Thread: Which block plane

Just wanted to resurrect this thread for a bit; I'm still looking to get my first block plane. I have a bit of cash given to me as an early xmas present and would like to buy something asap to have in my hand (hopefully) for the xmas holiday projects. I'm thinking I'll just buy a new good quality plane, either Veritas or Lie-Nielsen seem to be the consensus. Same question as Gonty though.....how important or how valuable is the adjustable mouth to a block plane??

The Lie-Nielsen non-adjustable plane can be bought for $179 + postage as Ian pointed out, where as an adjustable version jumps up in price to $299 for a Lie-Nielsen or $279 for a Veritas. Seems like a lot of cabbages ($100+) to jump up to an adjustable mouth. Honestly my budget is like $200, but if I had to I could probably swindle some 'goodie' cash out of the Mrs So what do you think? Adjustable or not? Or forget the new ones and go with an old 60 1/2??

Cheers,

Will

If you can scrouge up the extra dough for the Veritas you won't regret it. Don't forget this is a tool that will outlive you. The adjustable mouth, wider blade and set screws make the Veritas a more functional plane. I can also highly recommend the chamfer guide which can be bought as an option -perhaps some time in the future.

The veritas has a little more mass behind it which is also worthwhile.

Thanks Mat. So if you were choosing between the adjustable Lie-Nielsen & the Veritas for $20 difference, you reckon the Veritas?

Cheers,

Will

The difference between these two planes is small. I'd probably go for the Veritas though as it has a slightly wider blade, a bit more mass and is more easily adjustable especially for keeping the blade parrallel to the sole as well as the availability of the chamfer guide.

Thanks Mat.

yeah been doing some quick reading of the many many many Lie-Nielsen vs Veritas block planes. Seems to be much of the muchness.


Cheers,

Will

Originally Posted by jackliveshere

Thanks Mat.

yeah been doing some quick reading of the many many many Lie-Nielsen vs Veritas block planes. Seems to be much of the muchness.


Cheers,

Will

Yep! Now you have your answer, buy the Veritas. And just to throw another spanner in the works, the adjustable mouth on the DX60 is far superior as you cannot knock it into the blade when you hit something front on. Yes I know the old model has a screw which is supposed to prevent that, but the new models adjustable mouth is within the sole of the plane, I'd go for the new one.

Originally Posted by Socrates

Yep! Now you have your answer, buy the Veritas. And just to throw another spanner in the works, the adjustable mouth on the DX60 is far superior as you cannot knock it into the blade when you hit something front on. Yes I know the old model has a screw which is supposed to prevent that, but the new models adjustable mouth is within the sole of the plane, I'd go for the new one.

Ah now that's what i'm looking for, some reasoning on why the new Veritas DX60 adjustable is better then the old one. Thanks for that Socrates As I said early, my budget was about $200 - so i'm thinking I'll have an easier time getting an extra $79 out of the mrs then $99, but you never know! haha. see how we go I'll be happy either way i'm sure

Cheers,

Will

Just in case you missed this ..

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRev...lockPlane.html

Regards from Perth

Derek

wot he said

I reckon any well tuned plane works. having said that my fav from my collection is my LN low angle.

Hi Gonty,
I have been taught that you don't need to spend big dollars to have great tools. I bought a very cheap Record Block Plane and spent a little time truing it up and ensuring it worked as it should. It now works like a block plane you would pay ten times the money for. If you are yet to buy your block plane let me know and I'll tell you more.

Originally Posted by Scott Horsburgh

Hi Gonty,
I have been taught that you don't need to spend big dollars to have great tools. I bought a very cheap Record Block Plane and spent a little time truing it up and ensuring it worked as it should. It now works like a block plane you would pay ten times the money for. If you are yet to buy your block plane let me know and I'll tell you more.

Gonty, may or may not be set.

But I am interested as I am getting this itch that needs to be scratched.

Hi Star.
I have produced a dvd which is all about the hand plane. I show how to turn a cheap Record Jointer number 7 into a wonderful, accurate tool that enables shavings of 1/30th mm and less. The same principles apply to all planes. For a block plane the two most important things are firstly that the sole is perfectly flat and secondly, that the when the blade is set it is parrallel to the mouth opening. When you buy the cheaper model planes the sole is not flat so accurate work is impossible. When you pay a premium for well made tools you are buying a tool that is ready to go straight out of the box. However you do pay a high rpice for this. I spent no more than three hours on my Record number 7 cleaning the frog mounts, planing the mouth opening, ensuring the top surface of the frog was flat and flattening the sole using decling grades of sandpaper on a 12mm piece of float glass. The tool cost me $150 and after four hours it was working like a Lie Nielson that would have cost $750.
To tweak a cheap block plane does not take long at all. Filing the mouth opening if need be and flattening the sole on float glass. Start with a coarse grit and work up. Flatten it using the coarse grit and then use finer grits to polish the base after it is flat. Believe me, it is fun. You will get an understanding of how the tool works and if you encounter any ssues with its performance in the future you can work it out yourself.
I love my record 60 1/2. It is a ripper. Super accuarate, and with a razor sharp blade it is a joy to use.