Reply To: Shoulder Plane?
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I think it depends on what you want to use a shoulder plane for. I see it as largely a correctional tool to either bring your previous work to where you want it ( tenons, shoulders, etc) or to eliminate plane entry marks or saw marks for final presentation.
The beauty of a premium shoulder plane is you can get an extremely tight mouth and take very small cuts with ease to do those things. There really aren’t many planes in your tool kit that will do that as easily. The only thing I’ve seen that comes close are some of the old English piano makers planes. I can’t afford those. And I don’t think those wooden planes are fine enough for the task either. The mouths on every one I’ve seen are too big. AndasSven says, the geometry of the old planes is never to the level of perfection required. Top quality Modern shoulder planes are better than they ever have been. I will also say that to get the most out of them, you have to kick your sharpening skills up a notch.
But every serious woodworker can afford one new plane, and that what I recommend you get. Most of the old shoulder planes I see are either worn out or weren’t very good to begin with ( I put the old Stanleys in that camp).
I don’t recommend any Swiss Army knife multipurpose plane. They cost to much, and Lorenzo’s law says you always have it set up for the wrong task. That maths say that’s true 2/3 of the time. If you need to do all those tasks, you can probably buy three planes for the money, two of them used.
Purchase a brand spanking new medium shoulder plane from Veritas($209), Lie Neilsen($175), or WoodRiver ($125-ish with a store coupon). All are superb performers. at some times of the Year Veritas waives shipping, and I think if you order a LN at a hand tool event they do too. The choices left are aesthetics and cost.
The first two will hold their resale value extremely Well. Maybe the lie Neilsen the best – (in the US at least). My estimation is that if you decide you don’t want or use a shoulder plane enough to warrant the expense, you could get all your money back on the LN medium shoulder plane except possibly the shipping cost on Craig’s list or your local equivalent. keep the box and literature until you are sure. Some times people lose their minds and pay above list for a plane in Cherry condition.
You will have a plane that looks , feels, and functions great if you decide to keep it. In 15 years or so you won’t even remember what it cost.
And you got this advice from a guy whose entire tool kit always has Otherwise been vintage planes.
- This reply was modified 4 years, 10 months ago by Larry Geib.