Plane advise?!

[Nads]

I am starting a HND in Furnture Studies in September and have been asked to get a Stanley No.4. But after speaking to my lecturer, he says this is just a minimum required and that if I want to spend more on a Clifton or Veritas then that’s all good. I’ve given myself a budget of about max. £150, and after buying a Veritas Low angle block plane I have decided that Veritas might be a good bet. But I’m not sure whether to get the Veritas No.4 or the Veritas Low Angle smoother? Or maybe the BUS is another option. I’ve read all of your reviews on the planes, which are excellent I must say. :wink: But I was wondering if you could give my some advise.

The LA seems the most versiltle of the 3 options, but as some people have said lacks the mass of the No.4. But then the BUS can’t be used on the shooting board?! Any advice or guidance you could give me would be great?! :?

 

[Alf]

Nads,

It's a tricky one. If it was just you learning by yourself, I'd say get the low angle smoother. But throw your lecturer into the equation and he may not be happy if he's not familiar with using low angle planes (who wants to teach something they're not familiar with?) In which case, the #4 or #4.5 would be fine. Mass is nice, but the #4 size isn't a bad thing so don't feel bigger is compulsorily better. Either way, you'll get a good plane.

Cheers, Alf

 

[Scrit]

Hi Nads

You'll probably find that the college has a jointer and a shooting board for shared use in the workshop so that's less of a problem. Ask your lecturer. There are definite advantages to having a plane with a thick iron over a modern thin one. Personally I favour a #4-1/2 over a #4 partly because of the extra heft, similarly I use a #5-1/2 over the #5, but in my "portable" working-out" kit I now carry a #3 and a #5 - because they're lighter and I rarely have to do much planing to fit on installations! At the bench where speed is an issue the larger planes enable you to work quicker. The foregoing is written more from a trades perspective, I'll have to admit.

Scrit

 

[Nads]

Thanks for your reply Alf,

I was thinking along the same lines really, I thought the LA would more versatile, as I could use it with a higher angle blade so it is similar to a standard bench plane, but would still have all the advantages of the LA. But then again he might be happier with me just getting a standard No.4 / 4.5. I do now own an old Record No.4 which my old man has kindly given to me, which is like 30 years old, which I’ve had the sole flatten on too!

 

[Scrit]

Nads

If you've already got a #4 go with that - you'll find that you need to buy lots more tools as the course progresses.....

Scrit

 

[Nads]

Do you think someone could please highlight the main advantages of a LA smoother over the No.4 or No.4.5! After looking at the diagrams of the No.4 & No.4.5, I noticed that although the 4.5 is wider and heavier it for some reason has a smaller sole before the blade how might this effect planing? Although I’m tempted by the LA, there must be a reason why the No.4 is the most popular bench plane?! Any advice anyone? :?

 

[Scott]

there must be a reason why the No.4 is the most popular bench plane?! Any advice anyone? :?

People are slow to catch up. A lot of them haven't seen the bevel-up light yet!

 

[MikeW]

Do you think someone could please highlight the main advantages of a LA smoother over the No.4 or No.4.5! After looking at the diagrams of the No.4 & No.4.5, I noticed that although the 4.5 is wider and heavier it for some reason has a smaller sole before the blade how might this effect planing? Although I’m tempted by the LA, there must be a reason why the No.4 is the most popular bench plane?! Any advice anyone? :?

Hi Nads,

A low angle smoother is slightly more versatile than a bevel down plane like the #s 4 and 4 1/2. One area it has a slight advantage is in using it on its side in order to use on a shoot board for cleaning up and correcting a board's ends.

Another is if one has few planes, and if one has a few irons with different bevel angles on them, it is easier to swap the blade to handle different planning situations than it is to adjust a bevel down plane's frog in order to open or close the mouth.

A # 4 1/2 is simply a heavier plane than a #4 and as such its weight can be an advantage--as well as a disadvantage. Pushing around that weight can be down right tiring at times.

From your post describing what you have already, I would recommend either a #5 or the 5 1/2. Your #4 will do a fine job.

Take care, Mike

 

[bugbear]

BTW, here's a cross reference to someone else on a handtool course:

http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthread ... ed&sb=5&o=

Perhaps you could converse?

BugBear

 

[Nads]

Or maybe a Veritas No.4 followed by a LA Jack later on when I find the need, would this be a good combination? :?

Now I’m totally confused – LA smoother and then LA Jack later or No.4 followed by a LA Jack, which would end up making a better combination?! Does anyone know if Veritas will be at AP this weekend, then maybe I might be able to try a few out? :?

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Does anyone know if Veritas will be at AP this weekend

Veritas are distributed in the UK by BRIMARC and they will be there. They always have a selection of planes on display for you to try them.

Cheers
Neil