Replies

1. 
   murphreejz | Jan 27, 2007 09:33am | #1

   they're legit; just as you've seen people getting great deals i've seen knuckle heads pay up to 20% over msrp when they could have bought it directly from lie-nielsen at retail. prices are all over the place.

1. 
   coolbreeze | Jan 27, 2007 08:08pm | #2

   Thanks for your reply.

   The reason I have the "favorites" setup for Lie Nielsen is that I want to watch bidding and see what the "market will bare"

   I am thinking about adding a bronze #4. but in no hurry.

1. 
   murphreejz | Jan 27, 2007 08:30pm | #3

   I have the bronze #102 block plane, and in November received my long anticipated bronze #4 1/2 (25th Anniv. special plane), and I love them both. Can't go wrong with LN bronze planes in my opinion.

    

1. 
   coolbreeze | Jan 27, 2007 08:52pm | #4

   Congrats on the "special" 4 1/2.

   I got a nice surprize for Christmas. I had made some notes in a Lee Valley catalog. I was thinking about their medium sholder plane and had marked the block with the hard steel blade. I do not know why I had marked it. My wife saw the marking on the block plane and bought it for me. It is really a good blockplane. I have not had time to really hone it but I have grabbed it a few times already and it is really sharp out of the box. Can't wait to try it after honing it.

   Thanks for your reply

2. 
   BigFrank | Jan 27, 2007 09:17pm | #5

   What makes a bronze bed better than a ductile iron bed?

1. 
   murphreejz | Jan 27, 2007 09:34pm | #6

   substantially heavier primarily, and less friction.

   iron planes work fine for me as well. a little paste wax on the sole combats the friction problem, as does a corrugated sole (i just don't feel like there is a positive price-value relationship with corrugated sole.) they just lack a little weight, which isn't important to everyone. some people don't equate heavier to better.

    

2. 
   JeffHeath | Jan 27, 2007 09:36pm | #8

   Besides the added weight, important especially in a smoother, bronze doesn't rust.

   Jeff

3. 
   murphreejz | Jan 27, 2007 09:39pm | #9

   i guess i should have also included/clarified that "better" is subjective, and bronze planes are not necessarily "better" than iron planes. it's all about preferences of the user, and their individual and unique work habits.

   enough about that...

2. 
   JeffHeath | Jan 27, 2007 09:35pm | #7

   coolbreeze

   Go to ebay, and do an advanced search for COMPLETED LISTINGS and search for Lie Nielsen.  You will be amazed what comes up.  64 LN items sold in the last month, all within 10% of list price.  LN planes are selling for almost full bore very consistantly, even used ones, and have been for a couple of years.  There are online sources that offer between 10% and 15% off on new prices without all the auction stuff.  Buy it that way and save money.

   Jeff

1. 
   murphreejz | Jan 27, 2007 09:43pm | #10

   http://www.thebestthings.com consistently has the best prices on LN, Clifton, etc...

   i rarely ever agree with his ridiculous opinions/comments, but the prices are the best i've found.

1. 
   t_mauery | Feb 01, 2007 01:39am | #11

   Occasionally, the Fine Tool Journal website has some better prices on LN planes.

   https://secure.wowpages.com/finetoolj/LN/home.html

    

2. 
   murphreejz | Feb 01, 2007 05:21am | #12

   i kept seeing the ad in FWW but never went to their site. thanks for the link.