LN Rabbeting Block or Veritas Shoulder?
OK. Thanks to all who contributed to my “Favorite Hand Tools” thread. There were a lot of good ideas there, and I’ve settled on getting myself some manner of rabbeting plane.
Now, those two–the Lie-Nielsen Rabbeting Block ($150) and the Veritas Shoulder ($169 large, $139 Medium)–are not the only options. Veritas also offers a bullnose rabbet plane ($129) that has a removable toe for chisel plane work. Seems handy. And Clifton makes a nice looking shoulder plane that will serve all three purposes–shoulder, bullnose and chisel. It’s a bit spendy, but at $239, it seem like economical, assuming there are no compromises–all three in one.
Ah, but the block plane is Lie-Nielsen! Trustworthy and beautiful! And yet, the mouth is not adjustable. This squelches my enthusiasm quite a bit.
What to do…what?
Charlie
Replies
FWIW, I have the L-N low angle block plane as well as the Clifton 410 shoulder plane (not the removable nose model). I would recommend if you go for the Clifton, to get the removable nose model, just from a versatility standpoint. My L-N does have an adjustable mouth but not very much; it has a small mouth which helps with tearout but I use my regular (Stanley)block plane when I want to get a lot of meat out. I like the quality of the Clifton but find I don't use it has much as the L-N; probably because most of the work I do is larger. Except when I want a lot of material out, I reach for the L-N every time; it is a very usable plane. Hope this helps!
Hi Charlie. Quite the dillema you are in, lets see which tool to buy? I own the LN 60 1/2 R and the Veritas medium. If I where to only own 1 it would definately be the 60 1/2 R. I would choose it because it is much more versatile than the Veritas. The LN is a block plane, although not very good compared to the regular 60 1/2, it is also a shoulder plane, although not as good as the Veritas, and it is a rabbeting plane as well. If you cut a furniture sized tenon on a bandsaw you could clean up the shoulders and the face of the cheeks with the LN. The width of the tool is what makes it so useful but also a little hard to hold when doing shoulders. I don't find the fixed mouth to be a problem, when doing clean up work. Hope this helps.
the Veritas shoulder plane gets really good reviews, I have a Veritas low angle block plane and a #6, they are really solid tools with well thought out designs and for the money they are tough to beat.
I have a LN large shoulder plane and thoroughly enjoy using it. It's a hefty tool, feels good in the hand and delivers terrific results every time.
Another plane to consider is the LN-140 skew block plane. I have this one as well and it's a remarkably versatile plane. Of course it's a great block plane, and the skewed blade handles everything you put it to. The side plate is removable, making it a rabbetting plane, which when combined with the fence and the available nicker is tough to beat. I've only had this plane a short time but find I'm reaching for it more and more... just yesterday I used it to fit some tenons, and then used the same plane to put a chamfer on some edges
Charlie
the Clifton 3110 3-in-1 is a versatile nicely made piece of kit...I'll be honest I generally keep mine in the shoulder configuration, really tight mouth with a nice blade. It does include a couple of shims to open out the mouth as well. I also have the small LN rabbeting block...I use the latter when I've a deal to take off tenon cheeks (not v often), it however lacks the sensitivity of the Clifton when truing shoulders.....do'nt get me wrong here, I love LN kit, but if you're looking for something that's about finishing and final touches go for a shoulder plane...LN or Clifton, personally I'm not inclined toward Veritas shoulders they seem fussy.
cheers Iain
Sorry Charlie, I said my low angle L-N had an adjustable mouth; it doesn't , my other plane has an adjustable mouth. I was using it yesterday and realized I advised you wrong; sorry.
Easy answer:
BOTH!
They actually perform different chores. The shoulder plane has the advantage of being able to cleanly and accuratly clean up shoulders on tenons. The rabbeting black plane is more of a specialty item. Might work ok fopr tenon cheeks and wider areas but in no way as accurate as a shoulder plane.
BTW I have the small Vertitas in my tool bag, the one with the removable fron for chisel action and it's a very nice tool well worth the money. But I'm saving for the L-N shoulder plane. It' looks big but I really like th way it feels. I proabaly add an HNT Gordon 1/2" shoulder plane for smaller work.
HTH
Cor.
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