Shop Tools #11: A new plane - 6/16/2008

I love this plane – I have two blades for it, one kept at 25-26 degrees (37-38 total) for shooting and softwood flattening and one with a 50 degree angle of attack for a 62 degree total, for woods that want to switch back on you left and right. However, I’m still a bit more comfortable scraping tricky woods. I didn’t know there was a way to convert it to a scraping plane…is that new? I’ll have to look into it!

Happy Birthday! Good choice. You’ll need the other tools you mentioned too though!

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

LN Sells a 90 degree blade for the plane that is used to make it a scraper plane. The photo above is a live link to the plane on the LN-Site.

(BL-62-90 90 degree blade for L-N Low Angle Jack Plane $40.00)

Also, Christopher Schwarz wrote a review of the plane which can be found at the following link:

http://www.lie-nielsen.com/pdf/LN62.pdf

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Cool – so the 90, sitting in the bed acts as a scraper held at 78 degrees from the vertical plane??? Didn’t know about that… Another great use for the plane. Does that mean that I don’t have to get the #112, even though it’s on the list? ;)

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

I really want need a 212 or is that want LOL. I will have try the 90 degree blade out and see. Although, cabinet scrapers are fine for now.

Relative to getting the others, I really do have the block plane department covered, been looking for a small Stanley or Record router plane and thinking of getting a Veritas shoulder plane. Will just have to wait on the plane gods and see what comes my way.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Good for you, Wayne. That is an awesome plane. It’s been about a month now but I attended a dinner with Thomas, John Economaki, and Chris Schwarz, and Chris asked each of them that if they had to choose only one of their own tools which one would it be – this is the tool that Thomas went for almost without hesitation. I own the 164 and absolutely love it. This is next on the list for me.

-- Joe, Indiana, http://www.crookedshack.com

Great purchase for a lifetime Wayne & happy birthday.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

This looks like it could be the right next purchase for me. I’ve got some figured bubinga ‘maturing’ until its ready to become a very special box for someone. Damage to my wrists means that scrapers are not an option so I’m looking for some way of planing highly figured woods.
Would really like to hear your assessment once wou’ve tried various blades etc.

Thanks for this post, and so timely! I’m heading to Maine in about 15 minutes and of course had to check LJ before I left and came across this. Planning on dropping by LN tomorrow and have been wrestling with what plane to buy (you know I will be tempted!). This sounds like a great starter piece. Thanks!

-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com

Happy birthday!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

great purchase wayne. I’ve seen this one around and it looks like a really nice plane! can’t wait to see how it works, thanks for the post!

That’s a nice piece of iron, Wayne. I find that my Veritas LAJ is the most used plane in my bunch, other than a LAB. Nice score!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

If you don’t want to review it I’m sure one of the other jocks here (myself included) would love to take it for a spin for you; Of course that could take a few weeks….... :) lol

Happy Birthday Wayne!

-- Chris

That’s a lovely tool and one that I plan to own as well… someday. I too, choose tools for using in different situations or needs. Swapping irons and varying the mouth opening in a tuned plane makes it a particular and predictable pleasure to use. And that particular L-N is quite an adept tool. I also lust for their low angle smoother too.

always,
J.C.

P.S. Oh, and I’m more than a little jealous. Good you live on the other side of the continent. HA!

-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein

Happy birthday, Wayne. That’s quite a nice birthday present. Enjoy using it.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

Happy belated birthday Wayne! Hope you enjoy this plane——as you know I just got one as well. Have not been able to take it for a spin yet.

-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!