Hello,
Although I never intended to purchase a hand plane this small, I got a great deal on a Lie-Nielsen Bronze No. 2 on craigslist and I couldn’t pass it up. I dissasembled it to clean it and get it back to it’s former glory and I noticed somthing odd:
With the frog adusted to its most forward position(smallest mouth), there is clearance between the rear of the frog and the handle, but as you adjust the frog rearward to open the mouth, the frog collides with the handle and would ride up the handle changing the angle of the frog if you let it.
It seems like the only possible configuration is to keep the frog all the way forward unless I modify the handle. This seems strange to me. I’m not opposed to modifying the handle, but of course I would rather not.
This is an older plane, as it does not have their new chip breaker, and the blade is not stamped Lie-Nielsen.
Anyone out there with a No. 2 have this issue (or any advice), also, if I modify the handle, what kind of finish would you recommend to match what Lie-Nielsen uses?
I’ve attached a picture – hopefully you can see what I mean.
Thanks,
Justin
Replies
Looks to me that there are two solutions from the picture Sarge... either modify the handle or modify the frog. Now if I were a Marine I would modify the handle.. if I were Army I would modify the frog.. where did I put that grinder?
Good luck and thanks for your service to our country. I may have just started another inter-service war so I'm headed to the safety of the nearest bunker which is located under my house in my WW'ing shop! ha.. ha...
PS.. call LN monday and see if they have a better solution....
Justin,
My guess is that the previous owner found the original handle too small for his hands, so he made a larger handle.
Justin,
If I was in your situation, I would contact Lie Nielsen. Send them some photos and a description, and ask them what they would suggest. It is possible that they will put it in top shape for a modest charge. Derek once got a LN and sent it to the company headquartters. I believe it was a pre-prototype and they fixed it for him for nothing. I am not promising anything. I am merely saying that no company's customer service is better than Lie Nielsen's.
Let us know what happens. You certainly can't lose anything by giving them a call.
Have fun.
Mel
Justin,
I have the same plane that is about the same age. With the mouth set in what I consider the "normal" position, there is about the same space between the frog and handle. I think this is correct because moving the frog back far enough to hit the handle would result in a mouth opening that is not correct for a small smoothing plane.
David
Thanks everyone,
I think David is right, maybe they just wanted to put the biggest handle possible on it, since it is so small. I was just suprised that I couldn't adjust it to the full range of motion. I'll shoot them an email and see what they say. With the frog adjusted to it's maximum opening(before it hits the handle), I get pretty good shavings.
Mel, I've seen you many times at the Woodcraft store, but I didn't put the face with the online poster until a few months ago. It's a small world!
Sarge, If I decide to go the modification route, I'll take the Marine's easy way out and modify the handle!
Justin
Justin
We seem to be having a rash of folks doing woodworking in the Kitchen... DId I miss something over at fine cooking? #2s are used for slicing cheese for sandwiches ;>)
AZMO
You are right - often, I can't sneek out to the garage, so I try to get some stuff done in the kitchen. I even resorted to carving the ball and claw feet on my lowboy with the legs clamped to the kitchen counter. For some reason, the wife thinks she and the kids are more important than woodworking!
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