I've been thinking about purchasing a high quality block plane from one of the top tool makers but am not sure on which one to go for.
I have an old Stanley 60 1/2 with the original thin blade but think I might upgrade to either Lie Nielsen's 60 1/2 or Veritas' Low Angle Block plane. However, at some point I intend to get Veritas' Low Angle Jack plane - as it seems like a great all rounder and fantastic plane - and wonder if this big plane couldn't do most of what I might use the 60 1/2 /LAB for. Yes it's way bigger and more bulky but couldn't it - albeit a bit more cumbersomely - do any end grain trimming that I needed? I don't want to buy two 'expensive' planes and find I only need one of them.
This brings me to another block plane I admit I've always lusted after - LN's #140. Yes I know from Alf's review that they're not some multi-purpose wonder and actually have quite a limited range of uses, but then doesn't any plane? I've liked the plane since the first time I saw it due to its seemingly great potential for cross and end grain work.
My reckoning is that there'd be less of an overlap in functions with a #140 and LAJ than with a #60 1/2 and LAJ. Why not get a block plane that excels at cross grain work (and can rebate) while using the LAJ for anything a 60 1/2 might do? The other option of the #60 1/2 and LAJ seems to exclude the great cross grain performance for two planes that are in the end fairly similar in function.
Is this making any sense or am I talking utter cobblers?
The other thing I'm puzzled by concerning block planes is the considerable difference in cost between buying them in the US and having them mailed in contrast to buying them from the likes of Axminster here. Take the LN #140, Axminster only do the bronze version and it retails at £138 but if I bought directly from LN I could get the iron version for the equivalent of £85 plus another £15 or so for postage. That's just £100 for essentially the same plane. Am I missing something here - is there an import duty/other taxes that you'd have to pay on top of this?
But despite having wibbled on about all this I'll probably end up with all three planes - #60 1/2 or Veritas equivalent, #140 and LAJ - in the long run. :roll:
I have an old Stanley 60 1/2 with the original thin blade but think I might upgrade to either Lie Nielsen's 60 1/2 or Veritas' Low Angle Block plane. However, at some point I intend to get Veritas' Low Angle Jack plane - as it seems like a great all rounder and fantastic plane - and wonder if this big plane couldn't do most of what I might use the 60 1/2 /LAB for. Yes it's way bigger and more bulky but couldn't it - albeit a bit more cumbersomely - do any end grain trimming that I needed? I don't want to buy two 'expensive' planes and find I only need one of them.
This brings me to another block plane I admit I've always lusted after - LN's #140. Yes I know from Alf's review that they're not some multi-purpose wonder and actually have quite a limited range of uses, but then doesn't any plane? I've liked the plane since the first time I saw it due to its seemingly great potential for cross and end grain work.
My reckoning is that there'd be less of an overlap in functions with a #140 and LAJ than with a #60 1/2 and LAJ. Why not get a block plane that excels at cross grain work (and can rebate) while using the LAJ for anything a 60 1/2 might do? The other option of the #60 1/2 and LAJ seems to exclude the great cross grain performance for two planes that are in the end fairly similar in function.
Is this making any sense or am I talking utter cobblers?
The other thing I'm puzzled by concerning block planes is the considerable difference in cost between buying them in the US and having them mailed in contrast to buying them from the likes of Axminster here. Take the LN #140, Axminster only do the bronze version and it retails at £138 but if I bought directly from LN I could get the iron version for the equivalent of £85 plus another £15 or so for postage. That's just £100 for essentially the same plane. Am I missing something here - is there an import duty/other taxes that you'd have to pay on top of this?
But despite having wibbled on about all this I'll probably end up with all three planes - #60 1/2 or Veritas equivalent, #140 and LAJ - in the long run. :roll: