Quangsheng low angle jack

[Noggsy]

I fettled my bandsaw yesterday and ended up with it working much more squarely. From that, I also ended up with a piece of cherry that started off looking like a tree branch and ended up planed so beautifully square that I shocked myself and stood looking at it for about ten minutes wondering where it had come from. #-o Quite clearly this forum is rubbing off on me
The only issue with it was that I could not get the ends planed to a good finish using my block plane, which then started me looking at low angle planes. I've got a baby due in a few weeks and so any tool purchases for the next 15-18 years have got to be made soon, but I can't justify the Veritas low angle jack, which I've played with and liked (a lot) in Axminster, although I didn't try it on end-grain.

I've heard people talking about the Quangsheng as a cheaper alternative and £150 with three blades seem like a bargain to me (what do I know though?). My only concern is that £150 is potentially inexpensive for a great tool, or very expensive if I don't like it or can't use it effectively. My skills are improving, but I suppose my question is, will this tool allow me, with some practice, to shoot the ends of boards and get a good finish or am I wasting my money? Would the LN or Veritas equivalents be worth saving up for? I know that there are some complimentary reviews of the Quangsheng plane, but these are from people who already know what they are doing and I don't, yet. Answers on a postcard please.

So that I don't sound like I'm bragging about the cherry, I then decided to try my first ever dovetails using that board. I enjoyed making them immensely and learned a lot, but they might just be the worst dovetails in the history of inept woodworking (hammer) . Still, everyone starts somewhere and I was happy to pop my cherry, so to speak. Spinning wood is so much easier....

 

[Jacob]

Perfectly possible to shoot the ends of boards with any old plane as long as it is nice n sharp and well set up. This idea of low angle planes for end-grain is a bit of a myth - the effective cutting angles are much the same as normal bevel down planes and they perform similarly (if sharp etc etc).
The best thing about low angle block planes is that they are one handleable - at least the small ones are, the big ones are completely pointless.
So the answer to your question "will this tool allow me, with some practice, to shoot the ends of boards and get a good finish or am I wasting my money" is; no particular advantage on end grain and yes a waste of money. A little block plane is a useful thing to have (not for endgrain particularly) though some of them are a bit on the heavy side. Mine's a Stanley 220.

The answer to your end grain problem is (as ever) practice practice! You need firm work-piece holding ( try it end up in a vice) sharp plane , fine set (open mouth is OK), candle wax on the sole, very steady movement to avoid chatter, work from each end/side towards the middle to avoid break out etc.

 

[murdoch]

I'm sure that the quansheng planes are great and all that but I must say I'm a bit miffed by the huge amount of planes people seem to convince themselves they need. As a joiner producing top quality furniture and joinery I have only ever needed 2 planes which I use daily. A 5 1/2 and a block plane. The most recent apprentice has continued to buy various sized new planes after being convinced they will help him but its best to be content with what you have and become skilled at using the basic tools before moving on. There's no substitute for time and experience. If your skill level means that you are still unable to cut dovetails then spending so much on a specialist plane seems a bit silly. Please don't get caught up in the next best tool buying hobby, be content with what you have and as your skill and experience builds you will be able to separate the tools you really need, from the tools you want and purchase wisely.

Hope this hasn't sounded too harsh! Just don't want you to make the expensive mistakes I made. Congratulations on having a baby, from experience you'll also be too knackered to use the plane for the foreseeable future anyway!

 

[Jacob]

:lol:
I also only had a 5 1/2 and a 220 for years. I've got a few more now but I could manage quite well without them! After about 3 planes/chsels/saws the law of diminishing returns kicks in very steeply.
Different if you get into production mode where you are turning out a lot of stuff and doing the same operation repeatedly - then a more dedicated tool might pay for itself e.g you might set up an old 5 for shooting only.
£150 would buy a lot of wood!

 

[clivethecarpenter]

Looks like the doom merchants have arrived to put a stop to any new tool purchases

YAWN .................

 

[Carl P]

Looks like the doom merchants have arrived to put a stop to any new tool purchases unless bought 2nd hand from a car boot sale

YAWN .................

That is not how I would read their comments, I would interpret it as more like 'you don't need an expensive plane to work endgrain' which seems fair enough, also some good advice about gaining skills and general value for money, also fair enough.

This forum is fantastic, although some posters do suffer from a certain lack of respect sometimes, but wheat and chaff and all that,

Cheerio,

Carl

 

[RogiBear]

I actually bought one just over a week ago. Very impressed it, blades pretty sharp straight from the box and the quality was much better than expected. I also bought a LN No.4 which i'd say is better built but not much difference between when it comes to the cut. The high angle worked very well on some thuya burr I had.

 

[clivethecarpenter]

Looks like the doom merchants have arrived to put a stop to any new tool purchases unless bought 2nd hand from a car boot sale

YAWN .................

That is not how I would read their comments, I would interpret it as more like 'you don't need an expensive plane to work endgrain' which seems fair enough, also some good advice about gaining skills and general value for money, also fair enough.

This forum is fantastic, although some posters do suffer from a certain lack of respect sometimes, but wheat and chaff and all that,

Cheerio,

Carl

Edited.................Ok feeling a little grumpy this morning

 

[iNewbie]

Nope you don't necessarily need to buy a quality tool to make a quality product. The skill of an artisan is exactly that - Imho.

What people choose to buy with their hard-earned is their prerogative. I honestly don't care.

No need to be a tool about others tools, though...

 

[clivethecarpenter]

http://www.rutlands.co.uk/sp+woodworkin ... eng+dk1340

Good price but you would have to wait for a few weeks for delivery

 

[Noggsy]

Thanks all, some food for thought. I had just sharpened and honed the block plane iron and I take the point about any plane being able to cut end grain, but it felt like the block was just too light to sit tight on the wood and reduce chatter. That might well be my technique (almost certainly is I suppose) so another way of asking the question is, 'will buying the Quangsheng significantly improve my end-grain planing and if so, is the QS worth buying over the premium planes'?

I'm not sure why you would get miffed about people buying tools Murdoch and would make the point that I have been practicing with what I've got, that's how I know that that what I've got can be improved. Fair enough that you can get by with those two planes, but I'd also like to be able to put grooves in boards at some point and I'll struggle to do that with a jack or block plane.

Now, can someone please post something which means I can justify buying this plane?

Clive, thanks for the link, but I have read that there have been QA problems with the Rutlands supplied planes.

 

[undergroundhunter]

Now, can someone please post something which means I can justify buying this plane?

Clive, thanks for the link, but I have read that there have been QA problems with the Rutlands supplied planes.

If you want it then buy it! I don't personally need one but if I thought I did I'm sure I would buy one. From what I hear Rutlands planes are no where near the same quality as Matthew's @ workshop heaven.

Congratulations on having a baby, I'm sure it will open up a whole new world of projects for you IF you can stay awake!!!!

Matt

 

[woodbrains]

Hello,

The LA Jack with a 25deg blade bevel has an EP of about 37 degrees. This is nothing like the EP of a bevel down plane (45 deg) and their usefulness is certainly not a myth. It is perfectly possible to shoot endgrain with a regular jack or something, but lower EP planes do have an advantage. I use a Veritas LA Jack compared to a Record T5 and there is a definate advantage in finish and cut resistance. It may not matter to some, but it is there and may be useful to those who appreciate it. I find using the LA jack more comfortable than a regular plane, too.

The three blades give options for planing all different types of side grain, so it is not as if the LA jack is not giong to be used a lot, so a worthwhile investment if you don't already have many other planes to choose from. I have 2 Quiangsheng block planes and their quality is very good, so I don't think you will be disappointed there. I was taught to use planes right down to a finished product, with only very minimal sandpapering. It is quite posible to power sand any planing defects away, caused by less capable planes on ornery wood; it is an option. But if you want less dust, less noise and enjoy the use of hand tools, there is definitely a place for a good plane like these.

Mike.

 

[AndyT]

I used to have only one plane and made a selection of useful things with it. In the last ten years or so I have bought many more planes, specialised and general purpose, mostly second hand. One of the few that I have bought new was a Quangsheng low angle jack, from Workshop Heaven.


I was really pleased with it. It was easy to get sharp and performed well, taking light smoothing cuts on a variety of awkward woods. I would recommend it as a second or third plane.


My only criticism is that the handle is a bit small, but I've not bothered making a new one, I just use a three-fingered grip instead of four.

 

[Harbo]

I have 3 of the LVBU range - smoother, jack and jointer. They all take the same blade and having the 3 makes a range of effective angles readily available.
The QS has had very good reviews and with 3 blades an excellent buy.
I'm sure you will be very happy with it - no need to fettle or buy upgrades - it will allow you to crack on with your woodworking and bring a smile to your face?

Rod

 

[Noggsy]

Right guys, thanks very much. That's the feedback I was looking for - something to allow me to do what I wanted to do anyway . I'm sure there's a psychobabble name for that.

Come Monday, the plane will be ordered. Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

 

[woodbrains]

Right guys, thanks very much. That's the feedback I was looking for - something to allow me to do what I wanted to do anyway . I'm sure there's a psychobabble name for that.

Come Monday, the plane will be ordered. Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Hello,

Be sure to let us know what you think about the plane when it comes and how you get on.

Mike.

 

[Grahamshed]

I have been thinking of getting this as my first, and probably only, plane. Decisions decisions.

 

[bugbear]

Right guys, thanks very much. That's the feedback I was looking for - something to allow me to do what I wanted to do anyway . I'm sure there's a psychobabble name for that.

Near enough:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias

BugBear

 

[Noggsy]