First Plane?

Jack

jim reed @ tallahassee


>The jack plane is a good place to start. Try to find a Stanley #5. Sharpen the blade until it will shave your arm. Set it to cut a wispy shaving. Clamp your board between bench dogs. When the plane says *swish* you are golden. Good luck.

Best all-around plane is Lee Valley LA Jack

John K in Hastings, MN

Re: Jack (an OLD one)

Glenn Madsen in the SF Bay area


>Look for something at least as old as you are, maybe older, if you can. If it was made before WW2, it has a chance of being a real keeper, and often, not terribly expensive.

Opinion: New ones from Stanley, as well as almost anything you find in a home center, aren't worth the trouble, most of the time.

Re: Jack

Deirdre Saoirse Moen


>Well, if you can find a LN jack plane without gasping at the price tag, I really really highly recommend that route. I'm so ecstatic with mine it should be illegal. :)

Re: Best all-around plane is Lee Valley LA Jack

Richard Gillespie, Jr.


>I couldn't agree more.

Re: Best all-around plane is Lee Valley LA Jack

Denis Ch�nard, Orl�ans, Ont.


>Agree completely. Quality, versatility, ease of use, and price (more on that later), it just can't be beaten.

Pricewise, sure, you can buy an old Stanley, or even a "cheap import" like Groz or Anant, and make these work, but it'll take a while; expect the sole to be out of flat and require serious lapping, the iron will need the same treatment (and be of inferior quality). In use these planes will be fussier to work with. But they can work pretty well if one puts the time to tune them properly (and possibly replace the old iron with an aftermarket one).

The Veritas Low Angle Jack is much simpler. Open the box, hone the blade and off you go. That's it. The sole is flat, the iron is flat, right out of the box. You can choose the iron for the task at hand (end grain, flat grain, difficult grain), and close or open the throat without having to remove the iron (without changing the depth of cut). There is next to no backlash in the adjuster, I have yet to see better in its price range.

I now own a few more planes, yet the LAJ is still my favourite, the weight, feel and balance is just perfect for me. In fact it's the plane I go to for smoothing, even if I have other choices.

Get one, you will not regret it...

DC

Re: First Plane?

Dean J in MN


>Charles --

This is a deceptively simple question. I'm going to go against the grain and tell you that you may not want, or even need, a jack plane. It is unfortunate that even that word "jack" means very little. Each vendor calls different planes "jack" planes. C&W's jack is a very different tool than the Veritas LA jack for example. I think you should look at the length, width, and blade configuration of the plane, not the vendor's name for the tool.

If your intent is to correct wind or cup on pre-surfaced lumber the longer the plane the better. Cleaning up edges also calls for a long plane. Keep in mind you can make a longer plane act shorter, but it is difficult to make a short plane act longer. I'd push you in the direction of a plane around 20 inches long. Planes this long also tend to be wider; this is an asset for match planing.

The other point missing in the conversation is the necessity to have some sort of a sharpening system. A shiny L-N, spanking new Veritas, or a beautiful C&W is useless if the blade isn't sharp. Keep some of your budget for sharpening stones.

It is too bad there isn't somewhere we can point you to better answer your question. I can only suggest you find someone near you who works with hand tools. Someone who does what you are looking to do, correct pre-surfaced lumber. Is there a local wood-working group in your area? Hands on experience is most useful.

-Dean

What size boards?

Paul Kierstead


>Or, more specifically, what is the finished size (flattening an entire board that you're going to cut up into 5 pieces is wasting wood and your time...cut rough, then flatten).

Note that making a square (to the face) edge will take some practice.

I'd buy a 605 Stanley bedrock

Jim in Burlington On


>I have a few now didn't pay much for either one under a hundred and made new baldes for both one curved for scrubbing and a couple of experimental blades. If your going to buy a new plane the LV LA Jack with a couple of different blades is a very good start.

Best all around plane is LN Jack

John Hoffman

Re: Best all around plane is LN Jack

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX


>Why, John? I agree the LN and LV LA jacks are the best all around planes, but many say the LV version is excellent, too.

Pam

Well, for going around...

Paul Kierstead


>I would think some kind of plane with a radiused bottom would be the ticket.

Re: Best all around plane is LN Jack

John Hoffman


>Sorry for the delayed response. First I like the esthetics of the LN and the way it feels in my hand. I think that those things play a great part in how much I use the tool and how I use it. I am sure the LV cuts well and I think I may have used more then one but I am not keen on the asthetics as much as the LN. I also am not a great fan of the bells and whistles that are added onto planes, like the alignment screws on some LV planes or the stop to avoid the blade hitting the body. No offense meant I have met Rob Lee and Terry and they are great guys. Just adding to the conversation.

Peace

JH

Re: Best all around plane is LN Jack

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX


>Sorry, John, it's the "Best all around..." bit that I objected to most. But I just noticed the phrase was used first by the LV guys, so my apologies. This is another general complaint, not about your message. I truly don't understand the use of this phrase, it's so patently a hyperbole, untrue. There must be at least 50 "best all around planes."

Pam

Re: Best all around plane is LN Jack

Charles Jackson III


>Well guys I have a limited budget, and I cant afford a real expensive hand plane right now, I think a new stanley bailey jack would or work.

Re: Best all around plane is LN Jack

Ian Smith (Sydney Australia)


>I reckon you'd be better off with a vintage Stanley Bailey Jack. A vintage plane would be much nicer (better quality) than a new one. From what I've read on this and other forums you would be best served by something pre-WWII.

I don't have experience with a new Stanley Jack but I do have a Stanley Bailey No. 4 that I bought new about 5 years ago and the quality is nowhere near as good as the vintage ones. The plastic handles aren't great either.

Regards,

Ian.

Re: Best all around plane is LN Jack

Charles Jackson III


>What do u guys think about groz planes?

Groz is crap.

Paul Kierstead


>Seriously. Buy a old fellar; it will be top notch and cheap.

Re: Groz is crap.

Ian Smith (Sydney Australia)


>I agree with Paul, Groz are crap. Having said that, I've never used one, just checked them out in a local woodworking store. I reckon the quality of them is quite poor.

If you don't wish to buy a new Lie-Nielsen or Veritas then go with a vintage Stanley. A vintage one will likely be cheaper than a new Stanley and the quality will be better.

Regards,

Ian.

Re: Best all around plane is LN Jack

Deirdre Saoirse Moen


>I think Groz planes are poorly made -- and look it (even on not-so-close inspection).

I have an LN jack.

Re: Best all around plane is LN Jack

Deirdre Saoirse Moen


>You're better off with a vintage Stanley jack than a new one. Less $ and better made. Get one from someone who's done the fettling already.

Re: Best all around plane is LN Jack

Charles Jackson III


>Hum, so that means I got to pay 160 to 300 for a LN, I think I will look for another way to flatennern boards.

Read Again.

Paul Kierstead


>Deirdre: "You're better off with a vintage Stanley jack than a new one. Less $ and better made. Get one from someone who's done the fettling already."

You: "Hum, so that means I got to pay 160 to 300 for a LN, I think I will look for another way to flatennern boards."

A vintage Stanley is not an LN. A very quick look at eBay completed auctions shows most going for $20-$30, what you are quoting. It can be had cheap and easily. If you don't trust eBay people here can give you some trusted dealers whose premium won't be that high.

Re: Read Again.

Charles Jackson III


>Ok, I really dont trust ebay, I dont know the folks.