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I'm looking for some insight on which of these to get next.
I seem to need one or the other on occasion but can't decide which is more versatile.

Lie Neilsen Rabbit Plane or Lee Valley Bull Nose Plane:
Both these planes will do tenons.
Lie Neilsen has nicker blades and non-adjustable throat.
Lee Valley has adjustable throat and set screws for lateral blade adjustment, and removable nose (I already have a plane chisel).

I don't have one particular use for this either but regularly need a rabbeting plane for rabbet-like joints and tenons. Other uses? Insights??

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Measure Twice,

Karl Borum

Neither. Get yourself on the Jim Bode Tools and get a vintage Stanley. A Stanley bullnose 90,92 or 93. The other option is to get a Stanley 140 or a Miller Falls which is made by Stanley rabbit plane

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https://www.instagram.com/fostinoguitars/
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https://www.jimbodetools.com/collection ... 88ff2f3207

https://michaelrouillardtools.com/produ ... 333a7e159c

Great vintage tool resources

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https://www.facebook.com/PuraVidaUkuleles/

So if just cleaning up hand-sawn tenons, half-laps, bridle joints, etc., there is little need for a nicker, so a LN or Veritas medium shoulder plane or the already mentioned Stanley tools do that job. The Stanley #140 skew block rabbet is an affordable alternative to the LN version, but a standard low angle block rabbet like the LN 60-1/2 rabbit block plane currently offered on Mr. Bode's site used for $179 is quite nice for cleaning up wider tenons as well as dressing up rabbets. That plane is nickered, but the usual pass with a chisel or marking knife handles that chore as well.

If you have to have the bullnose capability, I prefer the Record 77A or the 311 (aka as the 3-in-1 shoulder plane) if you can find one with the bullnose piece still extant. Again, Mr. Bode has several used 77A's and one 311 currently listed (sans the bullnose) at prices close to the lighter weight Stanley items. Another favorite that I never quite talked Mr. Stock out of is his Preston 3/8" wide bullnosed shoulder plane (#68761R)... a tiny delight, and there is one on Mr. Bode's site just begging me to push a bit of my shoe budget over to the tool side of the ledger.

Finally, another lovely little shoulder plane for trimming work (e.g., cleaning up the cut on smaller rabbets such as a cutaway's corner trim) is the LN 1/2, a small bronze shoulder plane once offered both as ready to use and as a kit.

One thing to note: those working on concrete or linoleum over concrete might consider ductile iron or bronze bodied planes. I have two Stanley planes that elected to attempt to retire themselves via bench diving, which was enough to push me over to a ductile iron #3 and put in an order for the next run of 5-1/4 jacks. Both planes got repaired, but they now do duty away from hard floors. My trusty LN low angle block and small model maker's plane have both departed controlled use and survived no worse for the excursion.

Thank you both for the Jim Bode Tools hookup- I had no idea. I'm having to rip myself away to get back to guitar work. A new way to spend my kid's inheritance

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Measure Twice,

Karl Borum

Don't forget ebay, seems like modern folks don't know good tools when they see them. I've picked up some mighty nice tools there cheap.

I had an old X-Acto mini pot metal spoke shave that was great for fine neck carving in tight places and I loved it. Liked it so much I had a look for one for my bro-inlaw, also a builder. Then I came across the brass set pictured on ebay for $80 and I sent him my old one. The brass set has flat bottom, convex front to back and the third convex both ways like a spoon gouge. Making the set even better was the mini rabbit plane with a dedicated right and left side blade, perfect size for instrument work. All perfect for guitar work. In the background is a rabbit/bull nose combination, made in USA, with a Craftsman decal - yard sale find for $10 - with side guide and depth stop intact.

I got lost in David's links too. There's money in them there planes!

Ya gotta love old tools that always bring day dreams of former craftsmen who used them before me.







Cheers
Brian

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Brian R, Wood Mechanic
N8ZED