Gemleggat Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 Right i need to get myself a plane for truing up neck blanks. What size is the best for the job and which one, Im thinking a No5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M_A_T_T Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 (edited) You mean truing up fingerboard gluing surfaces? I'd personally get a very high quality plane, and a particularly long one, like a foreplane or jointerplane. I've been thinking about getting this, possibly this weekend: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=...298&cat=1,41182 I have standard block plane by Veritas, and it rules. Lie-Nielsen also make very high quality planes, but the Veritas are cheaper because Lee Valley makes and sells them direct. Low quality planes have bad soles and poor blades, be aware. EDIT: Whatever plane you buy, make sure you have a good, accurate straight edge, too. Edited June 8, 2005 by M_A_T_T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmrentis Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 Matt those are very nice and I'd love to have a few of them to match all my needs, but the price of those is seriously expensive! I know they would be of the best quality but thats just a little hard to swallow for me. Somewhere on this site, one of the members posted stating that he had a block plane he purchased at Home Depot for I think $10. Obviously this will be nowhere near the quality of the others. But I think for a few of us this cheaper alternative would be more considerate to our wallets. Maybe there is an in between price range. Also you might not get the accuracy of the nice ones but you could always do a little more sanding. But I appreciate the link and information, and maybe one day when I have the funds I will be able to buy a planer of that class. Thanks for the help! Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 There are other ways, you just have to do some digging and be vigilant. A lot of my handtools were picked up in used condition. If you know what the good brands are and have an eye for quality and, of course, condition, you could find tools at garage sales, swap meets, pawn shops etc. I picked up an "Este" No. 5 block plane a while back for 15 bucks! All it had was a broken handle and a dull blade. Still in good enough shape for my uses, a little glue and a sharpening stone and I was in business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmrentis Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 Thanks southpa, I have found many used things that were perfectly usable throught my life. I just recently thought about this route for the tools I need for building guitars. I am buying a brand new router though, a nice one I found for $39.99 that is perfect it has only 1 hp though, I also found another one for $49.99 and is 1 3/4 hp and it looks a little better. I will probably get the more expensive one because it on sale from $60.00 I think, it doesn't seem to have as many features though but oh well. I have a link in another thread in this tool section to the place I'm buying the router from, it might worth a look for anyone that needs a router!! But for hand tools you don't need to worry about electronics wearing out or belts breaking. I actually totally forgot about swap meets and pawn shops until you mentioned them. These would be a great idea in my area, being that I live near two areas that have a crap load of trailer trash crystal freaks and ghetto druggies, so I know that the swap meets and pawn shops would be loaded with cheap quality stuff. Thanks for the reminder. BTW I don't live in these areas! I have already checked ebay and the stuff wasn't that great, more along the lines of collectibles. Thanks again! Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 The 'collectibles' are perfectly usable in most cases. I got a #6 and two #5s at a big flea market under $40 for all of them. If you can see past all the dirt and spiderwebs, you can get good deals on good tools. One of the #5s was a bit of a lemon, but on the other two I didn't even need to level the sole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmrentis Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 Thank you for your input as I was not sure if these planes would be in good enough condition, I have no problem with buying these older ones I just wasn't sure if they would hold true. But I will definately take your word for it, being that you are an experienced luthier I find no information more valuable for a somewhat beginner builder. Thanks and I will consider some of the planers I discounted before. Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myka Guitars Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 Hand planes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egdeltar Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 Hand planes ← You know that is a really nice right up about planes.....I just wish these planes were not $250-$400! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myka Guitars Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 Here are a couple eBay auctions: Lie Nielsen low angle jack plane And: Lie Nielsen low angle finish plane (this one I have and it workes great). They are under $200 which is a great deal, but they may also go up. It is eBay. Good luck findhing what you need. ~David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M_A_T_T Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 (edited) If you get a Lie-Nielsen prepare to plane end grain and curly maple to a glass-like smoothness right out of the box. Myka's not kidding when he says this. My veritas standard block plane was SWEET right out of the box. All I had to do was set the blade for my cut. One thing I'd like to point out with these high $$$ planes is, aside form being PERFECT right out of the box, they have better features (blades, adjustments, etc.)than the lower cost brands. I'd advise anyone looking into doing alot of handplane work to seriously look at the features of these planes and compare them with the other brands. EDIT: "'This thread is not meant to encourage anyone to stop using a jointer or planer. These tools are incredible time savers and well worth aquiring. I just want to support those who cannot afford a jointer or planer.' If you look at $500+ for a mediocre jointer compared to $240 for an excellent hand plane that will do a lot more you will see where I am coming from." -Myka You got that right. I had a hell of a time with my lame Delta bench top jointer jointing the back plates on my violin. This is why I finally decided to seriously look for a good foreplane or jointer plane. Edited June 8, 2005 by M_A_T_T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemleggat Posted June 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 I probably want to Spend £50 uk ($100)ish its most important job will be to sqaure up body and neck blanks, so i'm looking for something a quite hefty. What size? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemleggat Posted June 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 I really need to think more about this, is a low angle plane really important? I will look on ebay and see what flying around. But i really want some good hand tools rather than going down the jointer/planer route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M_A_T_T Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 I believe low-angle block planes are better for end grain, and standard are more general perpose. You need to think of what you are going to be using it for, and whether you should maybe get a selection of planes, ie - block plane, scraping plane, jack plane, jointer plane, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlr8 Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 I probably want to Spend £50 uk ($100)ish its most important job will be to sqaure up body and neck blanks, so i'm looking for something a quite hefty. What size? ← Graham, I have a Lie Neilson no. 7 jointer, their angle block plane and their large scraper plane - all great but expensive. I was looking to add a no.5 ad a no.6 when my wife dragged me to a car boot sale. There were a couple of elderly gentlemen (in their '80s) who were selling all sorts of hand tools including a good selection of hand planes. I bought a couple of fifty(ish) year old Stanley Baileys ( a five and a six) for under £30 ($55). The soles were true and the blades razor sharp. There are bargains to be had if you look around. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemleggat Posted June 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 I was reading some of the general woodworking press we get in the UK and some of the old stanley/baileys are still considered really good. Maybe thats the route for me, ebay.co.uk has a few running at the monent........ thanks xlr8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M_A_T_T Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 I'd personally get a very high quality plane, and a particularly long one, like a foreplane or jointerplane. I've been thinking about getting this, possibly this weekend: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=...298&cat=1,41182 My block plane has a big brother now. Picked it up today. It is very nice. A very heavy, substantial feeling tool. I tried it right out of the box on some 3x3 Mahogany and it works VERY well. Long, fine shavings. I haven't tinkered with all the adjustments yet, though it is nicely setup out of the box. I think I'm hooked on these Veritas planes. Next one will definately be a Veritas, I'm thinking maybe a #4-1/2 smoother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemleggat Posted June 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Yea thats the sort of thing i want! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n8rofwyo Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 I think xlr8 is right on the money (no pun intended) about the bailey style. I have a 5 and 6 as well and haven't had any problems with them. Both of these were garage sale items and needed a bit of tuning but it beat spending the money for the Nielsons. I also agree that Veritas' line is a fantastic bargain for the quality you recieve. The one brand that seams to sell quite a bit that I would try to stay away from is the Anant. I bought an Anant #7 and had to spend several days lapping the sole and leveling the frog just to get a consistent cut. just my 2 cents though. Nate Robinson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 I use baileys exclusively. They're cheap and work well with just a little work. I'll probably buy a Vertias sometime down the road, cause I've only heard good things about them thus far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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