Over the years I have accumulated a number of planes.
I have several wooden planes some Stanley and Bailey well tuned and a few LN.
Why am I always reaching for the wooden planes and almost never use the metal ones ?
In particular I have a couple of ECE that get a lot of use.
Is it because there is no chatter at all ? Or is it just plain old habit ?
C.
Replies
Excellent question. I look forward to your answer :-).
Max,
I don't really have an answer, I am looking fo one !C.
C,
Are you delicate and (a) unable to hold the heavy metal; (b) sensitive to the cold sensations of iron and steel; (c) inhabited by a "woodie" meme? (Perhaps all three)?
Or do the bluddy things work better? (I hope not, as I may have to get one then). I suspect the meme.
Lataxe
They do work much better for me !
I have an ECE jointer for example, the thing has to be 70 cm long ! No metallic plane I own performs nearly as well, same with a smoothing plane and a couple others I don't even know what to call them !
You should try one Lataxe ! Just to see if there is a point there or if it's just me !C.
ECE's combine the best of both worlds - wood to wood contact with a modern cutter adjustment mechanism.
The knock on them is that some have found it easy to nudge the cutter out of square with the mouth during use - no amount of tightening will keep it in place.
CS
My ECE planes are the old style, you adjust them with a hammer.
I know, it's hard to get the hang of it but it's not rocket science !
The blade runs pretty snug to the sides, I never experienced the problem you mentioned.C.
The wedged kind work fine, another equivalent would be the Clark & Williams planes which also get rave reviews.
I know what you mean. After I made a few Krenov-style planes, I found myself reaching for them repeatedly, despite the availability of well-tuned LN, LV, and vintage Stanleys at my bench. I keep an ECE smoother in the tool bag I drag back and forth to school.
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
Is it because they are lighter with a more pleasant tactile feel to the hands, and that's better for long bouts of serious planing? And you only use the heavier, metal planes for difficult grain? I use a small Millers Falls smoother because it is light - I'm using it now for hard maple, if I can get by with it with no tearout. I have to stop and re-hone the blade to adequate sharpness every once in a while.
Just an idea,...
I think it's a matter of what you grow comfortable with. I've had the exact opposite reaction to woodies. They sat in my plane rack unused for so long, I finally sold them last month on ebay. I'm certain it was me ineptitude, but I couldn't get them tuned or set just right to work half as well as my Bedrock's or LN's.
To each his own, I guess.
Shave on, ole' C.
Jeff
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