Thread: Veritas Scraper Plane

Different strokes, Chook. True, the Veritas scraping plane does need to be sharp & properly adjusted, and true, you can get as good a result with a card scraper. However, I know which tool I reach for when there's a large area to be dealt with; I don't like the smell of barbequeing flesh when it's emanating from my fingers!

The Veritas can handle hard, cranky-grained woods better than my high-angle planes can, even the 60 degree bedded infill, which makes a pretty good fist of all but the worst. To be honest, I'd rather avoid woods that need such treatment, but in our part of the planet, it's not easy to do that, so the Veritas gets it's turn every now and then. Is it an economical tool to own? I doubt it, but it does make the occasional 'orrible job a lot easier, so mine will remain a part of my tool kit as long as I can still push it.

To each his own.....

It's really not that hard to set up....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kpp5jBJj94

Plenty of other videos online about using scraper planes too.

Card scrapers have their place for small patches of awkward grain, but the scraping plane is a far better way to tackle large areas. I appreciate where you're coming from though - I too tend to spend more on the tools I use most often, and the Veritas scraping plane doesn't really stack up from that point of view (I must have been flush with cash when I bought it). I applied similar thinking to a recent jointer plane (#7) purchase; all my other planes are Veritas or LN, but I couldn't justify their prices for something I wouldn't use as much. So.....a Woodriver #7 filled the hole nicely. The ultimate expression of this principle would have to be the Veritas shooting plane.......which is on my "to buy" list for when Lotto comes in !

Veritas® Shooting Plane - Lee Valley Tools

I bought the scraper plane from Chook. I use the card scrapers regularly, so will give this one a go - looking exactly at making scraping of slightly larger areas easier as compared to card scrapers. And also to use it where I cannot achieve desired result with LA smoother. Even if I use this scraper plane once or twice a year, and it makes my job easier and faster - I will be happy.

Check out YouTube - plenty of videos there on preparing the blade for the scraping plane, and setting it up. Might take you a few goes to get it right, but you get a lot quicker with practice.

I use both the thin bendy blade and the thick blade option with mine. For new players, the thin blade is the easier one to use (bowed to get the desired shaving), the heavy blade stands up to long use better and is less prone to chatter. Horses for courses.

Enjoy !

I have all of the LN scraping planes and like them. I also have a range of Stanley scrapers, none of the planes, and like them too. I think that a flexible scraper is better than the rigid blades on the LN and Veritas tools. Easy enough to fix with a bit of 0.035"+ saw blade.

Originally Posted by Ilya

I bought the scraper plane from Chook. I use the card scrapers regularly, so will give this one a go - looking exactly at making scraping of slightly larger areas easier as compared to card scrapers. And also to use it where I cannot achieve desired result with LA smoother. Even if I use this scraper plane once or twice a year, and it makes my job easier and faster - I will be happy.

I am glad it has gone to a home where it will be appreciated.

I do not think that there is anything wrong with the tool. Lots of people really like it. But I just never really enjoyed using it. This is unusual. Using tools usually gives me great pleasure.

Originally Posted by chook

....I do not think that there is anything wrong with the tool. Lots of people really like it. But I just never really enjoyed using it. This is unusual. Using tools usually gives me great pleasure.

No need to beat yourself up, Chook. There are some tools that just don't do it for me, too, yet others swear by them. I think you did the sensible thing by finding a new home for the scraper. At the very least, you've made room for another tool that you might love more.

Many of us must have a tool or two that sees very little use, and you wonder whether it should keep a place in your toolbox, or find new lodgings, but you hang onto it for various reasons. I have a couple of examples. One is a Stanley 10 1/2 that was given to me by my brother. It's an old one and works ok, but it's not a tool I have real need of, so it sits there occupying valuable space and gathering dust most of the time. I've several times thought I'd pass it on to someone who could use it more fully, but decided against it for sentimental reasons and because it 'might be handy someday'. I need to follow your example & be more ruthless!

Cheers,

I have two flat bottomed spoke shaves. At Stanley 51 and a 151. I have thought about getting rid of (giving away) the 51. I works fine but I just don't use it. But it is hard for me to part with tools I searched out, fixed up and have enjoyed using.

Originally Posted by chook

I have two flat bottomed spoke shaves. At Stanley 51 and a 151. I have thought about getting rid of (giving away) the 51. I works fine but I just don't use it. But it is hard for me to part with tools I searched out, fixed up and have enjoyed using.

The HNT Gordon spokeshaves are a real treat to use. As to scrapers I reach for those with the thinner blades most of the time. The LN's get used mostly for very hard species.

I think spokeshaves have to be one of the most personal tools out there.....I have both a Veritas and HNT, but constantly flip over which I prefer. I never miss the opportunity to try out anyone else's spokeshave of a different brand/vintage - I quite like the LN Boggs shaves, but adding a third to my tool cupboard will only add to the confusion.

I find the Veritas the easiest to set up, but still have to get around to replacing the handles with something more to my liking. Once set properly, the current design HNT shaves are a pleasure to work with.

Somebody called the 151R an exercise in frustration if I recall rightly. So I am in the market for one. to find out.

I got my 151 from a Sunday market. I would have to say that it was the second worst tool I have bought home from the market, in its original state. The sole was nowhere near flat. The back of the blade had a big hump, like a camel in the middle with 2 hollows on each side. The bed where the blade sits was very roughly cast. Anyway after much fun and a few hours, it works just fine. I like it. Fun to use. The worst tool was a newish Stanley Block plane. I have no idea how it escaped from the factory. I got two eventually and gave one to my son. They both turned out to be good little tools.

Originally Posted by chook

Somebody called the 151R an exercise in frustration if I recall rightly. So I am in the market for one. to find out.....

I got one about 30-something years ago, Chook, and 'exercise in frustration' would be an understatement for my first few tries at using it! I hung it on the wall and just glared at it for a very long time. One day, my then 5 or 6 year old son wanted to make himself a weapon of some sort (as 5/6 year-olds do!) and so I gave him a piece of suitable scrap and pointed him at the two spokeshaves, forgetting to tell him to use the (black) flat-bottomed one. Imagine my surprise when I turned around and saw him making very decent shavings with the blue (round-bottomed) shave! After he'd fashioned the sword or dagger or whatever it was to his satisfaction & left the shop, I shamefacedly snuck over and grabbed the shave. After a minute or two, I got the rhythm and stroke right, and suddenly, it was working for me, too! The unexpected things we learn from our kids, eh?

Cheers,