Changing out the blade takes way too much time. Precious ww minutes are saved by having multiple planes with different sized blades. Then all you need to adjust is the height.

Well thought out design

Jim Reed @ Tallahassee

>by someone who has used router planes I think. The Stanley open mouth and shoe gizmo was the result of some sort of Traut or Bailey opiated dream.

Your canted handles are outstanding and the fence looks like it might actually be helpful rather than just decorative.

In all, just an inspired design.

Re: Router planes, anyone?

Jack Guzman from Maine

>I like it and I can't see any reason why you shouldn't have a whole shelf full of router planes.Lets see...I have the old 71 reliable,the wooden ECE type I made,the Andy mini and that almost useless 271 clone that it replaced,yea I got room for it.Nice lookin tool.I can't wait to try it out.---Jack

Re: Router planes, anyone?

Dean Lapinel

>It's handsome, well thought out and it pisses me off that I have to buy it now.

Sometimes ignorance is not only bliss but easier on the wallet.

Dean

I like the way you think Jim...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>Now all I need is 10 more 46's... ;^) Not to say a buttload of 45's.

Shoot, forgot about the Record combo planes too...

Well at least it look better than the...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>*astard redheaded step child bench planes.

I might have to get one of these...

I hate it too!

Hoa Dinh in Alameda

>"ignorance is not only bliss but easier on the wallet"

The other day I was convincing the Way and Means Committee that I needed the new BU jointer, she asked me, "So, what's wrong with the 6" Delta jointer that you hardly use?"

She may ask about my collection of PC routers if I try this one!

I have to stop coming here ;-)

-- Hoa

I wouldn't have put it that way, but...

john jesseph

>I may think about this one.

Still waiting for the chairmaking stuff...

Need?? Need?????

Frank Mutchler in Colorado Springs

>Surely, you jest! ;>)

So how do I order one?

Alan Bierbaum, near Denver, CO

>I have been waiting, seems like forever. since your first announcement to order one. When will it be up on your website?

Alan

Re: Need?? Need?????

mikew

>"Surely, you jest! ;>)"

Well, only sort of. But I mean really. I can justify my 7 or 8 smoothers. My multiples of other bench planes. Maybe even having a Sargent 1080PB and a great #55. Use 'em all. And the H&Rs. And the side beads. And...

But two full-sized router planes?

I'd rather get another moving fillester--but a left-skew version. And I do need the other LN #140.

Well. Maybe having two RPs would be OK. One set up with the spearpoint and one with the straight.

Thanks, Frank. Possibly you have goaded me into not making a hasty mistake...maybe :>)

Mike

hey!

dave j

>Did I miss the secret handshake? How come I can't see the picture?

dave

Re: hey!

mikew

>Nah, my host is down for some reason.

It'll come back...

Mike

Re: Well at least it look better than the...

Greg Sloop, Portland Oregon

>Well, Albert Einstein didn't look like much of a ladies man either.

If I got to pick "pretty" over functional, I'll take functional every day. And frankly, I think LV's stuff looks pretty decent and it's way more functional than anything in their price class.

LN #7 BU jointer (which uses an iron only it can use, and has no adjustable mouth) is $295.

LN #7 Bench is $400

LN #8 is $500

LV's BU jointer is $225. (A pair of these are still less than a single LN #8 - and given the mouth positioning, I suspect it cuts like an 8 too - though this is hard to guage...)

(I assume you're being unkind again, over LV planes, esp the bevel up ones. When I hear this kind of stuff I usually believe the bad-mouther doesn't have much of an argument. It's kind of like two kids arguing over who can run fastest. The one who can't, rather than demonstrating he IS fastest, quickly claims "Well anyway, your mama's fat!")

Humpf.

Whatever...

Cheers,

Greg