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Planning for upcoming the Lee Valley sale

2K views 19 replies 13 participants last post by  bobasaurus 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi guys,

With the small and random stock available during the upcoming Lee Valley Cyber Monday sale, I wanted to do a bit of research ahead of time so I could have a couple items in mind to when the sale goes live. Not to mention I have a couple LV gift cards to burn…

I do most of my work with power tools with final finessing done with a few of the hand tools I have. However, I am starting to get into more traditional joinery - currently mortise and tenons but eventually dovetails. Here's what I currently have in the way of hand tools:

From Harbor Freight:
- 12" flexible flush cut saw
- Miter box set with 13.5" backsaw
- Harbor freight chisel set

From a yard sale a couple years ago, I picked up and refurbed:
- Bailey no. 5
- Stanley/Bailey no. 4ish (I think… it's bevel down and about 9.5" long and 2.5" wide)
- Standard block plane

And from last year's Lee Valley sale, I picked up the Bevel Up Smoother plane.

Update: I forgot to mention I have the MK II honing guide and 4 different grits of DMT stones (Coarse, Fine, Extra Fine, and Extra Extra fine)

I refurbed the Bailey/Stanley planes when I first got into woodworking, and they worked well enough, but I didn't know just how well they were supposed to work until I got the LV plane last year. So, nowadays, I use the LV plane for just about any planing work and the block plane for rougher things like chamfers and removing dried up glue.

On my to-build-list for next year is a better bench for hand tool work. All my workbenches right now are plastic fold up style benches with not a lot of weight to them, so they wobble quite a bit when I do even a little bit of planing. I also don't have any vices of any kind yet. I've made do with creative use of wooden handscrew clamps and my other clamps.

I'm most likely going to get the cabinet scraper. Then depending on what's available during the sale, maybe some mortising chisels or a router plane. I was thinking of a shoulder plane for cleaning up my tenons, but I saw a few articles saying they're a bit overrated. I think a better handsaw would be good, but without a good work bench to hold material, I'm not really sure how useful it will be until I build the bench. Can you guys suggest anything else I might want to keep an eye out for? Thanks!
 
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#3 ·
If you are moving toward hand tools, you might consider sharpening supplies, e.g. the MK II sharpening jig, Shapton stones, DMT stones, etc. I like my medium shoulder plane from LV. You could also use a small block plane for tenons that need a bit of finessing. Basically, the possibilities are endless. I would think about what I might need for my very next project and buy that. Grow into it, don't go into it.
 
#6 ·
If it were me, I would look very seriously at the rabbeting block plane. It will work great for finessing tenons as well as shaving end grain or any other block plane tasks. personally, I don't thin shoulder planes are overrated at all. I have the LV medium and I use it quite a bit. I would forego the cabinet scraper and instead use hand held card scrapers. My opinion is that card scrapers allow much more control.
 
#8 ·
If it were me, I would look very seriously at the rabbeting block plane. It will work great for finessing tenons as well as shaving end grain or any other block plane tasks. personally, I don t thin shoulder planes are overrated at all. I have the LV medium and I use it quite a bit. I would forego the cabinet scraper and instead use hand held card scrapers. My opinion is that card scrapers allow much more control.

- sikrap
Was going to say the same thing as Dave about the rabbeting block plane and cabinet scraper. The only real reason to pony up for a cabinet scraper vs card scrapers is if you have a large area to work or you have arthritis. You can avoid burning your thumbs with a card scraper if you get in the habit of using a little bit different spot on the scraper each time. I don't use my shoulder plane a lot, but you need at least something to clean up tenons and such. A chisel can work of course, but requires skill. Just depends on how much of that type of thing you do.
 
#9 ·
WoodNSawdust - I haven't been to a wood show so I don't know what their pricing is like, but I saved about $70 on my smoother plane last year. Supposedly they are "factory seconds" but their QA tolerances must be much higher than mine because I couldn't find any imperfections in mine.

Sikrap - Sorry, maybe "overrated" was a bit strong - but the few things I read mentioned things like chisels (or better sawing technique) can do just as good of a job. Although, one thing I do like about the shoulder planes is that I only need one, versus the rabbeting block plane (Skew Block Plane on LV's site, right?) you and Tim mentioned have a left and right version - which I assume means ideally you eventually want both?
 
#11 ·
Card Scraper Set.
Spokeshaves - Concave is the one that does something few other tools do. Flat is handy also, but not as handy. Round is very specialized, but invaluable when you need it.
Router Plane.
Medium Shoulder Plane.
Coping/Fret Saw. The Knew Concepts saws can't be beat, except on price.

Wonder Pup Set. The Wonder Pup and Wonder Dog are like magic. Probably my most used Veritas tools.
Saddle Square - also used A LOT. You can use the Center Head from a some combination squares as a saddle square.
Dovetail Marker(s).
 
#12 ·
WellExecuted, the inventory changes each year - as far as their pricier hand tools, it's whatever they consider "factory seconds", slight imperfections in the product. But, I have yet to find what they considered "imperfect" with the plane I bought at last year's sale.

Thanks for the suggestions, BikerDad!
 
#18 ·
- Harbor freight chisel set
Ick. The Narex set LV sells will be a huge step up for you.

and the block plane for rougher things like chamfers and removing dried up glue.
An old card scraper is better. (Better yet don't scrape dried glue off).
I use an old Stanley #81 for this.

On my to-build-list for next year is a better bench for hand tool work.
;-) hope its #1.

maybe some mortising chisels or a router plane. I was thinking of a shoulder plane for cleaning up my tenons, but I saw a few articles saying they re a bit overrated.
I really like the looks of the LV router plane. Very handy tool to have.
If you're doing rabbets or M/T joints, I think a shoulder plane is invaluable.
I ordered the large and exchanged it for a medium. Wish I had kept it ended up getting one anyway.

I think a better handsaw would be good,
I picked up the Veritas joinery set of 3 and really like the saws. May not be the best but for the money they are excellent.

My suggestion is to research and settle on a workbench before you do anything. Vises will be a major expense. LV has a good selection of vises.

Then think about what tools you will need to build the bench and focus on them.
I think your immediate needs will be centered on decent saws, chisels (both bench and mortising), a large shoulder plane and a jointing plane.
 
#19 ·
Actually, the HF set hasn't been too bad - though admittedly, I have very little to compare it to up until now. I forgot to mention that I was given a Craftsman set of chisels with metal striker caps around the same time I got the HF chisels. It seems I can get the HFs sharper than the Craftsman, so I use the Craftsman for the bulk of the work and the HFs for the cleanup. That said - I did pick up a small set of Narex mortise chisels from Highland Woodworking, so I suspect the HF chisels will soon be given to a friend.

My beater block plane broke over the weekend - the knob on the lever cap that tightens the lever cap down snapped in half. It's still usable if I just tighten the screw itself, but I took this opportunity to add a rabbeting block plane to my Christmas wishlist. I figure between a rabbeting block plane, router plane, and the chisels I should have my current uses/needs covered… until the next LV sale… ;)

Rwe, yes, my next major project will be a roubo workbench and hopefully I can get started early next year. Until then, I need to put some serious effort into shop (re)organization to make room for a workbench.

The painful part now is just waiting for all the new shiny toys to be delivered :(
 
#20 ·
I picked up a large shoulder plane, RH skew block, and router plane. I already have a LN skew block that I plan to sell in favor of the better adjustments on the Veritas. I also have an old Stanley No. 71 that I'll probably sell as well to use the fancier LV router. Ah, upgrades. Sinking way too much money into tools recently… gotta cool my jets and start building stuff.
 
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