Well I did it. I just pulled the trigger on a L-N 41/2. Now what do I do when I get it? I suspect I will don cotton dark room gloves and go over it. Does the blade come ready to shave wisps of wood? I am excited. Not because it is a L-N. I have driven BMW’s for over twenty years not because they are a BMW solely but because they are fine machines and even if they were not an “in” car I would still drive them, hop them up and fling them around the track. This is how I am sure I will feel about my new L-N.
It is Friday night oh when next week get here? My next one will probably be a jack. Do they work well with shooting boards? The next thing I have to do is sneak it in the shop and let Mamma Bear “discover” it. I will say that it has been around for sometime and let it go at that. It usually flies. I am excited. I put all of my change in two huge beer bottles use for advertising and got the money in short order. Now I am back on the bottle aiming for another plane.
Bonka
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why is it that whenever ya start thinkin that you've done your bit... posted enough warnings about "the slope" and turn yer back on it...some poor sod sneaks past on their way to oblivion... some with a yell... some with a whimper... they're never the same again...
Now what do I do when I get it?
ummmmm.... id this a trick question? some kinda test maybe..?? ;)
simple answer... enjoy it.. if my experience is anything to go by, the initial feeling of awe never really fades, especially when you learn just what they're capable of doing.
Straight outa the box the blade's more than capable of taking shavings, but they're much finer if you give the blade a quick hone and polish first (remember to loose the wire edge).. after that, all you'll need to do is adjust the frog to set the throat to your liking, and start to use it...
when you're done for the day, give it a quick brush clean, maybe a quick wipe with some light oil and put it to bed...
re the jack... have a think about the #5 1/2.. awesome tool...
Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
Congratulations on your impending addition!
At the risk of starting a war, I find that all L-N bench planes work well on a shooting board - - - however, the box plane, designed for shooting, and with the addition of the "hot dog" is really nice! Dont try one if you dont want one, it will spoil you.
As far as what to do when it arrives - first take and put a piece of wood in the vice and take a few shavings. Save the first one and put it somewhere special. Then, take out the blade and hone it, adjust the frog till you are happy and then take out a piece of that finely figured wood that you needed a scraper for, and enjoy planing it smooth.
Lastly, buy some more change bottles/containers - good planes are like potato chips! You just cant stop with one, or a dozen, or....
Enjoy and make beautiful things with it,
Mike
What do you mean... You don't know what to do with it??? You have only three options:
Option 1... use ANOTHER plane to make a beautiful shrine for it. Use only brand new white cotton gloves to handle the new plane. Carefully place it into the shrine and at least once a day repeat the following: 'I am not yet worthy of touching or using you.'
Option 2.... Go directly to e-bay and sell it for more than you paid for it.
Option 3, ... (DEFINITELY Not recommended), and advanced by some strange fanatical group of woodworkers is to hold the plane in your hands, give the blade a quick, light hone and actually use it. This is not an option for mere mortals. (see option 1)
Happy & Healthy New Year, and may all your plane-blades be sharp
SawdustSteve
personally I would see if I could trade it for a LV ;)
On a more serious note, I do understand what you are feeling. I recently purchased a medium shoulder plane and I constantly try to find ways to use it. It is a real joy to use, feels good in my hands and performs extreamly well.
Have a good time w/ your new plane and make good use of it!
dlb
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I ordered the LN 4.5 25th anniversary model several months ago and received it just recently. Before using it I went thru the David Charlesworth methods of fine tuning. All though as usual the LN plane was right on. But after the DC methods I put here directly to a piece of Cocobola I'd been saving for the 4.5's home coming.
Wow! Bang on. The York pitch did the job. Perfection. All the time I had spent with the tuning, ruler trick ,etc was worth it. Such a sweet sound.
I have been using my Grandpa's Bedrocks for many years, although the are excellent, well tuned and nicely maintained, the LN version are in a leaguue of their own. Enjoy, it will last a lifetime.
Glenn
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