wood plains

[steamboat]

Hello all, please can someone advise me?
I recently borrowed a plainer thickener but have now given it back, I loved the machine and have been thinking about getting my own but the model I want is almost £600, as I am only a hobbits not sure if I can justify it the expense. I was recently given three wood plains including a large surfacing plain. Once the plains have been sharpened and I have practiced a bit will they do as good a job as the plainer thickness?

Thanks in advance

 

[Paul Chapman]

Once the plains have been sharpened and I have practiced a bit will they do as good a job as the plainer thickness?

With the right planes, set up properly, you can do everything with hand planes. However, it's harder work and your output will be much lower.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[marcus]

It's not at all a bad idea to learn to plane timber by hand - it will increase both your skill and your confidence no end.

After a while you may have had enough of it though, and might want to look at one of these http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axminster-CT330-330mm-Thicknesser-21831.htm, which would at least save you the tedium of hogging off loads of timber to get to the thickness you want. You would flatten one side of the timber by hand, and then use the thicknesser to flatten the other...

Or you could just stick with the hand planes - there's worse ways to spend time, if you don't have any deadlines to meet....

Marcus

 

[TrimTheKing]

as I am only a hobbits

Maybe you could just get Gandalf to do it for you...

:wink:

Mark

 

[steamboat]

Thanks everyone.
Mark, I am glad I made you chuckle with my sloppy spelling.
One last question: I think that I will save up for an Axminster thickener as suggested, but will also get a No 6 plane for flattening one surface, I have been looking in the Axminster catalogue and would like to know if it is worth going for one of the more expensive Clifton planes or looking for a second-hand Stanley, is the difference that noticeable.
All the best

 

[Paul Chapman]

I would say go for the Clifton. I have the #6 and it is a superb plane. It's heavier than the equivalent Stanley which, in my experience, is helpful. The Bedrock frog makes adjusting the mouth very easy, without dismantling the plane. And the blade and cap iron are superb. The #6 is a very good plane for all planing including use on the shooting board. You won't be disappointed.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[marcus]

I second that - Clifton's are great planes, and you get a lot for your money...

Marcus

 

[WellsWood]

.....would like to know if it is worth going for one of the more expensive Clifton planes or looking for a second-hand Stanley, is the difference that noticeable.
All the best

You bet it is, unless of course you've got a great deal of time and patience in which case - oh who am I kidding, just stick with the short answer - YES!

 

[Digit]

Keep an eye on E-Bay for a S/H version of your chosen P/T as well.

Roy.

 

[Shadowfax]

Maybe you could just get Gandalf to do it for you...

:wink:


Well, I know exactly where his horse is!!

SF

 

[Chems]

I find the process of getting all the timber square and flat to be the most boring part so I would say get yourself a P/T. The base Axminster model for £399 with dust extractor is all you need for hobby use.

 

[TrimTheKing]

Mark, I am glad I made you chuckle with my sloppy spelling.

:lol: Sorry mate, it was begging me. :wink:

One last question: I think that I will save up for an Axminster thickener as suggested, but will also get a No 6 plane for flattening one surface, I have been looking in the Axminster catalogue and would like to know if it is worth going for one of the more expensive Clifton planes or looking for a second-hand Stanley, is the difference that noticeable.
All the best

To make up for taking the wee wee I will be sensible now. I bought a good quality second hand stanley 5 1/2 (1930's model) and spent a long time working on it. Then I bought a LV LA Jack plane and straight out of the box the LV performs better than the stanley.

My advice would be, unless you have a lot of spare time on your hands, and some cash too as you definitely need to buy new blade and chip breaker, I would spend the cash on a good quality bench plane and spend your time woodworking rather than plane fettling.

HTH

Cheers

Mark

Well, I know exactly where his horse is!!

Uh? I don't geddit

 

[DaveL]

Well, I know exactly where his horse is!!

Uh? I don't geddit

Look at his forum name. 8)

 

[harryc]

Shadowfax was gandalf's horse

Harry

 

[TrimTheKing]

Well, I know exactly where his horse is!!

Uh? I don't geddit

Look at his forum name. 8)

D'oh!

I even typed it in, hehe. Last glass of Chardonnay for me tonight!

Cheers

Mark

 

[Woodmagnet]

"Hobbit's" I like it, from now on i'm a hobbit's woodworker.