which LN hand planes?

[sean_in_limerick]

Hi Guys,
I am in the market for 2 LN hand planes, which i have managed to convince the wife are necessary for the kitchen we are currently designing. I was wondering what are peoples thoughts?
I have a bunch of cheap planes which i have tried over the years to tune up - but i want to see what all the fuss is about regarding the LN planes. My own thoughts are;
1: Lie-Nielsen No.60 1/2 low angle block plane - because a block plane is one of the first tools i reach for and i have yet to try a low-angle version.
2: Lie-Nielsen No.5 1/2 Jack Plane L-N 5.5 - i like the extra weight in this for use on the shooting board and i would use it primarily for cleaning up edges after p/t.

Rgds,

Sean

 

[MikeW]

Hi Sean,

I don't think you would go wrong with your choices.

Take care, Mike

 

[Alf]

Sounds good to me; I think we might be redundant in this decision making.

Cheers, Alf

 

[Mirboo]

I've got the 60-1/2, it is a great little plane. I don't think you'd be dissappointed with it. I reckon the 5-1/2 is a good choice as well. I think it will probably be the next plane I buy myself. I think the extra weight over a standard 5 or a 62 (low angle jack) would be handy. Particularly, as you've mentioned, for use on a shooting board.

 

[Waka]

Sean

As mentioned your choice is sound, but have you considered the Veritas for the Jack?

 

[sean_in_limerick]

i just like the aesthetic beauty of the LN - i will only be buying a very small number of these planes and i would hope that they will never need replacing - but if people could suggest a good reason above and beyond aesthetics i'm all ears

 

[Mirboo]

i will only be buying a very small number of these planes

Famous last words.

 

[sean_in_limerick]

i know

 

[Lord Nibbo]

Ii will only be buying a very small number of these planes

Yes I've heard that one many many times before time will tell :wink:

 

[Derek Cohen (Perth Oz)]

Lie-Nielsen No.5 1/2 Jack Plane L-N 5.5 - i like the extra weight in this for use on the shooting board and i would use it primarily for cleaning up edges after p/t.

If you are going to be using the jack for shooting as well, then a bevel up jack is a better choice. With their low bed of 12 degrees, you have a plane that will shave end grain with greater ease and produce a cleaner surface. That the #5 1/2 is a capable plane is not in any doubt, but it is not as good in these circumstances. Add a second, high angle blade to the LA Jack, and you have a superb smoother as well.

While the LV LA Jack (#62.5) is a better plane than the LN #62, if you go for the LN out of aesthetics, you will still have a more versatile plane than the #5 1/2.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[deirdre]

If you're getting a plane primarily for a shooting board, is there a reason not to get the Iron Miter Plane?

 

[Midnight]

Sean.. commendable choice in tools Sir

re the #5 1/2.. buying a high angle frog along with the standard pitch one will greatly enhanse the capabilities of the tool (higher pitched blades are better suited to dealing with difficult grain), adding a spare blade to that will further increase the tool's potential..

re shooting... my tool of choice for this task is the #9 iron mitre plane (honest, I'm not trying to do a sales job on ya).. As you'd expect from a tool designed specifically for the task, it handles the task with consumate ease; watching it take a continuous 27" endgrain shaving that's thin enough to read through is a rush!!
I mention it here simply because of its state of tune; with a bed angle of 20deg and blade honed at 30deg the angle of incidence is 50deg.. I'm sure your #5 1/2 will be more than capable of matching its capabilities when tuned to the task...

 

[Shady]

I'd second Derek's observations: I have the L-N 62, and it's an extraordinarily versatile and enjoyable plane to use. The L-V is 'probably' functionally better - the mouth stop is definitely an advantage, FWIW - but both are superb planes, and have converted me - against my expectations - to bevel up bench planes...

 

[Scott]

both are superb planes, and have converted me - against my expectations - to bevel up bench planes...

Indeed!

A year ago I'd have said that, without a shadow of a doubt, the 60 1/2 and 5 1/2 combo was a superb choice... it still is but I've gone all "bevel up" as well!

IMHO the 60 1/2 is a certainty, no question you need/want that one, but the bench plane is another story. I have a LN 62 but [personally] i always feel it lacks "area" on the side plates. It's fairly low profile on the sides and feels a little like it might not have enough flat surface area on the side for shooting ... not that that's a problem, it's a tactile feely thing (and I'm probably talking nonsense but that's how I feel about it!). The 5 1/2 feels like it's more "planted" ('scuse the motorcycle magazine terms!) on my shooting board but Derek's comments about cutting angles are obviously spot on.

I'm afraid I have (unfortunately) never tried a No9 for shooting so I'm not able to comment on that.

For everything else I seem to be using BU these days (2 blades for the LN 62, + LV BUS and BUJ)

I suppose the practical option is 60 1/2 and 62 ... but then if you could stretch to a 5 1/2 as well!!!!! ... but then if you have the 62 you might get the BU bug and the 5 1/2 might be going to waste...

I'm probably not helping now. Sorry :lol: :wink:

 

[Mirboo]

While the LV LA Jack (#62.5) is a better plane than the LN #62,....

Whether or not you state that the LN low angle jack is better than the LV low angle jack or vice versa depends on the benchmarks you are using and the relative importance to you of the different characteristics of the two planes. I weighed up the two of them and I decided that for me the Lie-Nielsen was a better plane. For one thing, I didn't want to have to fabricate a new tote, which I would have felt the need to do should I have gone with the LV.

I am very happy with my Lie-Nielsen low angle jack. It is a fantastic plane.

 

[Alf]

Here I was being really, really good and not setting out on a bevel-up crusade and look what happens... :roll:

I think, if one desires the heft and width of the #5 1/2 (and it's a fine size of plane - arguably the early size with the 2 1/4" blade is better still, but I won't lapse back into my occasional what-a-pity-TLN-chose-to-make-the-later-wider-model-and-not-the-early-marginally-narrower-one moan 'cos he didn't and they're not easy to find so for the majority of readers it'll just be a case of huh-like-an-1/8"-makes-any-difference 'cos you won't have had the opportunity to try it. Anyway, where was I...? Oh yes.) So if you want that heft and width, choosing the narrower and shorter of the available low angle jacks on the market could be considered, well, an odd choice. The LN LAJ is a fine plane, but a BU equivalent to a #5 1/2 it is not.

Cheers, Alf

 

[Shady]

See how quickly this has degenerated into the 'plane fetishist's pornography' thread???

Having just re-read the original post, 2 more observations for you:

a) For a low angle block plane, do not discount the Lee Valley offering. I have both the Lee Valley block planes (low and standard angle), and they are a cheaper but in some ways better alternative to the L-N offerings. Not as pretty, but just as functional, and with set screws for the blade...

b) I'm not sure I'd want a 5 and 1/2 for jointing after the p/t. Probably not its forte... I'd either look for a second hand no 7/8, and refurb with a new blade if necessary, or I'd look at the Veritas number 6 - not too long for other panel working stuff, but a proper length for edge jointing.

**** - you better just take out a mortgage and buy everything that's been mentioned here - and don't forget the vital necessity of some sort of shoulder/rabbet plane, whatever you do... :wink:

 

[sean_in_limerick]

Thanks to everyone for there opinions - i did consider the iron-mitre-plane but realistically i couldn't justify a plane with only one function (yet) - in saying that i certainly intend buying a shoulder plane - but they are cheaper...
some great advice on the bevel-up option which i will give some thought to - thanks and regards to all

 

[Mirboo]

Sean,

I still reckon your original idea of a 60-1/2 and a 5-1/2 is the way to go. In my opinion the heft of the 5-1/2 would be good for use on a shooting board.

I only mentioned the LN low angle jack because of other comments stating that the LV version was better. All I wanted to point out was that it comes down to personal preference. Some prefer the LV and some prefer the LN. In the end, they are both good planes.

 

[sean_in_limerick]

i have 'weighed all' and opted for my original idea - thanks Ian (makes me feel better now) - i will post some piccies so we can collectively admire them - thanks everyone :lol: