Skew block planes

[Bluekingfisher]

I have for some time been considering the merits of the Veritas skew block plane. I would be interested to hear from those that have, or have owned one. Also, would you consider having a pair (left/rifgt) useful or an unnecessary exuberence.

I have several LA and standard block planes.

Thoughts and experiences welcomed.

Thanks

David

 

[Ed Bray]

I've got a RH Veritas one which I use to make a small rebate on the inside of my tail piece when cutting dovetails. I use the Veritas MkII honing guide with the skew registration jig to sharpen it. It would be nice to have a pair, but at over £200 from UK retailers a bit too much for me for the amount of use I would use them for.

I bought my Veritas Skew Block Plane from Fine-tools.com and paid 209 euro plus shipping which at current exchange rates is about £165.

 

[Bluekingfisher]

Hi Ed, Yes I have purchased several, of my LV planes from DS at Fine tools. I was considering the PM-v11 steel iron version, a little more wedge however still competative.

Anyway, thanks for your thoughts on the plane, I would welcome any other thoughts on the usefullness of one or both planes.

Thanks

David

 

[AndyT]

It might not be what you want to hear, but I think either one or two of these are very unlikely to see much work. Buy them and enjoy owning well-made tools if you want, but I suspect that in practice you will reach first for whichever block plane is the most familiar to your hand, and then if you need to get into an awkward corner or take a tiny slice off to make a joint fit, you will reach for a nice sharp chisel.
So not a necessary tool by any stretch.

 

[Bluekingfisher]

Thanks for your thoughts Andy. I suspect your view could be correct as it is probably a luxury tool rather than a necessary one. However, I am sure it has its advantages in certain situations, just wondered if that usefullness would extend to situations where perhaps the grain direction in a piece of timber justified owning both of them.

David

 

[custard]

Andy's right. I bought one back in the days before I became a full time furniture maker and could afford such fripperies!

I don't think I've used it in the past three or four years, and I've made a lot of very different types of furniture during that period. Unless an irreplaceable need for it comes up soon I think it'll be making an appearance on Ebay!

 

[MusicMan]

I'm a hobby woodworker, not professional. I have one of these. It is my go-to block plane as I find the skew angle cuts much better than the usual block plane, especially if the grain is doing anything funny on the surface..

 

[Jacob]

Yup. I've had several but still go back to my first - a Stanley 220.
Many of these "super" tools are only any use if you have a specific and often repeated task for which they are useful e.g. if you were doing long runs of something made by hand for which specific plane would help.

 

[JohnPW]

Maybe try using a normal block plane with it at an angle. That'll give a skew effect. Or plane across or diagonally across the grain.

 

[Derek Cohen (Perth Oz)]

I have for some time been considering the merits of the Veritas skew block plane. I would be interested to hear from those that have, or have owned one. Also, would you consider having a pair (left/rifgt) useful or an unnecessary exuberence.

I have several LA and standard block planes.

Thoughts and experiences welcomed.

Thanks

David

Hi David

I have a couple of these planes - purchased the LN version quite some time ago, and then acquired the right and left LV versions testing them pre-production. They all work well. However they get very little use since (1) I do not plane a rebate for dovetails, (2) they take a fine/thin shaving, and I would rather use a rebate plane for rebates, and (3) I have other planes for cross-grain panel raising.

I do use them for some cross grain planing, and they could come out for cleaning up rebates and tenon cheeks. However there are many other options here too. If you feel you want one, get one. It will not disappoint. It just may not get much use if you have low angle bock planes and shoulder planes.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[Bluekingfisher]

Custard/Music Man/Jacob/John/Derek,

Gents - Your adice as accomplished and experienced woodworkers is much appreciated.

I already have a few ornaments, so perhaps I will need to reconsider this one.

Thanks again =D>

David