Paul,

What are ya a collector or woodworker...get that LN out of the box and use it. I have both 4 1/2 and the 5 1/2, since they both use the same size blade. When I'm planing a panel, such as a cabinet or table top, I have two blades available before stopping and honing. Sharping is another story...like the Chizz I have the Tormek and love it. Hated the thought of burning a $40 Hock or $45.00 LN blade on a high speed grinder. Using water stones for honing the blades. Also, I like to camber the blade...no plane tracks.

Chuck

yo whu up chuck....i agree....scratch that sucker...i do love the quality of the L.Ns..i just wish they didnt cost soooo much....too bad stanley stopped making sweethearts....i mean the molds L N uses are from old stanleys.......i hope your getting to work this morning chuck....walnut beagle gonna be around 2 day....

Ken (AKA Walnutbeagle) said:

My bias and work habit have pushed me in that direction.

I love this statement because I know little of using handplanes in a traditional sense, because......"My bias and work habit have pushed me in that direction." To me anything with an edge is a sculpting tool.

For the Crazy Leg Fed, I've tuned up my old Craftsman #4 (I needed a tape measure and compared the length to LN's site..it's a #4)and it was a mess, learned after the fact, hands get filthy lapping a sole, the area around the mouth looks funky, but it's done and I'm excited about trying it in a traditional sense. After all it's now my "caddy of cut".

Over the past 18 months, I've pulled out all my good handplanes, spoke shaves, replaced my broken small router plane (broke an ear yrs ago, still worked though), and my roll of chisels and carving tools knowing I was going to go after something then puff here we are....ole crazy leg.

I have a LN 60.5 and 102 and as Paul says:

"So far, I haven't used it much because I don't want to accidentally put a scratch in the bottom or whatever, but I'll pull it out on this mahogany crazy leg table no doubt."

I'm gonna chamfer my edges just incase Eli leaves "crumbs" .......

QUESTION:

How do you determine if you need a 4, a 5, or a 5.5?? I remember Dave Mc mentioning body mechanics and size.

Nice "dimensionality" up above....very cool....Neil

Tommy

Ya Ken and I was suppose to meet and greet for breakfast, but he had to cancel due to a repairman (excuse me repair person) coming over to his house this morning. He will be over later.

Tommy I'm going to leave this plane agruement alone...too many different opinions and all are right for each person. If money is a problem, buy a LN, if money is not a problem...buy a use bailey 605 or whatever and refurbish it...the only way it is cheaper is if you don't place any value on your time.

Chuck

i couldn't agree with you more

The difference between the 4/5 and 4.5/5.5 is 3/8" and about a pound and a half. The 4/5 have 2" blades and the 4.5/5.5 have 2 3/8". With the increased size comes an increase in weight - about 1 1/2 lbs. between the 4 and 4.5. The best way to determine what is best and most comfortable is by trying the different planes out. Unfortunately, most stores don't have this inventory in use and available to "test-drive". This grouping of planes is probably the most used and first choice bench planes in a woodworkers repertoire. Hence, comfort level is paramount. A primary smoother and general use bench plane like the 4 or 5 is typically the most used. Some guys like the 1/2 sizes because of indreased capacity for smoothing. Guys like Chuck and I solved the dilemma by getting both the 2" and 2 3/8" varieties. More arms to choose from the arsenal. Too bad we can't check out the different planes by putting plane to wood.

I would be more than happy to provide my plane array for guys to test drive if we were closer. If you get a chance to attend a show with the Lie-Nielsen folks in attendance or get to a LN class Tom has all his planes with him and avaialable to test drive. Probably the best way to determine what planes would be best to use.

If you are happy with your plane lapping and tune-up stick with your current 4/5 planes and use the wish list funds for something different that you don't have yet. The bench planes you have can go from caddy cut to Rolls cut with a simple upgrade - a Hock blade and chipbreaker. I did this to my Records which came with a stamped chrome-moly blade and what an improvement. It doesn't matter if you go High Carbon Steel or A2, the Hock blades and chip breaker are the best dollar to improvement upgrade you can make. Check the Hock website for the differences between the different blade steels. For about $60-70 you can get those planes to cut like a LN.

Happy planing.

Ken aka walnutbeagle

Ken,

Great info. Thanks for taking the time to post. That helps with my decision on which plane to get next.

Does anyone else on the forum live in Colorado?


Kevin

Hey Guys...

Following up on what Neil said... I got a LN 5 1/2 awhile ago... I was going to get a #4 but I bought it from Rob Cosman here in Canada and he said cause of my size I'd be more comfortable with the larger one.... I can always get the high angle frog for it later as well.... but it did a great job in some birds eye ( thanks T-Mac ) so I'd say I don't need the other frog... save some $$$

I don't really know what to say, but just remember most of us do this as a hobby... some of these planes are a join to use and own, but by no means a necessity.... look and listen to what Tommy says... he is doing this for a living now and doesn't use a whole arsenal of planes... I'm going to use my 5 1/2 as much as I can and when I need something else I'll ask my wife's permission... and then go grab the tool

Tommy really helped me get sorted out with tool stuff.... its hard these days to get blinded by the magazines, internet sites and other podcasts that all revolve around advertisements and tool stuff.... when really what matters is what we're going to build with them...

....and thats what led to the more chop chop... less type type thing I threw out a few months ago....

we as woodworkers all dig tools, but everyone else out there would appreciate the furniture we build with the tools more than the tools themselves... know what I mean guys???... I don't know, whatever...

whoa... sorry for the length

Dave

After getting my mohag, my wife and I were on a mission to get the built in entertainment center at home finished so this table project took a back seat to that. I spent about 2-3 hrs roughing the material and stickering it a couple days ago and today I spent about 3 hours taking rough stock to final dimensions for all the parts. I have one of those Delta portable 12 1/2" thickness planers sitting on a movers cart and taking stock down to 1/2" takes a bunch of passes. I had to glue up a panel to make the 18 x 18 top and had to glue up 3 pieces to make the drawer bottom.

The reason I also am a bit behind is because I took the time to sketchup this project. By doing that, I realized some questions I had about joinery but now I'm ready to plow ahead.

Oh, and I pulled out that LN 4 1/2. I need to do some adjusting to move the frog forward and I also need to camber the edges of the plane.

Paul,

What you took a piece of paper and drew up some plans??? Just joking, I know it's a google drawing program. I have tried the program, however, it requires some time to learn. Could you e-mail me a copy of the your sketchup plans? I sure Tommy my want a copy for others who may be interested in a copy.

Chuck