Air castles

[Eric The Viking]

NOT bouncy castles!

I'm musing on what to use the tea fund for: a #6 or #7?

I need to save up, specially if I want a Clifton or similar, so it's useful to know which to get. I want to joint boards, probably no more than 4ft long, smooth surfaces, and generally get things square and flat.

I'm not a hulk, and whilst pushing really big lumps of metal is probably good for me, it's not my ideal way of getting exercise. So can I 'get by' with a #6, or will I be wishing I got a #7?

Over to you lot...

 

[Racers]

Hi,

Sounds like you need a No8 :wink:


Pete


They are good. very good.

 

[AndyT]

Eric, if you're still holding on to your savings at the end of August, have a day out at Westonbirt for the annual Festival of the Tree.

If it's anything like last year's there will be the chance to try them out side by side and talk to people who understand what makes them so nice!

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6xclux

Btw I'm happy with a 5½ and no 7 which are Stanley not Clifton, and have not found myself wishing for anything bigger and heavier.

 

[Eric The Viking]

Eric, if you're still holding on to your savings at the end of August, have a day out at Westonbirt for the annual Festival of the Tree.

If it's anything like last year's there will be the chance to try them out side by side and talk to people who understand what makes them so nice!

That's a really good idea.

I was indeed hoping to go ('tis just down the road after all), but only if we get back from hols in time (We're going yodelling, apparently). The DC has the plans, and she's not saying ATM.

I'm leaning toward a #6, incidentally, on the basis that my #5 almost hacks it, but the extra length & weight would be good. I'm guessing that a #6 has a wide blade, like a 4.5 and 5.5 do.

 

[Racers]

Hi, Eric

The No6 was introduced as a joiner for the tool bag, when you couldn't carry around a No7 or No8. I have a No6 2xNo7s and a No8 and I use the No8 Can't remember the last time I used the others.


Pete

 

[woodbloke]

Hi,

Sounds like you need a No8 :wink:


Pete


They are good. very good.

I'd agree with Pete here...go for the best which if you want the longest plane is going to be a LN No8. If you try one at Westonbirt (you might have to contact CHT to ask Mike Hancock to bring one) there's every chance of a show discount, which will be ever better for the back pocket :wink:
In any event, 'try before you buy' and a show is the best place to do that - Rob

 

[yetloh]

I've never felt the need for anything bigger than a 7 but I do thing that is preferable to a 6. Weight is an advantage - it does a lot of the work for you as the extra mass will carry you though difficult areas; just don't bother taking it off the boeard for the back stroke.

Jim

 

[Nicholas Dalberg]

why have one plane only there are a bunch of stanley planes on a popular internet auction site at the moment they include a 7,6. 5.5 and a number 3 as well as a number 92 shoulder plane all in one bundle
me ill stick to my holteys :lol:

 

[Vann]

I'm guessing that a #6 has a wide blade, like a 4.5 and 5.5 do.

Yup, the No.6 has a 2⅜" iron same as the No.7, No.4½ and most No.5½s.

If others manage to talk you into a No.8, it comes with a 2⅝" wide iron.

HTH

Cheers, Vann.

 

[jimi43]

Btw I'm happy with a 5½ and no 7 which are Stanley not Clifton, and have not found myself wishing for anything bigger and heavier.

Yup...yup and thrice yup!

Jim

 

[Argus]

.




I do a lot of board jointing, edge to edge for tables and I don't used splines or biscuits, so a reliable glue joint is essential.

For this I have used a Clifton No 7 for many years when I relegated my well-worn Record No 7 to be more of a fore-plane because it would take a heavier cut.
So, for board edges it’s the Record first, then the Clifton and finally, I use a Veritas bevelled Edge trimming plane for the final swipe to make sure that the edge is square. It saves a lot of time and messing about and it’s a great little tool.


Why Clifton? Well, when I though that it was time to trade up to something a bit better, I held a Clifton in one hand down at Axminster’s old shop and a L-N no 7 in the other and I couldn’t feel a 100 quid’s worth of difference, so I went for the Clifton. I think that they had just started making them at the time and Axy had just got one in.

One thing that you may consider that saves a lot of time and effort in board jointing is a side fence (the Veritas version of the No 6 will accept one, I think, but check the catalogues).
I’m in the same boat when it comes to the physical side of things and I ain’t getting any younger or stronger, but personally I prefer a No 7.


Hope this helps, but it’s your choice.


.

 

[Eric The Viking]

Hope this helps...

Yes, it certainly does, as do all the other contributions. I really do appreciate the advice, evidently from masses of accumulated experience! The only reason I haven't commented before is simply nothing to add!

If you'd asked me about #4, #4 1/2 and #5 I can give you a sensible answer about which I prefer and why, but choosing outside one's experience is always difficult.

I'm afraid the eventual purchase will probably be opportunistic - the right offer at the right moment (or an eBay fluke!), but I've now got some sound advice to work with.

As I said, I'm most grateful.

 

[Paul Chapman]

So can I 'get by' with a #6, or will I be wishing I got a #7?

I have both the Clifton #6 and the Clifton #7. They are both superb planes but if you are going to buy just one and want to use it for jointing boards, I'd buy the #7.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Alf]

Dunno whether it's helpful or not, but I had a #6 for a while, sold it, and have never felt the urge to buy another. :shock: #7 for me every time. But I agree that if you can try them first, that's more helpful than anything.

 

[Racers]

Hi,

So Alf uses a No7, that means you must get a N08 as No7 is for girls :wink:



Pete

 

[paulm]

So can I 'get by' with a #6, or will I be wishing I got a #7?

I have both the Clifton #6 and the Clifton #7. They are both superb planes but if you are going to buy just one and want to use it for jointing boards, I'd buy the #7.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

Sounds a bit like a collector to me :wink: :lol:

Cheers, Paul

 

[Alf]

Hi,

So Alf uses a No7, that means you must get a N08 as No7 is for girls :wink:

Pete

Well you have me there, it's true. Naturally I wouldn't dream of suggesting that the need for a bigger plane is in any way a manifestation of some sort of size issue that occasionally troubles the male of the species... :lol:

 

[Eric The Viking]

Hi,

So Alf uses a No7, that means you must get a N08 as No7 is for girls :wink:

Pete

Well you have me there, it's true. Naturally I wouldn't dream of suggesting that the need for a bigger plane is in any way a manifestation of some sort of size issue that occasionally troubles the male of the species... :lol:

It's OK: My wife tells me I have quite big enough feet.

I think that's more to do with my dancing though... 8)

 

[matthewwh]

I want to joint boards, probably no more than 4ft long, smooth surfaces, and generally get things square and flat.

At the risk of going 'against the grain' as it were, you can joint a tiddly 4 foot long piece with a 5 or 5-1/2 perfectly satisfactorily. If you want to do 6, 7, 8 foot long stuff and above then you will begin to see a benefit from a proper jointer.

If you want a long plane without the workout have a chat with Philly, but to be honest you can make a seamless joint with a jack at that size of workpiece - especially if you are lightly built yourself.

 

[Paul Chapman]

So can I 'get by' with a #6, or will I be wishing I got a #7?

I have both the Clifton #6 and the Clifton #7. They are both superb planes but if you are going to buy just one and want to use it for jointing boards, I'd buy the #7.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

Sounds a bit like a collector to me :wink: :lol:

Cheers, Paul

And I didn't even mention all the others :lol:

Cheers :wink:

Paul