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Favorite Block Plane Survey
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=51235		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  klooker [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 8:40 am ]
Post subject:  Favorite Block Plane Survey
The plane I use the the most is a humble Stanley 60-1/2 I bought new in the 80's - not exactly the golden age of hand tools.
Attachment:
StanleyBlock.JPG


It serves me well and the Veritas powder metallurgy blade I added last year was a nice upgrade.

Anyhow, the adjusters are a little sloppy and it doesn't feel great in the hand. For a tool that I use this much I'm considering an upgrade. Anyone use the Lie Nielsen or Veritas?

I'm intrigued by this Veritas with the Norris style adjuster and sexy shape.
Attachment:
Veritas.jpg


I've also pondered making one of these - it's only time & money
Attachment:
A31_1.jpg


Experiences, thoughts, opinions?

Thanks
Author:  SteveSmith [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 8:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
My favorite block plane is a Lie Nielsen low angle #102. If I replaced it I would probably get the adjustable mouth version although I haven't had any problems with the 102 mouth being to wide.

https://www.lie-nielsen.com/product/small-block-planes

I also have one of the LN Violin Makers planes and it also works very well. Of course, its just basically a miniature block plane.

https://www.lie-nielsen.com/product/block-planes/violin-makers-plane?node=4072
Author:  banjopicks [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
I almost never use my block planes. I shaped my sides with a #3 Stanley hand plane followed by a flat finger plane to get it close. I love my finger planes.
Author:  Mike Collins [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
my 60- 1/2 is my favorite also!

Mike
Author:  Colin North [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
I use an LN 60 1/2 and a 102 block planes, love them both.
I find tapping to adjust the blade (small brass hammer) much more sensitive than using a lateral adjuster.
Tried a Veritas but returned it, just didn't like it in my hand, or the adjustment.
Author:  jfmckenna [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
I have a cheap but well tuned Stanley block plane. I've tried to 'upgrade' it a couple of times but I keep going back to it.
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
I also use a Stanley 60 1/2. I don't use a block plane all that much though. I wonder if I had a nicer one if I would use it more; I suspect not. That said, I have tried an LN block plane and it was nicer than mine. For me, not enough nicer to buy one though.
Author:  DanKirkland [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
I've been using my LN violin makers plane for a long time. I absolutely love the little thing.

I've used the veritas planes you linked, I like them and they look cool, but for my hands they were a bit "smooth" if that makes sense. Bit difficult for me to maintain a positive grip, but I've got super long spider fingers so ymmv.

Infill planes are great too, very heavy compared to regular style block planes but still very good.
Author:  dpetrzelka [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 10:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
My Lie Nielsen violin makers plane is my most used hand plane - kept sharp does so much. I used it on everything from guitars,

Image

to surfboards stringers...
Image

to Brace radiusing
Image



I have an adjustable mouth Lee Valley/ Veritas low angle block plane. Absolute precision of adjustments - set screws on either side of the blade, adjustable mouth, Norris Style blade adjustment makes depth and square easy to set. It can take the thinnest of shavings from back strips or when fine tuning brace dimensions.

Image

Image

Image

Image

It has it all - except its just a little too big for me to use comfortably as a hand-held block plane. With the accessory tail/handle I use it as a small smoother, and the square sides allow to to easy shoot the taper of end wedges. I wish they made it just a little smaller.

The Lie Nielsen #102 has long been on my list. A nearly perfect size.


(Hope you don't mind all the photos)
Author:  klooker [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 11:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
Thanks for all the replies.

I do have the L-N Violin makers plane. I do like it but I like a little more heft for general purpose clean up.

Thanks again & keep the replies coming.
Author:  Clay S. [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 11:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
My favorite block plane is an unmarked Sargent\ Craftsman block plane similar to this one:
www.ebay.com/itm/Early-Sargent-Made-Cra ... rk:14:pf:0

It seems to fit my hand better than the Stanley block planes I have. I do use some of the small Stanley block planes (101, 103) and some wood bodied no names. I also have a couple of Stanley low angle "school boy " block planes (#118) with stamped steel bodies, which although simple and crude, work pretty well. Like most of my handplanes the block planes I have are flea market finds purchased for a few dollars. I've used the Lie Nielsen block plane, and although very nice out of the box, don't find it significantly better than the Stanley equivalent.
Author:  Tim L [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 11:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
I have both the LN and the Veritas block planes and like the LN better. Think it's a matter of fitting my hand better. The Veritas is a bit wider, taller and heavier than the LN, with the higher part being where the palm of my hand rests. The LN I can use one handed easier and the weight makes a difference. They are both nice planes and you should be happy with either one.
Author:  Ernie Kleinman [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 12:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
LN low angle block adjustable. and vlnmakers La plane
Author:  rlrhett [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 1:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
The LN #102 is the one I borrow the most, if that counts ;-)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Author:  SnowManSnow [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 3:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
Veritas block here


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Author:  Mark Mc [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 4:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
I've got the Veritas, and I find myself reaching for it first in most jobs.
Author:  windsurfer [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 5:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
I find the Veritas low angle to be too wide and too heavy
Veritas apron plane is much better, but my favorite by a large margin is the LN violin makers plane.
Author:  sdsollod [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 7:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
Lie Nielsen low angle #102 and Model Maker's plane...
Author:  DanKirkland [ Fri Nov 16, 2018 7:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
klooker wrote:
Thanks for all the replies.

I do have the L-N Violin makers plane. I do like it but I like a little more heft for general purpose clean up.


If you like heft, for a little while I used an older chariot plane for alot of cleanup work. Worked fantastically well and was adjusted by a small hammer very easily. Heavy as a boat anchor for it's size.
Author:  Clinchriver [ Sat Nov 17, 2018 5:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
I have a Lie Nielsen 60-1/2, I reground the blade angle to 45 degrees and use it to plane Curly Maple fingerboards (Strats/Teles) and thats about it, the 102 and the Violin Makers are in constant use. My apprentice keeps grabbing the 102 :mrgreen:
Author:  Woodie G [ Sat Nov 17, 2018 6:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
Lie-Nielsen's version of the Stanley #100 - the squirrel-tailed Modelmaker's Plane (I'll differentiate Stanley models and LN models as does LN...'#' for Stanley and 'No.' for LN) - is my favorite, due to the way it fits my admittedly smallish hands. While I sometimes miss the screw feed adjustment of the Violinmaker's Plane when using the No. 100, the squirrel tail stabilizes the small plane to a much greater degree than might be anticipated. That said, a Violinmaker's Plane lives in my apron for all the little trimming jobs done away from the bench...it was purchased with the proceeds from my first purely solo repair, and is a lovely little tool.

In terms of most used, the LN Low Angle Adjustable Block Plane - an upgraded Stanley #60-1/2 design - fits the description. Most components for build or repair projects will see at least a few strokes of this plane off the saw or thickness sander, and for bench hook use, the LN No. 60-1/2 is just about perfect when trimming using a bench hook to hold the work.

If I was operating on a thinner budget, I believe I might avail myself of the services of the old tools vendors here and on other hand tool oriented sites to find a nice vintage Stanley #60-1/2...they are readily available, and even with a modern replacement alloy blade for work in abrasive woods, will still be about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of the Lie-Nielsen or Veritas standard sized block planes.
Author:  B. Howard [ Sat Nov 17, 2018 7:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
My favorite is an old Stanley 220, they don't make that model anymore. Bought it used around 1980. Only mod is a Hock blade.
Author:  kjaffrey [ Sat Nov 17, 2018 8:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
I have both the 102 and the 60 1/2 and find I reach for the 102 more often. The slightly lighter weight makes it nice to move around at different angles for different tasks, but the footprint is still large enough to plane a surface like a headstock flat.
Author:  klooker [ Sat Nov 17, 2018 10:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
Lots of great feedback!

I hadn't thought about the 102 but it seems pretty popular. I wish there was a brick & mortar store to go check them all out.

Thanks everyone!
Author:  Mark Fogleman [ Sat Nov 17, 2018 11:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite Block Plane Survey
Another LN102 user here. My LV 60-1/2 is used mainly with a mini shooting board for small parts.
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