Official Luthiers Forum!

Announced yesterday or this morning is a true miniature router plane from The Fine Folks in Canada(by way of New York). Sorry I cannot add a link. I have the two miniature predecessors to this latest and both are very functional. For those who like inlay work, this latest will be great. I have already ordered mine. They are also doing a special on all three of the true miniatures. I have used the miniature shoulder plane for fretboard binding(FB already on) and the edge plane for the last .002 of a fretboard edge for binding before attachment.

While I mostly use my Foredom/Stew-Mac Base for inlay, I often reach to my collection of nearly miniature chisels for an angular finishing cut on inlay. This latest will perfectly supplement those. For me, it is "as usual" LV/Veritas provides me with my specialty planes.

I request that the first computer competent person who likes this to link or post the LV/Veritas pictures and specs.

Probably this one, eh Mike?


http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=67814&cat=1,41182

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A world without music would Bb.

Thank you! I am not exaggerating the utility of these tiny tools. On my miniature edge plane I replaced the two threaded lock-downs with hex socket screws to firm up the setting of a consistent .002 cut. Inlay was the very first luthier-like adventure I undertook 47 years ago. I am probably one of the few people to ever buy the Two Cherries/Hirsch set of miniature chisels and I supplemented those with a few doglegs in 3-6 mm from Pfeil. I had already accumulated a self-made bunch of chisels as well. And, as with the full-size router plane, one can make custom cutters from allen wrenches( USA/English/German quality for heat treatable steel). Harbor Freight steel is a nightmare for home heat-treaters.

Robin Lee, back when they offered the shoulder plane, advised that they did these miniatures as a test of new equipment for repeatably accurate extra-small increments in casting/machining.

I've got the miniature shoulder plane and it is useful for cleaning out end grafts, binding ledges and so on. Haven't got the others yet but I will. I could have used the router plane to clean up a truss rod slot the other day.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I was curious about their recently new palm planes. Anyone tried?

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

I have one of the new double-convex palm planes and it is very nice.

It is about the same size as my largest Ibex Violin plane, which unfortunately is my least used size.

The Veritas iron holds an edge much better and the plane does not constantly clog like the ibex. It is also quite confortable to use with the palm handle - The ibex ones always give me a sore thumb (and occasionally a blister). The palm handle also easily unscrews so you can remove it easily and quickly if it gets in the way (or if you like sore thumbs).

I wish they made a smaller one

The mini shoulder plane is nice as well. perfect size for cleaning out 1/4" nut slots or squaring fretboard binding ledges.

On the mini-router plane, does anyone know how long the blade is ? I have the normal sized Verital router plane and the reason I don't use it for inlay is the blade is too long.

-jd

I've got the mini shoulder plane and it is very nice. Only real problem is the mini size of the space where the shavings end up!

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Windsurfer-that is when you dig around for duplicate allen wrenches(90* style) and carefully regrind or forge and re-heat treat.Eklund and Bhondus brands are good treatable steel. I have had both the LV and LN versions of the "small" router planes-kept the LV- made extra cutters as described.

My full-size is LV as well.

sounds like an interesting idea and I certainly have some old allen wrenches around that I can re-grind and heat treat.

I am a bit confused about how to mount them to the post of the router plane. Any chance you have a picture of how this is done ? Or are you just removing the post (and depth adjustment) and clamping the allen wrench in it's place ?

thanks,

-jd

Mike, those are way cool. So, you can make your own blades?

Mike

It is fussier with the LV-you have to notch, or just use it as one would the original Stanley 271-you are relying primarily on the collar and setscrew to hold.

I made a short allen wrench blade for my full-sized router plane and it works great !

This eliminates my excuse for why I didn't need the buy the mini router plane and the resulting order With Lee Valley is going to cost me a small fortune 'cause I can't just buy one thing.

Worst part about this is that I placed an order when the Narex Skew chisels came out, that cost me $150. Then they had the free shipping, which cost me another $100 and now this...

-jd

A My Les Paul friend in Japan ordered the same day-he has already planed wood-I am in Iowa/USA and it's on the truck for today. Will have to chastise Robin Lee about this. The friend does report that it is a fine functional little tool.

Router planes are awesome!! I've never used one but seen them used and they are so cool! really helps clean up your work. One this small has to be a real step forward for inlays.

Even a full sized one is very useful. They clean up rabets and dados very easily! They even leave a clean undercut if one is needed.

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

So, what's new?

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Why does it have to be 1/8th? It could be slightly wider, as in a rosette channel.
The miniature router looks like it might come in useful. I wish it could take a 1/4" blade as well though. Might be asking too much.

It looks like it would be nice to hog out the wood for a rosette by hand.