It took awhile to get here – but the BUS has finally arrived and what a smooth ride!

I found a piece of scrap Rosewood that had some burn marks on it and was just really rough. I don’t know if this photo will show enough detail.
I made a few passes and the results were incredible – right out of the box, no honing or sharpening – the finish is as smooth as glass. I don’t think that it is quite good enough for a finish, but this was only after a couple of light passes. It won’t take much more before I could apply a finish and have an incredibly smooth piece.
I am by no means an expert when it comes to hand planes, but if this plane is an example of how a good plane works – I am a believer. I have a few other planes and they all perform pretty well, but the Veratas BUS takes it to a whole new level. Anybody thinking about taking the plunge on this plane – I highly recommend it.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/






















15 comments so far
Karson
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25873 posts in 1300 days
posted 729 days ago
Great show Bill. A nice “BUS”
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7050 posts in 1199 days
posted 729 days ago
It looks pretty impressive.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Harold
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312 posts in 747 days
posted 729 days ago
I love the weight of the lee valley planes. I have a bevel up jointer w/fence that has a home right under my bench
-- If knowledge is not shared, it is forgotten.
Douglas Bordner
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3427 posts in 963 days
posted 729 days ago
Who was it that had the chin rag last over the BUS? Please pass it over. And Bill, thanks for the PM, I was almost as anxious as you for you to lay hands on this beauty. Now, do you have a medium shoulder plane yet? That was my first and only “new out of the box” plane. Really recommended.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
cajunpen
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5968 posts in 965 days
posted 729 days ago
Douglas, this is my first new plane. I have a Stanley Block Plane, Stanley Low Angle Block, Stanley #5 and now the BUS. If the BUS is a good representation of how a good plane performs – I can see what all of the fuss is about. I think now I am going to work hard to get my other 3 Stanley planes in top notch shape. I also got the Veritas Mk.II Honing Guide and a set of water stones, so I guess it’s just a matter of practicing and getting things sharpened correctly.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
Douglas Bordner
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3427 posts in 963 days
posted 728 days ago
Bill can you shoot with it? I wondered about the coffin shape…
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Popintraining
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109 posts in 738 days
posted 728 days ago
Look at those shavings! to bad we can’t eat them!
-- Illegitimis nil carborundum - Don't let the bastards grind you down http://woodworkingtipsfrompop.com
CharlieM1958
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7697 posts in 1118 days
posted 728 days ago
Now if I can just bring myself to spend that much on a toll that doesn’t have a motor in it….
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Douglas Bordner
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3427 posts in 963 days
posted 728 days ago
Yeah Charlie, with the need for a new router coming down the pike, I have to live vicariously through Bill’s experiences. I’ll keep rehabbing those golden oldies.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
mot
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4904 posts in 936 days
posted 728 days ago
I’ve read wonderful things about this plane. I hope that it ends up in my stocking this Christmas. Thanks for the blog!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Thos. Angle
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4013 posts in 862 days
posted 726 days ago
Ahhh, Bill, you’re hooked now!! Congrats on the new plane. It sounds like it was worth the wait. It’s like I tell my clients; you’ll enjoy it a lot longer than you waited on it.
-- Thos. Angle
Dorje
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1767 posts in 896 days
posted 726 days ago
Again – way to go! i’m as curious as Douglas is about the shooting capability…looks like the nose wraps around and sits a bit proud of the sides…true?
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
cajunpen
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5968 posts in 965 days
posted 718 days ago
Douglas and Dorje – you are correct, the nose does wrap around and stands just about 1/16 proud of the body. I don’t care about that though – I just sharpened it for the first time and I’m going to try it out tomorrow. I have surely been impressed with this plane though, it leaves a glass smooth finish on the wood.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
Douglas Bordner
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3427 posts in 963 days
posted 718 days ago
Bill, I decided to actually read the copy in the Veritas catalogue. Doh! The low angle jack and smoother would be okay for shooting, but I admit that BUS is pretty darned cool. Not having much luck with finding a cheap enough #4 1/2. Might have to save up for a spanking new plane, if I find I really need one. I think a new Triton router comes first in the queue though. The old PC horse and a half is pretty beat up after nearly ten years… and having more power would be a treat.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Dorje
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1767 posts in 896 days
posted 717 days ago
Bill – after honing the blade, should be glassier yet!
How did it go? What did you plane?
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA