Thread: Which are the best planes?

Originally Posted by thumbsucker

HNT Gordon's makes planes with mechanical adjuster called the A55 series for those who cannot live without a threaded adjuster.

I favor not to have an adjuster, on the grounds that it is much faster to tap the blade and wedge, then to fiddle around with a chip breaker, lever cap, blade, and adjuster. Also a threaded adjuster is limited to the TPI count and this limits the rate and amount by which you may adjust the blades projections per every turn (it is much easier to make micro adjustments with a plane setting hammer), in addition over time the threaded adjuster will give more and more backlash as the thread wears, making the adjustment less and less positive.

With a few minutes practice, most people will leave a threaded adjuster for dead. I honestly see the threaded adjuster as a misstep, in the history of hand planes.

However ultimately, a wooden plane, are just such a pleasure, wood on wood, burnishing along smoothly as silky ribbons of shavings pour out of it. It is almost a sentimental feeling. I always of think of Krenov who says "for those who love wood" to have that sensitivity.

Sentimentally aside no single plane will be a panacea for all tasks. Having read hundreds of similar threads on this forum, I would say that you first plane should be a Veritas OR Lie-Nielsen Low Angle Jack, with a low and high angle blades. This will solve most planning task's. Then expand your collection from there. You may end up selling a plane after a while but at least you tried and you will get a feel for what works for you. This is where trade shows are great, you get to go to each stand and you get the feel for the plane in hand before buying.

Yeah, what he said. But I would like to add a warning. When you buy your first plane, most likely you are beginning an obsessive journey where you can never have enough planes. So be warned, you may need a second job to pay for your habits.

Originally Posted by Woodwould

I tend to agree. If I was going to spend serious money on a plane, I would want a serious plane.

If you are suggesting that HNT Gordon planes are not serious planes then I would suggest you have never held or used one. Adjusting with a hammer is so easy you'll wonder why all panes are not like that and when you realise that only Terry's planes can seriously cope with difficult grain, that's when you'll realise how serious they really are. When all is considered, tearout, blade pitch, quality price, Terry's planes are without doubt the best value planes in the world, and although I am a fan of metal planes (mostly Veritas) if you were to buy only one set (sic! as if) then you should buy HNT Gordons. They will cope under all circumstances.

Originally Posted by Socrates

If you are suggesting that HNT Gordon planes are not serious planes then I would suggest you have never held or used one. Adjusting with a hammer is so easy you'll wonder why all panes are not like that and when you realise that only Terry's planes can seriously cope with difficult grain, that's when you'll realise how serious they really are. When all is considered, tearout, blade pitch, quality price, Terry's planes are without doubt the best value planes in the world, and although I am a fan of metal planes (mostly Veritas) if you were to buy only one set (sic! as if) then you should buy HNT Gordons. They will cope under all circumstances.

I do not doubt the quality of HNT Gordon planes, although in truth, I haven't even seen one let alone used one. I spent over thirty years working at the highest levels of cabinetmaking and adjusting planes with a hammer (100% moulding planes for the latter 25 years), so I know all the foibles of tuning wooden planes.

I don't consider planes that use wedges 'serious' in this day and age and I don't regard metal adjusters wearing out to be any more of an issue, during my working life, than the wearing of the bodies of the planes themselves.

Weekenders and bib-and-brace-wearers enjoying the romanticism of tuning a wooden plane with a hammer just like their forefathers did (possibly didn't ?) is one thing, but turning an adjuster a fraction versus picking up a hammer to adjust the plane in a busy commercial shop just doesn't cut it in my books.

Each to their own I guess.

Spend fifty bucks on a couple of old Bailey type planes ( #4-6or7) strip them, clean and tune them, then use them. Soon you will know what you want, and maybe what you need, but beware the slippery slope of COLLECTING I was warned but ignored it

Now looking at the HNT Gordon A55 style adjuster, I think I'd prefer it to a wedge. Stanley type adjusters on the other hand Can be veeery annoying sometimes

Originally Posted by Woodwould

I do not doubt the quality of HNT Gordon planes, although in truth, I haven't even seen one let alone used one.
Each to their own I guess.

You don't need to believe me, your right I am a weekender at best. My real profession is Accountancy. So on the 24th to the 26th October, when the Wood Show is on in Melbourne, visit Terry Gordons stand and I'm sure he'll let you use his planes at the stand. After the show, come back to this forum and as you are a professional cabinet maker, I will relish your opinion on Terry's planes.

Originally Posted by Socrates

You don't need to believe me, your right I am a weekender at best. My real profession is Accountancy. So on the 24th to the 26th October, when the Wood Show is on in Melbourne, visit Terry Gordons stand and I'm sure he'll let you use his planes at the stand. After the show, come back to this forum and as you are a professional cabinet maker, I will relish your opinion on Terry's planes.

I'd love to, but I can't make it I'm afraid.

There are some advantages to HNTs:

No rust is a big one for those affected by salt laden sea breezes.

Wooden planes seem to have less resistance when being pushed across a piece of wood, even if the same weight. That maybe a characteristic of aus hardwoods; most of HNT's are made of. Something to consider if you suffer from unconditioned arms and have a lot of planing to do.

The blades are superior to other makers and the angle is better suited for aus hardwoods.

But! with all that when I can mail order out of Canada a Veritas smoother for about 250 compared to 425 for an HNT it can be a bit of a large lump to swallow. Also the Veritas adjustment system is superior in that it's more versatile. I know I can tap here and there with an HNT but I don't want to. The grub screws and Norris style adjustment system are what I prefer and to be honest are more convenient. A quick 1/16 turn of the knob and or a slight push this way or that of the knob and I've re-aligned the blade height and skew to what I want for what I'm doing at that moment. And I can adjust the mouth opening...

But! then again... You can make HNT's yourself (I've made a few) and they'll sell you the parts you need (except blade height adjustment mechanism)to complete the wooden body you produce...

And there's more. I've pushed and pulled a couple of the Asian style of planes and they have some really nice advantages over the western style of plane... Just a bit more to really make it hard to figure out what you want.

It's one of those six of one half a dozen of another.

Al,
It's been said before but I'll say it again if you are looking for a value for money quality plane that can tackle a lot of tasks then give serious consideration to a Veritas Low Angle Jack.
For someone who wants to experience what a good quality plane can do for their woodworking enjoyment I reckon they are the bees knees, pity the dollar has dropped at present.

I'm sure you have been searching this forum for threads that offer advice and if you haven't found him yet read Derek's plane reviews.
Sorry can't find his website at the moment.

Then when you get to know your LA you will start to want an HNT and you will will know you have started down the slippery slope of not having enough planes.

Cheers
Mike

Oh nearly forgot, before buying a metal #7 think about hefting the weight over a long board, you need to be fit.
This work definately makes a strong case for a woody like an HNT.
My 2cW

Mike

Oops just read Toolins post 100% agree

HNT Gordon planes are great, but then so is any new plane that you manage to score for a mere $60 at cash converters!

Sorry, just couldn't miss the opportunity to gloat.

Originally Posted by prozac

HNT Gordon planes are great, but then so is any new plane that you manage to score for a mere $60 at cash converters!

Sorry, just couldn't miss the opportunity to gloat.

which one, although any at $60 is a terrific score nice one

Originally Posted by prozac

HNT Gordon planes are great, but then so is any new plane that you manage to score for a mere $60 at cash converters!

Sorry, just couldn't miss the opportunity to gloat.

Even I might have been tempted by that one... although I would have asked to see any others first.

I've been thinking about this topic and what strikes me as significant is that anyone genuinely capable of using a good quality plane would more than have the nous and skills to make a wooden plane. So why don't more craftsmen (not the bib-and-brace brigade and sharp ornament collectors) make them?