Hypothetical Question on 4-1/2 Smoothing Plane

Re: Hypothetical Question on 4-1/2 Smoothing Plane

Clint Jones

>My good old Stanley 4 1/2C Early Sweetheart!!! I do prefer the Bedrock 604 1/2 though!

Re: Hypothetical Question on 4-1/2 Smoothing Plane

Dean J in MN

>Joe --

I'll throw you a curve ball. Why another plane? If your current crop really can't handle cherry and maple that is one thing. But, I think a lot of folks focus on planes too much. Once you have a simple set of bench planes (not a fleet of multi-sized smoothers) I'd suggest looking elsewhere to spend that money burning a hole in your pocket.

Now, I don't know what your work habits are. Do you cut joints by hand? If so, do you have a full set of joinery saws? How does your chisel fleet look? Do you cut stock to size with hand saws? Do you have a set of handsaws to match your needs? Do you have a nice hatchet? (Do you have a nice hatchet? Yes, I said that twice).

Just my view, Happy Holidays!

-Dean

All right Mr. Suckmister...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>Hmmm, all in formation too. You trying to tell me that No.1 a "C" also...

Re: All right Mr. Suckmister...

Clint Jones

>Lol no.

my answer (longish)

Ian (in Sydney, Australia)

>OK Joe, I'm taking you literally, and in the spirit of contributing to the conversation ...

"you have money burning a hole in your pocket" so relative cost is irrelevant, so it wont figure further

"you could get either the Lee Valley 4� smoothing plane or the Lie-Nielsen 4� smoothing plane" so the plane has to be the bevel down style, so let's hear no more about the benefits of bevel-up smoothers.

"you are looking for a special go-to plane for that very last bit of planing prior to finishing" so the plane will only be used for the final few smoothing passes so will be permanently setup with a very fine mouth and a very sharp blade that is relieved at the corners. I'm going to go out on a bit of a limb and suggest that the ability to swap frogs and/or blades between planes is a non issue. You will want this one plane permanently set to take the finest shaving, with or against the grain.

Which would I get and why?

The bronze LN#4� HAF because to my eye it's the prettiest. It's also pretty heavy which combined with a very tightly set mouth will be able to handle any "final smoothing" task you throw at it. BUT they are no longer available.

second choice: The iron LN#4� HAF, again for the looks and the weight which (as momentum) translates to performance in difficult grain when the blade is sharp and the mouth very finely set.

third choice: The LN#5� HAF, again for the looks, the weight and the performance with a very tight mouth.

The Lee Vally/Veritas don't rate because I don't like their looks and as I said above relative cost is not a criteria.

If you would like a bit more science, you could look at the Smoothing Plane article by Kerry Pierce in the February 2007 Woodwork.

now if that hot wad of cash is thick enough you could condider getting one of Wayne Anderson's planes or a Ray Iles or a Sauer and Steiner (or is it Steiner and Sauer?) or even a Hotley � which in practice would be a real multi year gloat.

But if you're happy with your Stanleys you may not want to get a Lie Nielsen at all (or even a Lee Valley) as there is a real risk that after flirting with a finely set LN your trusted Stanleys wont be good enough and one LN will lead to you divorcing the Stanleys.

Merry Christmas

ian

Thanks everybody.

Joe in a Cleveland suburb

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