Do I REALLY need a smoothing plane?

[fobos8]

Hi guys

I'm a site chippie but I'm getting involved in more site joinery these days e.g. Hardwood framed carcasses and doors and the occasional staircase.

The other chippie/joiner does most of the stuff, I do some and when he's off I do all of it.

He uses a smoothing plane mainly for smoothing table sawed timber and laminated timbers.

When I've done the above tasks I just use my Veritas Low angle block plane(my ONLY hand plane). It takes a bit longer but I get there in the end. The results probably aren't as flat as his.

I'm wondering if I should be getting a smoothing plane aswell? will it make life easier? Thinking about a Clifton or Veritas 4 1/2.

Any comments/view would be greatly appreciated


Cheers, Andrew

 

[wizer]

You need a smoother.

 

[DaveL]

Pity you missed the low angle jack that has just been sold on here, would have been good for your use.

 

[Ironballs]

I think it would help, however I don't think you necessarily need a high end smoother. Unless you want a glass like surface on difficult grain then I think you'll be fine with an old Record 5 1/2

There are loads of these on ebay and I picked up a pretty old one for 25 quid, gave it a mild restore/fettle and it's now one of my favourites/most versatile

One like this would be alright

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RECORD-JACK-PLANE ... 286.c0.m14

 

[Oryxdesign]

You need a smoother and an LA Jack. Please lets be clear about this incase my wife reads this thread.

 

[wizer]

hehe, NEED, absolutely NEED.

I agree with Damian actually. A fettled 4 1/2 will do.

 

[Ironballs]

In that case it's a 5 1/2

 

[MikeG.]

Damien (Ironballs) has this exactly right.

The inability to distinguish between "want" and "need" is almost a pre-requisit for joining this forum!!

Mike

 

[lurker]

Damien (Ironballs) has this exactly right.

The inability to distinguish between "want" and "need" is almost a pre-requisit for joining this forum!!

Mike

Its taken you a year to work that one out.

So............. tell me are you on the slope?

 

[lurker]

Hi guys

Thinking about a Clifton or Veritas 4 1/2.

Cheers, Andrew

I think you need you head examining considering taking these on site

 

[bugbear]

He uses a smoothing plane mainly for smoothing table sawed timber and laminated timbers.

To go from sawn timber to a smooth finish is quite difficult in one step (depending on the finish required).

A 5 1/2 should do it, but if the blade is set deep enough to get the saw marks off in reasonable time, you won't get the (very) best of finishes.

BugBear

 

[Ironballs]

In which case there are some extremely cheap Record No 4s on fleabay too, clean up with the 4 and finish with the 5.5 - though this is beginning to look like a slope

 

[MikeG.]

In which case there are some extremely cheap Record No 4s on fleabay too, clean up with the 4 and finish with the 5.5 - though this is beginning to look like a slope

Just when it was all going so well..........

Andrew, you need 1 plane for this, and if it going to go on site with you, take Ironball's original advice and ignore all the other sirens trying to sing you onto the rocks.

Mike

 

[woodbloke]

Andrew, you need 1 plane for this, and if it going to go on site with you, take Ironball's original advice and ignore all the other sirens trying to sing you onto the rocks.

Mike

I agree that a smoother would be good (of whatever denomination) but for site work one from the big three would be a move in the wrong direction. A decent No4 or 4.5 from the 'bay (Record or Stanley) would be fine in my view.
Siren?...gota be a first time for that one :lol: - Rob

 

[Ironballs]

Mike - I think we should change your designation from Cabinetmaker to Forum SWMBO At least as far as hand planes are concerned

I'm sure when I looked on ebay last night one or two of the Record 5.5s had the squared rather than rounded blades and cap irons. If so it means they're old ones like mine and will have the laminated blade which takes and holds a very good edge. Important for site work where you don't want to be re-sharpening every 10 mins

 

[Waka]

Pity you missed the low angle jack that has just been sold on here, would have been good for your use.

Funny you should say that as I have an LN Low Angle doing nothing that I could be persuaded to part with for the right coinage.

 

[Anonymous]

No one 'needs' a smoothing plane - it is a choice and a way of working.

If you would rather plane than sand, then get a smoothing plane

 

[bugbear]

No one 'needs' a smoothing plane - it is a choice and a way of working.

If you would rather plane than sand, then get a smoothing plane

The OP wants to remove table saw marks - (hand)sanding those would be (IMHO) a rather poor choice

BugBear

 

[woodbloke]

Pity you missed the low angle jack that has just been sold on here, would have been good for your use.

Funny you should say that as I have an LN Low Angle doing nothing that I could be persuaded to part with for the right coinage.

You'll probably get rid of that, Waka, at the GSB if you make the right noises - Rob

 

[Mrs Oryx]

Need! I believe the words were "really need" and "can I use Paypal" (which comes out of my account).

Good job he makes nice stuff IMHO