The Only Handplane You Need?

[KevM]

The Only Handplane You Need? - I'll get my coat, and hat...

As with any “all-in-one” solution, there will be compromises. Because the plane body is somewhere between a smoother and a jointer, it may not be as perfectly suited for those tasks as the specific individual tools might be. Perhaps the 14″ body is too long to smooth a surface with minor hills and valleys. Maybe it’s too short to easily joint an extremely long edge. So if you are looking to be an exclusive hand-tool user, you may not be able to get away with using this plane as your only bench plane. But in my work, the low-angle jack is more than capable of handling just about anything I throw at it.

 

[Tony Zaffuto]

I have a LN #62 jack and it is rarely used.

For some reason, I find myself reaching for a #7 and then smoother. I got a hankering to dig out the old 5-1/2 I have buried away and give it a try, with my thinking being that I like more weight in a plane than the #62 has, hence the jointer. The 5-1/2 will be heavier and should make the go a bit quicker.

 

[G S Haydon]

"The Only Handplane You Need?". It seems to work very well for Marc and his approach. I don't have or need many but I need more than just one. I seemed to of migrated over to wooden planes. Whatever floats your boat I guess.

 

[JohnPW]

The Only Handplane You Need? - I'll get my coat, and hat...

As with any “all-in-one” solution, there will be compromises. Because the plane body is somewhere between a smoother and a jointer, it may not be as perfectly suited for those tasks as the specific individual tools might be. Perhaps the 14″ body is too long to smooth a surface with minor hills and valleys. Maybe it’s too short to easily joint an extremely long edge. So if you are looking to be an exclusive hand-tool user, you may not be able to get away with using this plane as your only bench plane. But in my work, the low-angle jack is more than capable of handling just about anything I throw at it.

So he's actually saying if you're going to have only one plane and you are mainly a power tool user, have this one; not that one plane is all that anybody needs. And anyway it's not one plane, it's one plane with several blades.

Seems to me he's just trying to sell low angle jacks, which is a plane nobody actually needs if you've already got the basic bench planes, eg,a no 4, 5 (or 5 1/2), 7, block plane.

 

[Racers]

A plane for people who don't like plaining.

Pete

 

[bugbear]

"The Only Handplane You Need?". It seems to work very well for Marc and his approach.

In fairness the was quite careful to qualify his context:

Over time, I came to realize that a well-tuned low-angle jack plane might actually be the only bench plane I need, given the fact that my work does involve a hefty dose of power tools. So if you’re a new woodworker just entering the craft or perhaps you’re a power tool woodworker just dipping your toes into the hand tool world, a low-angle jack plane just might be the only plane you need.

BugBear

 

[Tony Zaffuto]

BB,

I have not really paid this blogger much heed, particularly after seeing a picture of his shop a few years back on PWW (quite elaborate!).

I've had my LN #62 almost a decade now and it was a Christmas present from my wife. I distinctly remember asking for it, having given in to the internet hype at the time. In that time period, on another forum, one of the lead talking heads for weeks on end espoused how his LV equivalent plane was the "do all, be all" for those of us that love hand tool woodworking. Funny thing was all he did was talk about his plane and never about his projects. I rarely use my LN and when I do, it is for shooting a random piece of lumber.

In the years since, I suppose I've purchased more than my share of hype tools, but if anything I would have expected the blogger talking the single plane suggestion up, would have done hybrid woodworkers more of a service by pointing them in a direction of more useful tools and the reason why said tools should be used.

Where I lose trust in people pushing the latest greatest tools is when they go to great lengths to say they purchased the tools, etc. It absolutely does not bother me in the least when a manufacturer, such as LV sends tools out for testing, etc., to non-magazine employees, etc., as this is more a development issue and shows confidence in design. When I see a tool, such as the LN #62, mentioned as a single purpose plane, years after introduction, then I get very skeptical of motives/remuneration. The same goes for some of the boutique tool makers who use that tactic simply to get their name mentioned and assist sales.

 

[Derek Cohen (Perth Oz)]

First of all, the "honour" of "one-plane-to-do-it-all" goes to the Lee Valley/Veritas Jack Rabbet Plane ...

This can ...

Joint edges
Thickness
Flatten across the grain
Flatten and smoothing with the grain
Square edges on a shooting board
Raise panels
Rebate
Flush dovetails

See my review/pictorial here: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolReview ... Plane.html

HOWEVER, the question remains would one really want a plane for all occasions?

Please ... please ... note that my review above was tongue-in-cheek when it came to shooting with this plane. Yes, it does a superb job - in fact, can do a better job than a LA Jack once set up - but you have to ask yourself would you want to go to all this effort?

So who wants a Swiss Army Knife?

There are two people I can think of: someone starting out that wants a quality plane and can only budget for one, and a predominantly power tool use who will only justify have one plane (I think that Marc -in the video - better fits this category).

I have had quite a number of emails from the first group asking me for that one plane that will do it all. So this is a serious question for many. My answer is always, yes, you can use (the LV Jack Rabbet) for everything I demonstrated in my review (it is indeed a very fine handplane and extremely capable in all the areas I mentioned), but if you are serious about handtool woodworking, then in a few years you will find it frustrating to have to set it up for different tasks. You will much prefer planes which are dedicated for specific areas.

I have the LV LA Jack (the counterpart to the LN which Marc was pushing). This is a simply amazing plane. It does so much (but a couple less than the Jack Rabbet). I only use it for traversing when flattening panels since it can do so with a low cutting angle and thereby minimise spelching, or I add in a toothing blade for difficult grain. I have dedicated shooting planes. I have dedicated jointers and jacks and smoothers. In a few years time so will you.

Regards from Perth

Derek

p.s. I must add the above to my review.

 

[G S Haydon]

"The Only Handplane You Need?". It seems to work very well for Marc and his approach.

In fairness the was quite careful to qualify his context:

Over time, I came to realize that a well-tuned low-angle jack plane might actually be the only bench plane I need, given the fact that my work does involve a hefty dose of power tools. So if you’re a new woodworker just entering the craft or perhaps you’re a power tool woodworker just dipping your toes into the hand tool world, a low-angle jack plane just might be the only plane you need.

BugBear

Yes, that's why I said "It seems to work very well for Marc and his approach".

 

[nanscombe]

The Promise

The jack plane, as the name implies, is a “jack of all trades.” That means it should be able to tackle most of the coarse, medium and fine planing tasks we’ll require of it in the wood shop.

As with any “all-in-one” solution, there will be compromises

As in Jack of all trades, master of none.

"Jack of all trades, master of none" is a figure of speech used in reference to a person that is competent with many skills, but is not necessarily outstanding in any particular one.

The earliest recorded versions of the phrase do not contain the second part. Indeed they are broadly positive in tone. Such a Jack of all trades may be a master of integration, as such an individual knows enough from many learned trades and skills to be able to bring his or her disciplines together in a practical manner. This person is a generalist rather than an expert (Specialist).

So it's a good all rounder. It may not the best at any particular job but will get most jobs done competently.
(Probably a good description of my late father too )

Possibly a good type of plane to start with until you find that you "need" something more specialised (i.e. expensive :lol: ). :wink:

 

[Bluekingfisher]

First of all, the "honour" of "one-plane-to-do-it-all" goes to the Lee Valley/Veritas Jack Rabbet Plane ...

This can ...

Joint edges
Thickness
Flatten across the grain
Flatten and smoothing with the grain
Square edges on a shooting board
Raise panels
Rebate
Flush dovetails

See my review/pictorial here: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolReview ... Plane.html

HOWEVER, the question remains would one really want a plane for all occasions?

Please ... please ... note that my review above was tongue-in-cheek when it came to shooting with this plane. Yes, it does a superb job - in fact, can do a better job than a LA Jack once set up - but you have to ask yourself would you want to go to all this effort?

So who wants a Swiss Army Knife?

There are two people I can think of: someone starting out that wants a quality plane and can only budget for one, and a predominantly power tool use who will only justify have one plane (I think that Marc -in the video - better fits this category).

I have had quite a number of emails from the first group asking me for that one plane that will do it all. So this is a serious question for many. My answer is always, yes, you can use (the LV Jack Rabbet) for everything I demonstrated in my review (it is indeed a very fine handplane and extremely capable in all the areas I mentioned), but if you are serious about handtool woodworking, then in a few years you will find it frustrating to have to set it up for different tasks. You will much prefer planes which are dedicated for specific areas.

I have the LV LA Jack (the counterpart to the LN which Marc was pushing). This is a simply amazing plane. It does so much (but a couple less than the Jack Rabbet). I only use it for traversing when flattening panels since it can do so with a low cutting angle and thereby minimise spelching, or I add in a toothing blade for difficult grain. I have dedicated shooting planes. I have dedicated jointers and jacks and smoothers. In a few years time so will you.

Regards from Perth

Derek

p.s. I must add the above to my review.

Very satisfying to know Derek. I very recently received one from a US ebay purchase. I haven';t had the chance to use it yet but it indeed looks to be a quality built plane.

I thought them to be very expensive until I saw the level of thought and engineering that goes into each plane. I consider paying £93 (excluding P+P £28) for it an absolute bargain.

Looking forward to using it.

David