I have some tenon shoulders that need cleaned up, about 1/32 of trimming. I can’t get these bench legs back on a saw because curves have been cut on them. Can someone recommend a Stanley plane number or another manufacturer? I get a monthly newsletter that has tons of used Stanley planes, I could also buy a new one but I kind of like the heritage look if I can. I have the tools to sharpen. Thanks.
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Replies
veritas by lee valley--medium shoulder plane with o1 metal blade , excellent quality. buying a used Stanley plane is throwing dice --you never know what you will end up with!!
I wouldn't buy vintage Stanley. I don't think their shoulder planes were very good. New Lie Nielsen or Veritas, for sure. They are both excellent.
I have small & medium Stanleys and the large Record. I prefer the feel of the record. The Stanleys are all hard corners no matter how you hold them.
If you don't often need a shoulder plane you might consider an open frame "rabbeting" block plane instead.
My recommendation would be the lie Nielsen shoulder plane. I happen to own the veritas and the lie Nielsen and much prefer the lie neilsen for usability, fit and finish and the vintage look. But be warned buying a lie neilsen plane is like eating just 1 potato chip - it’s a large rabbit hole you must be prepared to fall into! lol!
The vintage Stanley shoulder planes are #92 (narrow) and #93 (wider.) The #94 is a bull-nose shoulder plane. I've had the #92 & #93 for almost 50 years, got them new as NOS, and have liked them. Don't know the Ver or LN modern versions.
I have a modern Stanley #92 and a Veritas large shoulder plane. The Stanley is meh. The Veritas is one of the best tools I own. It just works! Cuts clean -- I sometimes use it on open edges just because it cuts so well. Worth every penny.
Started out cheap with a Shop Fox. Then found a mint Record 73 for a very good price. You can guess which one gathers dust
Way back when I started, the Record 073 was still available new. I couldn't afford it, and bought a used Stanley 92. A couple of years later Record stopped making the 073. The Stanley was . . . very unsatisfactory. When Lie Nielsen started making the 073 a few years later I skipped a few meals and bought it -- I was afraid they'd stop making it too!
I have the Lie-Nielsen medium shoulder plane. It's excellent, no question. Nonetheless, I wish I had bought the larger one.
Update, I am looking for a used: Lie Nelson 073, Veritas Medium or Record through the Kansas City Woodworkers Guild. Hoping someone has one collecting dust, new ones are $$. Most good tools don't get worn out, just sidelined. Thanks for the good advice!
For what it's worth, I bought a Veritas Large Shoulder Plane years ago based on what I think was a tool review, but for the life of me I cannot find the review now. It actually might have been a tool demo at a KC Woodworking Show or possibly right there at KC Woodworking Guild. Sorry it is all fuzzy now. Nevertheless, I have several LN and Veritas planes, and this large shoulder plane has to be my favorite. I look for excuses to use it. If you can find one used or bite the bullet to buy a new one you will not regret it.
Kurt, still looking? I have a L-N #73 that I am willing to sell. As well as a #41. And best of all I am also in KCMO. Give me a day or so, and we can figure out how to privately communicate.
The blade on a shoulder plane should be just proud of the body on both sides. Not flush. Some get frustrated setting it up, and will grind the blade sides flush with the body. It won't work that way. Something to think about if you're shopping used.
Ha, great info, never would have thought of that one. Thanks.
I set tbem up to be flush on one side and out a smidge on the other. One side works for cleaning up inside corners without damage, the other as intended. Swapping sides is simple by laying it on the tablesaw
The L-N rabbeting block plane works great on shoulders and I prefer the feel of it in my hand compared to the taller shoulder plane
I concur completely. The L-N rabbeting block is far more comfortable and versatile than the top heavy shoulder planes.
I have a Stanley 93 made in UK 2004. If I keep it sharp and set with a tight mouth, it does what I need. Also have the bull nose version that I have not found a reason to use.
Stanley 92 or 93 is fine. You might actually like the smaller 92. I have a Made in England 92 and it's dead square side-to-sole. That said, you should be trimming to an incised line, and you shouldn't have much to trim -- a couple or three passes ought to do it. Not enough passes for even a wonky plane (which mine is not) to knock things out of truth
HAND TOOL WOODWORKERS WORK TO LINES (usually incised ones). If you can trim to lines, you're golden. You don't normally have to pay for all the uber-accuracy.
If you port your machine-tool mentality to hand tool woodworking you'll be more miserable than you were with machines that were not accurate. Buy a good square, make a straightedge, buy or make a decent knife, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE YOUR ACCURACY IS TO BE FOUND. Free yourself from the mentality that accuracy is entirely up to the tool you're using at any given point. It is not. At all.
Sorry for the screaming. Needed to make a point that's often missed.
That is a great point. I never thought of it that way.
Also remember that shoulder planes are not for removing bulk material. They excel at removing mere tissue. Don't ask them to do more than they were designed to do. Besides being hideous monstrosities, models with handles and knobs completely miss the point. They encourage you to remove measurable amounts of material, when the point behind the tool is to remove essentially unmeasurable very fine shavings until you just kiss a knifed line.
That is the reason I'm selling mine (hoping Kurt comes back to read thread) I just never got comfortable using them and always ended up with tapering tenons and major catches and tearout.
Stan, [email protected] and 816-521-9534, ping me when you get a chance and thanks!
Ha, I have been closely watching this thread all week on my phone. I'll certainly take you up on the planes, both of them. I just ran an ad in the Kansas City Woodworkers Guild Newsletter looking for anyone that might have one. Tools like these don't wear out, their best life is finding a new home and a flat stone periodically. I like highly accurate power tools to get me close and I am learning how to use hand tools to finish. I have restored a couple of Stanley planes that came from a woodworkers tool box many years ago. Guess I just like tools. I am trying to master mortise and tenon joints at the moment. As for marking knives, I can't imagine using anything else, a .9MM lead is a banana in comparison. Thanks Stan and everyone else!
Ive found this plane to be surprisingly good, especially after replacing the wedge with something more robust. https://www.amazon.com/Woodworking-Rosewood-Cable-line-Carpenter-Cutting/dp/B07J579K9N/ref=asc_df_B07J579K9N/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=692875362841&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12870896407134793521&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9067609&hvtargid=pla-2281435177578&psc=1&mcid=3ca8e1f5295a3b869687dbb97b15f03b&hvocijid=12870896407134793521-B07J579K9N-&hvexpln=73&gad_source=1
Honestly though, an appropriate cutoff with 60-80 grit works well. I tend to go the paring chisel route.
Are you referring to a cutoff saw with 60-80 grit wheel?
No just basically making a float by making a custom sanding block. 60grit stuck to a card scraper or thick ruler can be a great tool.
Gotcha, tools can be basic and effective. I do a lot with a file or two. And you can likely do a lot with a grinder and fine touch. Thanks.
Agreed! As an occasional borrower of a shop mate's L-N 072, is it a tool that just works beautifully for cleaning up certain joinery.
I have both a Stanley bull nose plane and a Lie Nielsen should plane. They aren’t perfectly interchangeable but there is wide overlap in what they can do. Happy with both the vintage bull nose and the new Lie Nielsen should plane. Suspect if I had purchased a vintage shoulder plane, I’d probably like it as well.
I have the Veritas Medium Shoulder Plane. It was one of my first good tools. It does everything it’s supposed to do. I have the LN Rabbet Block Plane as well. It performs well too but it sees only occasional use.
I also like the Veritas medium shoulder plane, works great for me. I usually dial in my tenons with scrap and my Griz tenon jig,use the plane for minor touch up.