#4 1/2 Smoother - LN vs Clifton...

[dr.nick]

very good points fellas

 

[jimi43]

Unashamed post of a profile much posted before but I simply have to gloat when something looks this good in silhouette....

And you are quite right Matthew...it does perform with virtually the same characteristics....

...and the yoke is still on one piece...even after 100 years! :wink:

Boy oh boy...someone's going to moan at me posting this again...I can see it now..but for £2 I'm darn well gonna get my money's worth! :mrgreen:

Jim

 

[Benchwayze]

I bought a bronze, LN smoother.
I ebayed it because I found it much too heavy.

Am I right in believing that Clifton blades will fit a Lie Nielsen plane?
Even if it is sacrilege to do it; from both perspectives of course.

 

[Benchwayze]

I have a hundred yr. old Stanley 4-1/2. I bought it for $70. It needed some work when I first got it, But the thing works beautifully. Aside from upgrading the iron, I can't see replacing it with a plane that costs so much more. Why would you need to? am I missing something?

Nick,

Did you buy a modern blade for this, or wait for a good long, old one to appear on eBay?

I have one of these planes, (about the same age) but the blade is almost worn down to the point where it can't be secured by the screw! And I am doubtful that what is left would hold an edge.

Even so, it's a joy to hold, and the tote is perfect, for feel and shape.

 

[Derek Cohen (Perth Oz)]

I bought a bronze, LN smoother.
I ebayed it because I found it much too heavy.

Am I right in believing that Clifton blades will fit a Lie Nielsen plane?
Even if it is sacrilege to do it; from both perspectives of course.

Hi John

I bought the limited edition bronze LN Anniversary #4 1/2 when it was first advertised. I am assuming that yours is the #4, since the chances of it being the #4 1/2 are much less. If so, then my comments apply even more.

I must say that I did not enjoy this plane for a long time. The 50 degree frog was not high enough (did not create a high enough cutting angle) for the interlocked hardwoods I work, and the mass of the plane was too great. I compared the cast iron #4 1/2 alongside it, and much preferred the iron version. It just felt a little more nimble.

About a year or so ago I acquired the 55 degree frog. I figured that if I had the plane I may as well use it, and the higher frog was then needed. But this just made the situation worse!

Several months ago, about a month before the LV Small BU Smoother showed up with blades to test for Lee Valley, I purchased a bronze LN #3 with a 55 degree frog. This has a great balance and the extra heft in a plane this size is perfect - still nimble but with more authority. It is a very good worker - not ultimately as good as the SBUS, which can achieve even higher angles - but good enough for a lot of the difficult grain.

Having the #3 inspired me to have another go at the #4 1/2. This time I took the time to lubricate the sole with candle wax (don't ask me why I did not do this before!). It was like chalk and cheese. The #4 1/2 glides along like a light plane. Yes, it is a heavy plane, but this is not intrusive in a negative sense now. I can only imagine a #4 would be even less so. Give it a go.

As to the Clifton blade fitting, well I have one that I purchased for a Stanley #4 1/2, and this is a perfect fit for the LN Anniversary. It is a touch thicker, so the frog does need adjusting. Excellent blade, although it did require a fair amount of flattening when I got it. And I hate the Clifton cap iron since it seems to have a sadistic streak and drop on my foot all the time! :lol:

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[Vann]

Am I right in believing that Clifton blades will fit a Lie Nielsen plane?
Even if it is sacrilege to do it; from both perspectives of course.

Yes (as Derek says)

The prefect combination 8)

They also fit (from L to R)...

Record No.08; LN No.4½; WS No.4; and of course Clifton No.3 :roll:

Actually, the No.8 iron didn't fit without filing the mouth, which I was loathe to do (I know it's not a particularly fine example of a No.8 - but it's the only one I've got) so I had the iron surface ground down from it's orginal 3.2mm to 2.75mm thick, and it fits just nicely.

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Benchwayze]

Derek and Vann,

Hi Derek,

Ah... Mine was a Number Four! But it was still heavy. I regret selling it mind, because the guy who bought it reckons it's the best Number Four he ever owned! So I might replace it with a cast iron Number Four; given a few months to recover from a recent raid on the tool fund. (A Festool addition. Age is creeping up and the 'grunt' side of handwork is getting more difficult. I don't have room for a tablesaw to reduce sheet goods. So the next best thing was a plunge saw and guides. Sorry about that. I know you're a 'Galoot'! :mrgreen: But it's that or no woodwork at all Derek!

I will bear in mind what you say about the blades and angles; although I hone my LN Five and a half (A2) to the 'normal angle', and it's sweet.
(I melt candles in an old tin-can, and pour it into plastic lids, to set. Makes a nice lubricant. I don't have any woodies any more, but I used to render down lamb fat, to make the tallow, which is ideal for woodies. Keeps 'em soft and sweet too!

Hi Vann,

Thanks for the info on the Clifton blades. I have a Clifton blade I can use for a Record 5-1/2 I am bringing into usable state. It's a bit of a mongrel, but it has a good, old casting. So a user it will be. if I can find the right shade of blue, I might get rid of the green-gunge paint someone used on it! I envisage having to remove some material from the mouth, so I am prepared for that.

Thanks again chaps.

 

[Aled Dafis]

I've been away from this thread for a while, but seeing as I had a letter from Parcel force on my mat when I came home from work, I thought I'd update you. Yup, you've probably guessed, I've been caught by Customs, VAT and a "Clearance Fee" whatever that may be, to the tune of £73.56!!!

So I'm actually going to be paying more for my import than I'd have payed directly to Axminster/Classic Hand Tools etc. The only good thing to come out of it is that I'll have the configuration I wanted in the first place - O1 iron and 50 degree frog - as opposed to an A2 iron.

Hmmmphhh
Aled

 

[Benchwayze]

Yep Aled.

Happened to me too with the No. 4, I later sold. I got lucky a couple of years ago with my Wenzloff saw, so maybe it's weight that they sometimes go on, to decide when there's tax to be made?

Any LNs I might buy from now on will be from Axy or Classichandtools.
Almost forgot. Has anyone tried the 'Pinnacle' blades that Rob Cosman demonstrated on the 'Tube? Would they maybe fit an LN? Just a thought.