Replies

1. 
   ChrisB | Sep 18, 2005 05:22am | #1

   The LV are just as ready to go as the LN, in my opinion. Both, however benefit from working the  back of the blade with 1000 grit then 8000 grit waterstones for 30 minutes or so each, then a 8000 grit micro bevel on the main bevel for thirty seconds or a minute.

   I own both.

   Chris

1. 
   DaveR | Sep 18, 2005 06:14am | #2

   Chris, couple of questions..
   Why both the veritas and LN?Did you get the low and high bevel planes for the veritas? What bevel and/or micro bevel did you sharpen the planes to? I just got my veritas low angle plane in the mail yesterday, haven't broke it out yet. I was reading in the Complete guide to sharpening but it seems to deal more with standard planes than low angle planes.Sorry to steal this thread,Dave

1. 
   ChrisB | Sep 18, 2005 06:15pm | #5

   Hi Dave,

   I own a LN #7 jointer and a LN#41/2 smoother.These were my first two planes and I wanted to see how the finest planes made performed. My LV planes are the low angle apron plane, a small. light plane I use a lot for trim carpentry, and their new scrub plane. I went with LV just to see how the second best planes made performed. In my opinion they perform beautifully. What I really like about the LV plane is the price and the adjustment design, which is pretty common to all their planes. For that reason, my next plane, a shoulder plane will be an LV.

   As to micro bevel, I simply hone it one degree more than the factory bevel. I hone until the super shiny micro bevel is about 1/64" wide. Than takes about fifteen seconds at 1000 grit and another 15 seconds at 8000 grit. Honing the back, however, can take a half hour at each grit. However, you only have to do the back once.

   A bevel up plane can also use the same one degree micro bevel. For a quick discussion of the uses of various primary bevel angles on bevel up planes, see page 27 of the current LV catalog. Adding a one degree micro bevel to any of those blades will not change the function of the blade.

   Chris

    

    

2. 
   propmonkey | Sep 18, 2005 07:09am | #3

   I love the LV low angle smoother. It is the plane I use the most. I do own the LN #1, 4 bronze and 5 1/2. The only prep required on the LV was 10 minutes to put a final hone on the iron.

   Propmonkey

   
   

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   Edited 9/18/2005 12:17 am ET by propmonkey

3. 
   dovetail | Sep 18, 2005 02:06pm | #4

   gizzo, not sure which plane you are considering, but I just got the newest Veritas bevel up smoother. It was ready to go right out of the box. I simply set the iron and closed the throat tight and immediately was getting wispy, paper thin see through shavings. Now I find myself using this one for just about everything except shoulder planing - a great tool.