Replies

1. 
   cynwyd | Oct 31, 2004 05:05pm | #1

   look at the Veritas planes, less money highly regarded

   but really I'm not sure if a beginner will appreciate the Lie Neilsen quality until you struggled with others

   I haven't used Grizzley planes, but it's doubtful they're as good as vintage Stanley, Record

   or get the G block plane and if it's limitations are too great - declare it for rough use, possible nails, painted doors, etc

1. 
   AndyA | Nov 12, 2004 12:51am | #2

   Hi,

   I have struggled with some of the HomeDepot-bought planes. Even after trying to fine tune them (sharpening, lapping...) they were still terrible. I bit the bullet and bought a few planes from Lie-Nielsen when I was in Maine last summer. They really are fantastic. I feel the extra money I spent is being saved in time not having to re-condition the planes to make the first cut. I have not tried the Veritas planes but they look very good. I will probably buy one of their shoulder planes becasue the Lie-Nielsen shoulder plane felt awkward in my hand. Their bullnose shoulder plane looks good. Anyone have experience with this plane. It is relatively new on the market.

   Regards,

   Andy

2. 
   scadaboy | Nov 25, 2004 02:42am | #3

   Ditto on the Veritas. Now quite to the Lie-Nielsen level but very usable planes. Downright good deal. Most everything I have tried of Lee Vally (Veritas) has been wonderfully executed.

    

   Regards,

    

   Doug

3. 
   alanplanesaw | Nov 25, 2004 05:53am | #4

   You have several choices.    Basically the two choices are time or money.  Which do you have?

   1.  Bite the bullet, spend the money, and get a L-N.  It works right out of the box.  A little honing and it'll be top notch.

   2.  If you are not going to do that, because of cost, then get a few old Stanley's, learn to sharpen, hone, fettle, restore, etc., etc.    This will take tons of time, but you'll learn about a plane inside out.

   I started with the Stanleys and have accumulated way too many.  However, I learned a lot in the process. 

   By the way, a Stanley in its day cost comparably the same as a L-N does today.  You will get what you pay for.

   Whatever you do, have fun!

   Alan - planesaw

1. 
   scadaboy | Dec 01, 2004 07:16pm | #5

   Truer words may have been spoken, but not about planes. A cheap plane, when all is said and done, is a cheap plane. A good plane is a thing to hold and behold. What do they say?, "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.". Very few tool require the attention to detail in manufacturing that a plane does. When you consider what it is doing, making a glassy finish on wood, you hope every part of it helps the others do its job. The L-N planes are really something.

    

   Regards to all,

    

   Doug

1. 
   alanplanesaw | Dec 02, 2004 11:52pm | #6

   If you are replying to my email I think we are saying the same thing.  My point is that one can get an old Stanley relatively inexpensive ($30+), and after some work have a good plane.  Not as good as a L-N out of the box, but still good.  (BTW, I have and use both.)

   If this is a person's first experience with a plane, then learning on an old Stanley to sharpen and use is a lot cheaper than buying a L-N and screwing it up or deciding you really don't want to use a hand plane.

   Although I agree with the idea that in many cases the quality of the tool can determine the quality of the product, it is also true that a craftsman can do a better job with low quality tools than a novice with great tools.

   Alan - planesaw