Thread: Anyone use tongue & groove? NO.48 & 49

I recently had the option of using tongue and groove joints for the boards on a cabinet back. Basically I was just nailing them in, so I thought about using T&G for that, but, ultimately, I just went with a simple beveled ship lap. It was easier and achieved the same thing (closing the visible gaps while allowing movement.

I have often looked at these planes (well, the Stanleys, of course) and considered them for frame and panel joinery. I saw an article where a guy used them for that. It seemed reasonable enough, but it's nothing a plow plane and a rebate plane can't handle, and you (should) already have both of those. If I was going to fit out my entire kitchen and make the doors by hand (which I would never do...) then maybe I'd get them.

To me, these seem like kind of a bygone idea for planes. Only really relevant when you need to use them all day long, and if you were doing that you'd likely use machines. Otherwise there are more efficient and cost effective ways to skin this particular cat.

Cheers,
Luke

Yeah that was my thinking as well. I momentarily contemplated getting one and realised that I'm unlikely to have a strong desire to use tongue and groove in the future, beyond purely as an excuse to try out the plane.

I was looking at picking up that 10 1/4 after all and I could throw another plane in for effectively no additional shipping so was browsing through the catalogue in case I realised I wanted something else later! The old "buy more than you need to justify shipping" trap haha.

Originally Posted by DomAU

Yeah that was my thinking as well. I momentarily contemplated getting one and realised that I'm unlikely to have a strong desire to use tongue and groove in the future, beyond purely as an excuse to try out the plane.

I was looking at picking up that 10 1/4 after all and I could throw another plane in for effectively no additional shipping so was browsing through the catalogue in case I realised I wanted something else later! The old "buy more than you need to justify shipping" trap haha.

I only have one Lie Nielsen plane, and that's the 102 block plane. It's my only one-handed plane and I use it pretty often. They have really great chisels in case you don't have them already. You may also consider getting some of those Rivierre cut nails. They're killer. Or a nice auriou rasp... Or their side rebate planes...

Not too hard to spend extra money on the Lie Nielsen site. I wish they'd hurry up and release their plow plane. I think it's going to be based on the old Stanley design and will probably be awesome. They've been talking about it for years.

Originally Posted by Luke Maddux

I only have one Lie Nielsen plane, and that's the 102 block plane. It's my only one-handed plane and I use it pretty often. They have really great chisels in case you don't have them already. You may also consider getting some of those Rivierre cut nails. They're killer. Or a nice auriou rasp... Or their side rebate planes...

Not too hard to spend extra money on the Lie Nielsen site. I wish they'd hurry up and release their plow plane. I think it's going to be based on the old Stanley design and will probably be awesome. They've been talking about it for years.

Almost ashamed to say I already have veritas block, BUS, jack, both skew rebbate, bu jointer, large and medium shoulder, shooting, small plow, ln no.4, large router, hnt dado, and Terry has some side rebbates with my name on them. Chisels covered with veritas pmv11 and koyamaichi japanese plus mortise. Have Auriou and liogier, although maybe a flat rasp would be handy.

The only things I was looking at from LN are the 10 1/4, tongue and groove, maybe a 4 1/2 out of interest not need, a no.8 (wont fit with 10 1/4 under $1000), maybe block rebate for smaller tenon cheeks. Or a DMT diaflat but was looking at the cheaper atoma 400 along with some sigma power stones from stu at tools from japan as my seuhiro cerax are close to needing replacement. Never tried a scraper plane but it seems like thr jury is out wrt both effectiveness and need over a well tuned high angle smoother.

I used t&g for the bottom of my tool chest and... erm, that's it! I used the attachments for the Veritas small plough, which given the infrequency of use, I judged more worth it than a dedicated plane. I'm sure the LN would do the job wonderfully, but *that* [price tag] wonderfully?

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The block rebate is a lovely little plane, btw...

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I have not written a review of the LN #49, but have used it on occasions for frame-and-panel construction. This is from an article on my website.

Creating a tongue in the panel ...







The #49 makes nice shavings … and an even, perfectly formed tongue …





The Veritas Skew Rabbet Plane was used on the end grain …





Here are the completed panels installed on the backs of the chests …



The full article is here: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Furnitu...tedChests.html

Regards from Perth

Derek

Well that's just great Derek! I'd all but decided it wasn't worth buying one and you make it seem like useful tool again haha.

So aside from this project have you had any other cause to use the 49? Do you see yourself using it again in the future?

Very nice chests!

Dom, the #49 is a useful tool. The question is how often you need to make T&G joints, or their parts?

I think that, if you have the LV Small Plow, it would be better better value-for-money (although more expensive) since it can do so much more. The LN is a specialist plane. It is, however, easier to set up and use than the LV. If you work with (in this case) 1/2" boards, then it is a very useful addition to the tool chest for grooves and T&G.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Hi Dom

Save your pennies and get a Veritas combination plane ...



I briefly got to fondle one yesterday.

For tongue and groove work I think it will be a better choice than either the #48 or #49.

The Veritas is now on my "saving up for" list -- justified as an alternative to a LH Small Plow.
The #49 was on that list, but no more


I also picked up one of these yesterday



500+ pages of wallet lightening drool

Originally Posted by ian

Hi Dom

Save your pennies and get a Veritas combination plane ...



I briefly got to fondle one yesterday.

For tongue and groove work I think it will be a better choice than either the #48 or #49.

The Veritas is now on my "saving up for" list -- justified as an alternative to a LH Small Plow.
The #49 was on that list, but no more


I also picked up one of these yesterday



500+ pages of wallet lightening drool

Hmm. Is the new plow any different for tongue and groove than the small plow? I have the wide blade add on for my plow (yet to use) but have read it's quite finicky / time consuming to set up properly for tongue and groove. Is the large plow somehow different in this regard?

Hi Dom

Yes, the new Combo is different from the Small Plow. I've been playing with the Combo for the past year, and will eventually write a review - waiting for the ideal project when I can demonstrate it in practice.

In a nutshell, the Combo is like a larger, grown up version of the Small Plow. One important difference is the addition of a second skate and nickers for cross grain work. Of relevance to the T&G, it does not require a special set up, as is needed on the Small Plow. Just drop in the blades, and away you go.

Combo and Small Plow, both in grooving mode ...



I did not mention the Combo earlier as it is more expensive than the SP, and even further away from the LN. However, if one was considering a plough lane, and also sought a plane for dados, then it begins to become a more serious preposition.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Would the combo do away with having to get say the skew rabbet plane as well?

Dane, the Small Plow or Combination plane can be used for rebates as well. The Veritas planes have blades as wide as 3/4" or 18mm.

Regards from Perth

Derek