Replies

1. 
   garth | Nov 10, 2003 07:31am | #1

   Sarge

   I don't have that plane, but I do have a couple of ECE, their scrub and their jack. Have been happy with both.

   Scott T.

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 10, 2003 07:53am | #2

      Thanks Scott. I also looked at the jack, even though I already have a jack and have my eye on that LN low angle one somewhere down the road. The E.C.E.'s seem to be well made and well though out. The jointer was comfortable to manuver.

   Thanks for your in-put...

   sarge..jt

1. 
   garth | Nov 10, 2003 08:11pm | #5

   Sarge

   I too picked up the LN low angle jack a couple of weeks ago I find myself reaching for it more and more. Maybe just because it is a new toy, but I find it feels good in my hand. I think it will become one of my more used planes along with the ECE scrub as most of my prep is done my hand, I have a small jointer but it sit and gathers dust mostly.

   Scott T.

2. 
   KyleZ | Nov 10, 2003 05:21pm | #3

   Sarge,

   I don't have their jointer, but I do have the Primus smoother.  I would recommend it to you.  For significantly less money than an L-N, you would get a very precise depth adjuster (no backlash whatsoever) and a good iron.  If it is like the smoother, there is a little learning curve to removing the iron for sharpening.  I have recently gotten much handier at it, and sharpening it does not seem like such a pain.  Consequently, my Primus has become one of my favorite planes.  The other thing that I should point out is that the lateral adjustment is less elegant than the depth adjustment.  If you are not careful, the lateral adjustment can change on you.  Garrett Hack pointed this out in his smoother review article in FWW a few years ago.

   By the way, I have a Steve knight jointer (http://www.knight-toolworks.com).  If you are comfortable adjusting a wooden plane with a wedge, you can not go wrong with this plane.  He often has them up for bid on Ebay, where you can get some phenomenal deals.

   Respectfully,

   Kyle

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 10, 2003 07:45pm | #4

   Kyle

      Thanks for the in-put. I will check out the lateral asjustment and depth adjuster at Highland Hardware. I have never had a wooden bodied plane, but I'm sure they couldn't be any more time comsuming than a cheap plane that you have to fine tune and fiddle with. I have no problem with sharpening irons or anything else. Got that down pat around 30 years ago. One of the first things I learned when I started WW in 72' and one of the most important.

   Thanks again and regards...

   sarge..jt 

1. 
   KyleZ | Nov 10, 2003 08:57pm | #6

   Sarge,

   I really like wooden bodied planes, and I think you will too.  I get the feeling that you are not into fettling old Bailey style planes.  I am not either.  I really don't like the backlash that you always get with old Baileys.  That is the best part of the Primus planes.  They have zero backlash, and they are not all that expensive compared to some of their competitors.

   By the way the L-N low angle jack is a no brainer.  Pick it up as soon as possible.

   Respectfully,

   Kyle

2. 
   DennisS | Nov 12, 2003 08:58am | #13

   Sarge -

   This isn't too germane to your question but - you said you've never owned or used a wooden body plane.

   I have my grandad's old wooden sole, metal frog plane, a so-called "transitional" design. I had cleaned it up and put a razor edge on the iron thinking I'd just keep it around for show. But then I had a situation where none of my planes (old out of tune Stanleys and Miller Falls) seemed to be working for me. So I ventured forth.

   I can't begine to explain the soothing feel of that beechwood sole on the redwood slab I was planing! If you don't own at least one wooden soled plane, save your lunch money and but one if for no other reason than therapy sessions! (grin)

   ...........

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 12, 2003 09:24am | #14

   Dennis

      Just checking messages as was goint to turn in for the nite.

     I did get to take the Primus on as short test run and it had a very nice feel on maple. I liked the no-back-lash feature, but want to have a better look at the lateral adjustment feature before I make a final decision.

     Yep, I believe that a combined metal-wood plane was considered a transitional. Do you know the make of your GF's plane or was it home-spun. If it had a beech sole, I would guess it probabably came from Europe. They used beech often on tools (especially England) and benches. It could be from elsewhere though. How long is it? Just curious.

   Have a good evening, Dennis...

   P.S. If you can't wedge it, "shimm it".. ha..ha..

   sarge..jt

2. 
   DBishop | Nov 10, 2003 11:32pm | #8

   I just got a smoother from Knight-Toolworks and it works like a dream....

3. 
   PelhamPete | Nov 10, 2003 10:37pm | #7

   Hi Sarge,

   Yes- I have the ECE Primus jointer plane.  I am nursing an overuse injury so can't type (well,  I can type some obviously).  Email me privately- I will give you my phone # (or you can give me yours?) and we can talk about it (sorry, I feel bad about this).  My email address is [email protected]

   I look forward to hearing from you.

   -Peter T.

1. 
   mitch | Nov 10, 2003 11:46pm | #9

   i have a primus smoother that does not hold its lateral adjustment worth a darn!  in two strokes, especially if i have it a little skewed in difficult wood, its out of whack.  haven't used it much because of this- figured i'd eventually get around to fixing it, or selling it.  any suggestions?

   my primus jointer seems to work fine but the sole tends to go in and out of flatness a bit throughout the year.  in particular, it gets a little concave during high humidity.  just enough so that the blade won't touch in the middle of a board (the sole is riding on the heel and toe) with a very fine setting.  i can hardly joint it flat two or three times a year- soon the sole would be gone.  maybe it will settle down once i get my shop all buttoned up and hvac'd?  also, what is the proper technique for positioning of the forward hand without a front handle?  nothing feels comfortable.

   thanks, mitch

1. 
   KyleZ | Nov 11, 2003 10:37pm | #11

   Mitch,

   My only suggestions would be to take as light a cut as possible and to give the blade a slight radius when you sharpen it.  At least if it goes askew, it will not dig in and make a gouge.  By paying for attention to the lateral adjustment and taking the aforementioned steps, I have not had too much trouble with it recently.

   Cheers

   Kyle

2. 
   Alan | Nov 13, 2003 02:47am | #17

   Mitch,

   About holding a plane that has no front knob...you hold it the opposite way you think you ought to.  Put your thumb on the side you're on--the "near" side--and then reach across with your fingers to the far side.  I.e. if you're right handed, your thumb goes on the left side of the plane (looking from the heel to the toe) and your fingers reach across to the right side.

   It feels a little awkward at first, but it really is the best way.  I find that, for some reason, I can better feel the way I position the plane.  It also seems easier to hold the plane at the correct angle--which is highly necessary if I'm jointing an edge.

   Alan

3. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 13, 2003 06:25am | #18

   mitch

      I think Alan is on target with the grip. If you don't like that when you try it, you might consider this. The Primus does not have a fore knob. Add one!! Just because it didn't come with one doesn't mean you can't modify and add one to it. I have 31 years worth of tools you would probably not recognize for the personal modificatiions. I have not seen too many tools that could not use a little improvement. ha..ha..

   sarge..jt

1. 
   mitch | Nov 13, 2003 05:37pm | #19

   adding a knob was actually going to be my next step, but i thought i'd ask in case i was overlooking some technique.  i mean, people have been using planes like this for decades, i figured somebody would have noticed they s u c k to hold on to!  but i guess not.  they put a forward handle on their jacks and smoothers- what, they think this behemoth is somehow easier to hang on to?

   alan- i've tried doing it just like you describe before and i'm still not satisfied with the feel, especially through a long stroke.  it's possible that part of my problem stems from relatively limited flexibility in my wrists (that's right folks- i am definitely not limp-wristed).  i broke my left wrist when i was about 10 yrs old, but i don't know what the right one's excuse is, sympathetic stiffness?  it's nothing really restricting, but for instance, i finally gave up trying to learn to type because it's just such an uncomfortable position for me to hold my hands in for any length of time- even with the special ergonomic keyboards.  maybe i could type if the keyboard was set up like an accordion.

   btw- i have absolutely no compunction whatsoever about modifying my tools.  my wife laughs because she has seen me alter a brand new piece of equipment before i've ever turned it on or used it!  i was kinda thinking about installing an adjustable mouth in this big jointer plane (like the smoother), side-mounting a tiltable fence (on either side, just in case the part or grain direction requires it), and using it clamped upside down in a vise for jointing, planing and chamfering small parts.  hmm, might make for an interesting magazine article.

   m

   Edited 11/13/2003 9:50:56 AM ET by mitch

1. 
   PelhamPete | Nov 13, 2003 10:14pm | #20

   Hi all,

   Mitch said:

   <side-mounting a tiltable fence (on either side, just in case the part or grain direction requires it), and using it clamped upside down in a vise for jointing ...>

   I was wondering if jointing an edge was one of the applications during which you were wondering how to hold the plane.  It appears that it is indeed, so ...

   With all the talk about gripping the jointer plane in this way or that- I was under the impression that it was commonly held (in front) by wrapping the fingers around the side so that they kind of rub up against the face of the board (whose edge you are jointing) and the thumb is positioned on the top of the plane ... for me- this is BY FAR the best way to hold a plane for edge-jointing applications.

   It seems to be the case that this is not the common way of holding the front of a plane (while working on an edge).   You may want to give this a try???

   -Peter T.

2. 
   Alan | Nov 15, 2003 02:42am | #21

   Mitch,

   Peter's way of holding a plane when edge-jointing works really well as long as you can get a good enough grip on it.  IME woodies are usually too thick (or tall or whatever means the body sticks up a long way) to be able to grip them from beneath as you would an iron plane.  I have several woodies, and even though I have pretty big hands, I have to hold them with my left hand on top.

   It's not heresy to modify your tools.  After all, the tool is just the means; do what you must to get results.  I love tools I run across in flea markets, antique stores, garage sales and the like, where I can actually see and feel the way their user held them.  So get a front knob if that helps.  You might try to get a front "horn" from ECE; they are made for right-hand or left-hand users and are very comfortable--and stylish.

3. 
   mitch | Nov 15, 2003 03:34am | #22

   i have fairly small hands for someone my size and that jointer plane is a beast.  i'll probably modify sooner or later.

   m

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 11, 2003 05:08am | #10

   Peter

      I will e-mail through the forum at the e-mail option at the bottom. If that doesn't work, will use the e-mail address you posted.

      ALL:

      Thanks for the feed-back and responses. They have all been helpful in determining if this jointer is the way I want to go.

   Regards to ALL...

   sarge..jt

3. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 12, 2003 07:46am | #12

   Peter

      I e-mailed you last nite from the forum post. Will attempt to use the e address you posted. Did you recieve the e-mail ? as I didn't get a returned notice.

   sarge..jt

   Will run through regular (off forum) e-mail now...

4. 
   desertrat | Nov 12, 2003 06:23pm | #15

   Sarge:

   I have the ECE Primus Jointer and wouldn't trade it for anything.  Great plane easily adjustable, very positive adjustment with little or no slack.

   I can adjust it down to the point of using for a smoother if I want.  I find myself reaching for it quite often, even when a smaller plane would probably do the job.

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 12, 2003 07:14pm | #16

      Thanks Dick, that's the kind of positive feed-back that might land the E.C.E. Primus jointer a permanent spot in my shop. Seems I've been having to make some extra room there lately with this current addiction with hand-planes. Maybe I should just look for a nice "bed and break-fast" at a monastery. ha..ha..

   Regards...

   sarge..jt