Veritas - Low Angle Block Plane (Rating: 5)

Ok, I took the plunge, my two previous block planes were annoying me.
On the Irwin 60 1/2 low angle, the blade just kept moving no matter what I did,and the adjustable throat was always out of square since I got it.
The Stanley 9 1/2 was Ok but the throat is huge and it can tear out even a gentle wave in the grain, also fairly pointless on end grain.

I read all sorts of block plane tests online and in magazines, the conclusion seemed to be that the Veritas or Lie Nielsen planes were both very good. I must have read 100 articles on planes, and gradually started seriously digressing into expensive Bridge city toolworks territory.
Anyway after much deliberation I decided on the Veritas they are a bit cheaper than Lie Nielsen in the UK and that swayed my decision.

So it arrived, I opened the package with some trepidation as I feared some level of let down.
I was amazed by the fine finish on every part, serious quality.
I followed the supplied instructions, which are excellent by the way.
Cleaning and oiling as instructed.

Then came time to hone the blade, in picture 1 you can see the blade as it came, sharp but not what I would call sharp enough.
I flattened the back with 1000 grit then 8000 grit waterstones for some reason I forgot the 4000 grit!..
then I sorted the bevel side . As I was sharpening the bevel I removed the secondary or micro bevel just getting it 100% flat and decided not to do another micro bevel at this stage. Picture 3 is after honing.
The A2 blade is very thick and thus nice to sharpen, it just "gets sharper" than a Stanley or Irwin blade for some reason.
I assembled the plane as instructed, leaving it roughly set, I attacked a piece of oak…..Wow it just shaved off a fat curl of at least 1mm thickness with absolute ease leaving an almost polished surface.
I adjusted the throat nice and small and wound the blade in, this time attacking a piece of black walnut, the perfect shaving was produced with amazingly little force.

In short my conclusion is that this tool is as near perfect and as fit for purpose as I have ever seen.
End grain is no issue for this plane and it leaves a fully finished surface on every wood I have planed so far.

So contrary to what Public Enemy said, you should, in this case Believe the hype.

sorry to ramble on. Ollie.