Early Impressions of a 'non-US' Low AngleJack

**IanW** · 31st July 2014, 08:01 PM

I recently returned my brother's #5 Stanley that had been on loan to me (for 35 years!

), which left an empty spot in my tool cupboard. Now I've wanted to try out a LA jack plane for quite a while, but found it hard to justify getting one when I already have more planes than I really need, but with an empty spot to fill, well, here was opportunity banging at the door.

But retirement means I have to be a lot tighter with my tool budget, so I decided to try out a Quangsheng version of the 62, on the strength of mostly favourable reviews. One thing I have to say for it, the tote looks far more like a tote than any of my Veritas planes arrived with: LAJ1.jpg

Looks are deceiving, though. The radius at the bottom front of the tote is too tight, & pinches even my smallish pinky, and the grip is too fat for comfort, at 26mm thick. But it is a beautiful bit of wood (Bubinga?) and worth keeping, so out came the rasps & scrapers and a bit of extra shaping got it pretty close.

I do not like the standard 'high' knobs that came into vogue about 100 years ago, so that has to go. A quick look showed the shaft has an M6 thread at the top & an M5 at the bottom where it screws into the adjustable sole piece, so I dug out a spare low knob I had, & set to work modifying it to fit the LAJ. There is a bit of poor manufacturing with the existing knob - there are no lugs on the metal baseplate of the knob to prevent it from unscrewing the top brass nut (as on the original Stanley 62). So if you over-tighten the knob (which I managed to do almost immediately!), instead of the bit in the sole unscrewing, the knob comes loose, leaving the metal shaft & brass base firmly attached! A drop of Loctite on the retaining nut when assembling the knob would probably solve the problem, but I decided to make some holes in the new baseplate I made, through which a couple of pins can be driven into the knob, as added insurance: LAJ4.jpg

I haven't pinned it yet, 'cos as soon as I can find a wee chunk of Bubinga to match the tote, this Rosewood knob is going back in the 'spares' box. Here are the two knobs side by side, so you can see the difference: LAJ2.jpg

So why am I so pig-headed about a stupid old knob? It's because for me, a flat-topped low knob is far more comfortable to use. If you've ever had a long planing session with a high knob, holding it with your hand wrapped around the knob the way most people do, you will probably have experienced the the blisters on your little finger caused by constant rubbing against the side web of the sole. Using a flat-topped knob is much more comfy. I simply bear down on the top with the palm of my hand on the power stroke: LAJ5.jpg

Then transfer most of the pressure to the right hand as the stroke is completed. On the return, I cup my fingers around the 'mushroom' to lift the front very slightly: LAJ6.jpg

Easy-peasy, & no blisters!

Anyway, the verdict on my modifications is that they have improved the comfort a lot, though I need to have another go at the tote to get it right. The blade seems quite tough, it took an excellent edge, and the plane made good shavings straight off: LAJ7.jpg

I have some reservations about some of the components, like the dinky M5 thread in the sole plate, and a pretty dinky lever cap screw, too, but the plane had a solid feel in use. I'll report further when it's had some serious use...

Cheers,

**JDarvall** · 1st August 2014, 07:53 AM

Look good Ian.

I can relate to that need to get rid of a high knob, but I did it not such a fancy manner. I just got an off cut about 45x45x 50 high and just rounded the top corners and screwed that in. I found it even more comfortable than a low knob because your whole hand was over it. Bit like the comfort you get pushing a krenov style plane, where your whole hand cups the back of the body.

just an opinion. not a expert hand plane knob making expert. 2 cents worth.

**IanW** · 1st August 2014, 08:20 AM

Well, Jake, I'm glad to hear that at least there's one other 'flat palm' planer in the world!

A handle doesn't need to be pretty, but it does need to be comfortable if you plan on using a tool for more than 20 seconds at at a time. I've become overly obsessive, I'll freely admit. I think I caught the disease when I spent a few seasons cane-cutting, back in my salad days. We always fussed over the handle of a new knife with pocket-knife & bits of broken glass to get them ready for work. Using a new knife straight out of the box was a sure path to a handful of blisters......

Cheers,

**JDarvall** · 1st August 2014, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by IanW

Well, Jake, I'm glad to hear that at least there's one other 'flat palm' planer in the world!

A handle doesn't need to be pretty, but it does need to be comfortable if you plan on using a tool for more than 20 seconds at at a time. I've become overly obsessive, I'll freely admit. I think I caught the disease when I spent a few seasons cane-cutting, back in my salad days. We always fussed over the handle of a new knife with pocket-knife & bits of broken glass to get them ready for work. Using a new knife straight out of the box was a sure path to a handful of blisters......

Cheers,

I wasn't suggesting you being over obsessive. I was just trying to contribute. And it was all I could remember on that subject.

Whats over obsessive anyway ? The need to label things suggests some kind of obsession as well. And the accuracy of labelling one as something or other is entirely at question as well because of bias that comes with the need to label. And what really is the motivation to label anyway. Mostly I think its a need to form groups, because the feeling of being in a group makes one feel safe. ie. to resolve insecurities. …… So I wonder if part of the drive to study human behaviour is to build up feelings of security around other people. Must feel more confident when you have learned labels floating around your head, around others who have just 'no idea' about people behaviour.

honestly.

I think your works excellent. Wouldn't happen without any obsession imo.

just an opinion. I'm not an expert human behaviourist specialising in monitoring expert human behaviourists. 2 cents worth. Sorry about the efen rant.

**Vann** · 1st August 2014, 11:02 AM

I've got a "non-US" LAJ too. Mine was made in Canada

.

Cheers, Vann.

ps. I believe the Stanley SW LAJ is made in Mexico, with an English iron - I guess that makes it non-US too. Maybe you mean "non-American"

**IanW** · 1st August 2014, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Vann

I've got a "non-US" LAJ too. Mine was made in Canada

..... ps. I believe the Stanley SW LAJ is made in Mexico, with an English iron - I guess that makes it non-US too. Maybe you mean "non-American"

Vann - I was just being very careful - I'm pretty sure I know who made this plane, but it arrives as a very definite "no-name" - there ain't a mark or cypher of any kind on plane or packaging.

Dunno how many makers of semi-reasonable quality planes there are up in the big country to the north of us, but you can probably guess who dunnit. You're right, I should have said "non North-American".

Yes, the way things are farmed out to be made (at the cheapest possible price) here & there makes a mockery of any brand names.

Cheers,

**pmcgee** · 11th August 2014, 03:23 AM

Originally Posted by IanW

I do not like the standard 'high' knobs that came into vogue about 100 years ago, so that has to go.

Yeah ... damn this constant change and disruption ...

Paul

Thread: Early Impressions of a 'non-US' Low AngleJack

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Early Impressions of a 'non-US' Low AngleJack

Similar Threads

CBN wheel - first impressions

Job Impressions

First impressions of a Goat

1st impressions of the BP-16A

First impressions of Beadlock

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions