I’be been reading everything I can find about planes before buying a starter set consisting of a Veritas BU Jointer, a BU Smoother and a set of the three bevel angles blades they make. These planes appealed for several reasons.
Some of the clinchers for me were:
quality of build and design of these “modern” planes. Features such as lateral adjustment screws, mouth stop screw and the jointer fence.
ability to swap blades instead of frogs to change angle.
ability to share blades between planes. creates a more versatile planing system with fewer blades, parts, etc… to tune and maintain.
They arrive in a few days and I’ll be using them to finish a hard maple bed project for my son that so far I’ve smoothed the legs and head boards entirely with a small 60 1/2 Stanley LA Block plane. Even that tedious experience has convinced me I prefer planing over sanding.
So who uses bevel-up planes? Not so much looking for a comparison or rant-off between bevel-up and bevel-down as tips, tricks, ideas and experiences using these planes instead of the more traditional designs.
Replies
I've got 3 of the LV BU planes (well, I suppose I could say 6, counting the block planes and shoulder planes) and I'm thrilled with each of them. I have the optional 38 degree blades which works quite well for tear out prone woods that I use. I'm sure there must be a need for the even higher angled blade for other woods, but since there's so much effort required with a HA blade, I'll stick with the 38.
Do not be concerned that the margins of the LV planes are slightly higher than the center of the soles. That's by design and runs approx .0005 to .001" They don't want any planes leaving their factory with a convex sole, which will rock.
any specific questions?
Edited 1/26/2006 3:31 pm ET by Spike2
So did you lap your soles flat or leave them as is?I'm getting the smoother and the jointer. The jack plane seems like a luxury more than a must-have between the two. Since you have all three what do you think? Do you favor any two of them or use all three equally?
Now that I've got the Jack, I'll use it much more than the smoother. No question! I polished the soles--I didn't remove enough material to change the contour. then I waxed them. nice and slick.
I think your reasons for going with the LV bevel up planes are very sound. Had I known then what I know now (and had the LV bevel up smoother and jointer been in existence) I probably would have done exactly what you are doing.
While my LN #41/2 and #7 are beautiful planes that are a joy to use they are a bit spendy. The LV planes may not have the heirloom quality that the LV's do, the $290 savings for the two LV's versus two LN's would convince me to go with LV.
I also own the new LV scrub and the little LV apron LA block. Both give me a nice appreciation for the LV brand.
Chris
I have the BU jointer and LA jack and their performance is outstanding. As to the .0005 to 0.001 "dish" it is practically undetectable and doesn't affect performance at all.
By the way read Derek Cohen's reviews of the veritas bevel up planes at http://www.wkfinetools.com. They are not only informative but instructional as well. He has also done a review of the veritas router plan. These reviews were the clincher for me. Derek also answered some questions for me via email.
Edited 1/26/2006 7:20 pm ET by RandyWalker
Edited 1/26/2006 7:25 pm ET by RandyWalker
Randy, thanks for that link-really good stuff there.
Can you give me D.Cohen's e mail address-I did not see any means of contacying him there.Philip Marcou
There is a link under his picture on his review page. I thougth it was great information also. I spent hours reading and researching before making my decision to purchase veritas bevel up planes and Derek's reviews are the best. I have provided another link below where there are several veritas plane reviews by Alf.
Derek Cohen
http://www.wkfinetools.com/contrib/dCohen/index.asp
Alf & Others
http://www.cianperez.com/Wood/WoodDocs/Wood_How_To/INDEX_How_To.htm
Edited 1/28/2006 7:52 am ET by RandyWalker
Elliot, you can't go wrong with your choice. I have been using the older Baileys and Records for most of my life and recently acquired a Veritas 41/2 smoother and the 621/2 bevel up jack.
I was so pleased with the 621/2 that it formed the basis of my own plane -making venture. I also modified those two Veritases slightly , with nice wood and a few other changes.
See the pic of my modified Veritases and one of my own creations.
I just read the review on the LV BUS , looks good. Anyone ever compared the LN 4 1/2 vs the LV BUS 164-1/2 H???
Any opinions? I own a LN 8 and a LN 5 1/2, love them, prefer the look of the 4 1/2 over the 164-1/2 H, but that has nothing to do with anything, right!
T. Lie-Nielsen says the Low-angle jack plane with adjustable mouth is the best tool he makes and I wouldn't disagree. It is easy to adjust, versatile, and reasonably priced. If I was allowed to keep only two of my planes, they would be the LA Jack and LA Block.
Well the planes arrived and they did not disappoint. Both Jointer and smoother performed very well right out of the box and even better after a quick hone. Working with some somewhat complex hard maple I had no problem squaring the edges and smoothing off the faces of several hard maple boards within an hour with very little fuss. When I got a little tearout with the Jointer I swapped in the 38° blade from the smoother and things improved.
And the look has grown on me so fast that those bevel down bailey planes look downright top heavy now ;-)
Recommending a Veritas plane is quite safe! No need to wonder if the new tool owner will be disappointed. Have fun with your new toys!
Sounds like my experience when I received my BUJ and LAJ. Glad your happy with your purchase. Happy planing.
Randy
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