Block Planes - Is an adjustable throat worth the extra?

joel · Post by **joel** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 3:14 pm

Dear piranha,

I'm getting to parts of my exceedingly long term build where having a good block plane will be an advantage. At least according to everything I've read in books and here. So I've had a look around.

Looking at catalogues like Lie-Neilsen, Veritas and Stanley I see a variety of block plane types. Brass, Iron, adjustable and non-adjustable throats, Normal angle, low angle, the list goes on.

My question is; If you could only have one block plane which would it be? An LN low angle adustable or a standard angle non-adjustable Veritas or something else entirely?

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 3:37 pm

Yes

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 3:45 pm

The low angle adjustable. In my mind, its more versatile. I would love either a LN or a LV, but that's not happening any time soon. As for the Stanley 60 1/2, I've heard mixed reviews. You either love it or want to toss it. I'm sure when it was manufactured has a lot to do with that. I've been looking for a Millers Falls 56B.

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 3:50 pm

OK I would have an old school Record or Stanley with an adjustable throat, or an LN with adjustable throat. I really like old Record stuff but it must be old, I would not buy new Stanley or Record. I have 2 block planes, a No 60 1/2 low angle for end grain etc and also a No 9 1/2 for general work. The old planes are very good and can still be had at a good price. Block planes are easy to fettle and tune and doing so gives one a better understanding of the tool.

Cheers

Kim

joel · Post by **joel** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 3:51 pm

I'm not sure what my wife would say if I told her I was going to the shed to fettle my tool

woodrat · Post by **woodrat** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 5:09 pm

Hi Joel, I am a bit of a plane addict and I could get by with quite a few less than I have. I have the LN low angle with the adjustable mouth and the little bronze standard angle with non adjustable mouth too. I bought them years ago 2nd hand on eBay from the States when they were relatively rare in Oz. I find that I nearly always grab the bronze plane to do so many jobs. If I had to have only one I think that this would be the one because it is so versatile and is just so nice to use. As a bonus a standard angle block plane can also double as a miniature high angle smoother if you increase the honing angle to 30 to 35 degrees you will get an effective pitch of 50 to 55 degrees which makes it easier to plane figured wood. You could even go higher than that but getting a true sharp edge becomes a bit more challenging at these high angles.

Something else to think about.

John

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 5:17 pm

Simply the best block plane that I've ever used.

Don't think that these things are hard to use, or difficult to adjust either. You'll be amazed at how good they are, and you can flip the blade over and use it as a scraper as well.

Ask Micheal Conner. He's got a heap of them.

kiwigeo · Post by **kiwigeo** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 5:32 pm

An adjustable throat is very handy...all my planes have this feature and I use it all the time.

Joel....if you dont have a blockie then get one. Ive got a Veritas LA blockie that is the most used plane in my shop

jeffhigh · Post by **jeffhigh** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 5:34 pm

I use my Stanley 60 1/2 low angle adjustable mouth block plane almost every day.
It's about 18 months old, all I had to do to it out of the box was sharpen the blade and flatten the sole.
IMHO the adjustable mouth is very important.

J.F. Custom · Post by **J.F. Custom** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 7:23 pm

Kim wrote:Yes

Hey Joel.

Block planes are very, very handy and user friendly.

To pick up on what a few others have said with my opinions;

- old planes were generally pretty well made and could make for a good buy. You would likely need to do some work to it though and many are now selling them at ridiculous prices just because they are old, irrespective of brand, quality or condition.

- new planes in the cheaper end such as Groz, Stanley or Record are very average at best. The money saved here is money wasted IMO. You can't upgrade them and their shortcomings are numerous. Considering they still cost 1/4 to 1/2 the price of a better one, save the extra and buy the right one first. You won't be disappointed and they will provide a lifetime of good use so it is money well spent.

- the leap between the cheap and something like the LN or LV or HNT is like comparing two completely different tools.

- the HNT's are beautifully made and do an awesome job. You don't have the adjustments that many of the iron units have, but then, I've never needed them on these planes. They just work. They have, as mentioned, the added bonus of reversing the blade making a scraper plane too. Good value, good buy.

- an adjustable mouth is important in that it lets you adjust it according to the cut you are trying to take in the particular material you are planing. The idea is to have it set fine enough as to stop tearing out of the grain, while not too fine and clogging up. It is a very useful adjustment to have at your disposal. Others without this feature need to work around the issue.

- if I had to choose between the LN and the Lee Valley, in this instance, I would choose the Lee Valley Low Angle. The build quality of both is very similar and high. Little if any work would need to be done out of the box. Lie Nielson make a high quality plane that is more or less a quality version of old tools. Lee Valley however have introduced a couple of features that are not just gimmicks, but improvements. The ability to 'lock' your blade in place with set screws located in the sides of the plane is one example. This stops any blade movement/play during use, securing your initial set-up and avoiding frustration.

So the HNT or Lee Valley would be my choice. Funny that, cause I have them both.

Hope this helps and good luck,

Jeremy.

kiwigeo · Post by **kiwigeo** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 7:47 pm

Can anyone tell me how the block plane got its name..without going to bldi Google?

Mongrel · Post by **Mongrel** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:10 pm

joel wrote:I'm not sure what my wife would say if I told her I was going to the shed to fettle my tool

You really only have to be worried if they smile and say "sure, go ahead..."

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:26 am

kiwigeo wrote:Can anyone tell me how the block plane got its name..without going to bldi Google?

As I recall they are named so because their primary use is for truing up smaller sections of wood eg 'blocks', rather than for dressing 'boards' as is the role of the larger planes.

Could be wrong though.

Cheers

Kim

matthew · Post by **matthew** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:12 am

they were used for smoothing endgrain blocks used in printing. The low angle helps planing endgrain.

kiwigeo · Post by **kiwigeo** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 8:39 am

My understanding is they were used to flatten out a worn butchers block.....planing across end grain was often involved thus the block plane evolved.

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:59 am

I got one of these for Xmas. The shiny one at the bottom, the Veritas NX60. Beautiful tool. Use it all the time. The apron plane would be nice as well for a smaller block plane.
I've started making arch top guitars now so I also need to consider a tools usefulness in that area.
Dom

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:17 pm

Oooooowwwwaaahhh, I got the awn Dom

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:39 pm

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm melted cheese....

Gawwwwgeous, shiny toys.

Clancy · Post by **Clancy** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:16 pm

Thanks for that Dom....all I get to do is look at the computer wallpaper & you get to use the real thing!

Kinda like being 16 & one of your mates was going out with the hot chick & all you had was....well....pictures.

kiwigeo · Post by **kiwigeo** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:59 pm

Hate ta steal ya thunder.....

Clancy · Post by **Clancy** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 6:53 pm

Sorry Martin - great planes, YES!
But do they look like they've just roared down the hill to Monte Carlo with a european super model in tow to blow a small fortune on blackjack.
Sadly - no...
Mate, these planes come dressed in their Tuxedo

joel · Post by **joel** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 5:40 pm

Thanks for the feedback guys.

From a recommendation vs price prespective the HNT wins as it's about half the price of the LN or Veritas ones. I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw how much they're asking for those tuxedo Veritas ones. And the LN ones. Even the HNT is expensive. Then again, anything over $50 is expensive to a tightwad like myself.

The HNT block plane kit looks like a goer. $95 with a bit of assembly. Anyone had any experience with the HNT kits?

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 5:51 pm

I bought my block plane on their discount page. Had a look at the kit, but for just a few bucks more, I could live with a sliver of sap wood on an edge.

Clancy · Post by **Clancy** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:06 pm

I agree with Allen.
Despite my rant about the veritas tuxedos, I've been eying off the HNT discounted block plane.
(I've got a couple of little Mujifang planes that I really like).
The veritas DX & NX are not only beyond my reach, they're a bit like the boss's ute - they don't look like you'd want to get them dirty.

kiwigeo · Post by **kiwigeo** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:46 pm

Veritas and LN planes aren't cheap but I look at it this way.....my Veritas planes are going to be around long after Im 6 feet under. The bottom line is..buy the best you can afford.

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Block Planes - Is an adjustable throat worth the extra?

Block Planes - Is an adjustable throat worth the extra?

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