Hi everyone,
I am looking at low angle block planes. I was wondering what is the use of an adjustable mouth? I am looking at veritas planes and wondering if there are many drawback of buying an apron plane instead of the low-angle block plane with an adjustable mouth?
Thanks
Replies
The variable mouth lets you set the mouth to reflect the kind of cut you are making. Very fine cuts, particularly in difficult woods, are helped by a very tight mouth which reduces tearout. If making strong cuts, in a roughing out context perhaps, calls for an open mouth to avoid clogging.
Then again how much roughing up do you do with a block plane ?C.
Enough that I'm glad for the adjustable mouth. Perhaps not all that rough, but such things like chamfering edges on smallish items out of pine or other gentle woods. This can often be done with a fairly heavy cut, and the block plane comes easily to hand.
Since there is no real downside, other than a few bucks, the adjustable mouth is a really nice feature. Almost all of the better Stanley block planes had the adjustable mouth. I'm particularly fond of a couple of sweatheart 65s that nestle nicely in my hand.
You are right there, I was undecided between a LN block plane (low angle) with adjustable mouth and the LN LA rabbet plane, I finally decided on the rabbet plane finding it more versatile.
I ended up getting a Stanley 65s as well, as you said it fits well in one's hand.C.
I have both LN block planes that you mentioned. Both are great tools, but to call the rabbet plane "more versatile" would not generally be true. The LA block plane is really just a small bench plane that can function in a variety of modes. The rabbet plane is a purpose-built plane; made to cut right up to a shoulder. It is not suited for fine work and avoidance of tear-out in hard woods. In my way of thinking, a LN or LV low-angle block plane is the first plane purchase to make. You can learn the tool on a small scale and then advance to bigger and more specialized planes.
Excuse me if I have misinterpreted your question.
Hi,That is precisely what I wanted to know. It prevent tearout in a long the grain cut. Having never used a plane I was wondering how it really affects the cut. I would think that aggressive or not is all about the depth of the blade.So a block plane only needs an adjustable mouth when planning with the grain. But doesn't the angle of thê plane give problems with tearouts?Is an adjustable mouth really usefull on a low angle block plane? Or is it more oriented for a regular angle block plane?Do you use your adjustable mouth often?(so many questions comes to my mind...)Thanks everyoneClaude
Any kind of adjustment of the plane mouth, either by adjusting the plane's sole with a sliding piece such as we have discussed or by moving the blade within the mouth, such as a Bedrock adjuster; makes the plane more useful in a variety of situations and woods. Yes, I adjust the mouth by either of the above means available, in almost every new situation. It is a good thing. Thats why I recommend that the second plane you buy be a low-angle jack (block) plane. This is a truly versatile tool that has the same adjuster for the mouth as the smaller LA block plane. You could stop there....but you probably won't. Tom Lie-Nielsen calls the 162 his best product. I believe Lee Valley has similar offerings that will perform well.
I agree with others here. An adjustable mouth on any plane is a worthwhile thing and makes the plane more versatile. You can do without it for actual end grain work though but its still nice to have for chamfering, clean-up etc.
Handplane Central
Would that I could afford a LN plane, I love planes. But my Stanley 60 1/2 low angle block with adjustable mouth could be my only plane were I to have only one. But I confess that I make musical instruments and don't have to shave large plane surfaces (the soundboard is not actually uniform, it varies in thickness, if well made, according to the location). Keep the plane in tune, well lapped and well sharpened, and even a simple one will work. I get good results out of some Home Depot Buck Bros. clunkers by spending time, instead of money, on keeping them tuned.
Best, Jon
(not married, but my Social Security check doesn't go very far. the correllary is that I have plenty of time in the evening to sit over a beer and the TV and lap a plane in my armchair.)
This is an interesting question.
One of the common tasks for small block planes, such as the Stanley #65 and the LN #60 1/2, is cutting end grain. What is often misunderstood is that the plane does not need a tight mouth for end grain since it does not tear out. Rather a sharp blade is sufficient. Where a small mouth becomes useful is in planing face grain, particularly with a low cutting angle on wood with reversing grain. The tight mouth serves to support the wood fibres. When the cutting angle is raised above 60 degrees the mouth size again becomes less of a factor on face grain.
I had this demonstrated to me in an amusing way. My first quality block plane was the little bronze LN #102 (the low angle version). I love this plane. It is just so comfortable to hold and performs at a high level on end grain. About a year ago I purchased the LN #60 1/2. They make nice tool porn together, and so I sat them on my bench alongside one another to admire. Something looked amiss - then it occurred to me that the bed angles were different. It transpired that my #102 was in fact a #103, the standard angle version. And there I had raved about its end grain cutting ability for years. And the kicker is that the #103 is a fixed mouth plane.
Regards from Perth
Derek
The primary function of the adjustable mouth is to provide more or less support to the wood fibers as the blade approaches in order to keep pressure on the grain and ultimately keep the fibers from tearing upward before they can be sheared off by the blade.
I've been using the LN 102 for some time, and I am very impressed at the abilities of this little plane. It doesn't have an adjustable mouth, but I've never experienced significant tear out in edge/long grain trimming. The bronze has a warm, hefty feel in the hand as the website says, and I agree.
In my humble opinion, save your $55 and buy the LN 102. Then go buy your wife some flowers and let her know how much you sacrificed to do something nice for her. She'll be so pleased that she'll probably respond with something like "...Aww, honey, you didn't have to do that" or "...I know how bad you wanted that, you should have gotten it...".
Down the road a ways, after you've learned your way around your new plane, and you've made a decision based on utility and your needs you can splurge on a nice LA adjustable mouth block if you still think you need it. Otherwise spend it on a LA smoother or jack. But don't forget to remind the wife of that conversation you had some time back, and the lovely flowers that she so enjoyed...:-)
I'm not married by the way... I'm too young, and I get to buy more tools that way....
LOLBut I am....Thanks for the tipclaude
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