Official Luthiers Forum!

I decided that I'm gonna treat myself a little and get an LN Block Plane. They have two different ones. One is the "Adjustable Mouth" variety for $165 and the other is not and it costs around $100. The Adjustable model resembles the old Stanley's that have the little flat-top wooden knob in front. While the price difference isn't tremendous, I still wouldn't mind saving a few bucks if I can. However, if a lot of people here think the Adjustable Mouth version is infinitely more useful/versatile than it's worth the extra $50 for me. Which one do you think is best suited for lutherie work? Opinions?
-John

Depends on what you're using it for. If you're using it to do mostly rough work, the lack of an adjustable throat is no biggie. If you see yourself using it to do finishing stuff from time to time you'll be able to close the throat if you have the adjustment.

I have the adjustable ones and really like it. I also bought a few extra irons that I sharpened to steeper angles in case I need to work on some figure without tearing out.

Finally, I'd highly recommend getting iron over bronze. I have a bronze #2 (or is it a 3?) and if you haven't used it in a few weeks it leaves black marks on the wood.

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Definitely the adjustable. Doing very fine work, sometimes with figured and very hard woods typically requires a very fine mouth opening. The other plane will do most things, but the adjustable will do it better and finer. Plus, the adjustable has a little more heft. I have jointed backs and tops with my LN adjustable. One of my favorite tools.

I like the Stanley that LMI sells.It`s a high quality plane at a very good price.It`s not a LN,which is too pricey for my budget,but it does a great job.It`s one of my favorite tools.
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Adjustable for sure!
It does everything the other plane does PLUS more!

Go for it!
You will not be disappointed !!
Mike

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Mike Collins

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I guess if you are going for the L-N, you should go all the way. But you can get 4 or 5 nice old #60-1/2 Stanleys on Ebay for the same price. Or the #65 low angle knuckle joint block plane.

BTW, one of those 100-1/2's that you said you couldn't find on Ebay just sold for 15 dollars with a bunch of dirt on it, with a second one thrown in missing the blade and cap iron. A mint, unused one went the week before for about $65. Three more are on the block right now. Patience!

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

What Howard said raises a point that should be made. Buying a used plane is not just about being careful with your money or just honoring and using well made older tools for sentimental reasons.

Tools do not operate themselves. If you do not have developed hand tool skills, the knowledge gained by tuning a used plane and adjusting it to work properly is going to give you deeper knowledge about what makes the tool tick and what it will and will not do, and that knowledge gained will show in the work you do with the tool. Going through the steps to fettle an old, used plane will give you insights that you may never get just buying a shiny new plane.

Having said that, many of the LN planes are of a level of quality that few mass produced tools can match, and they function accordingly. I have some old planes and some new ones.

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Adjustable throat is great, you can do fine cuts even on some end grains and then really take off some meat without clogging.

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Two things: The adjustable one has a flat side which the non- adjustable one does not. This is handy for using the plane on it's side as with a shooting board.

A good thing to know is you can order a "tight mouthed" version on the non- adjustable one. I have got 3 of the non adjustable ones from them and had them give me the tight mouth version. I got them really tight and opened them up with a file to a very, very fine opening. I use other planes for roughing and the tight ones for the fine stuff. Not a bad plan in general as you use your "beater" for the rough stuff and have a nice sharp iron in the tight mouth ready to do the fine stuff.
Link

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

My first block plane was a new Stanley 60 1/2 - it does ok after tuning and sharpening. I always wanted a LN low-angle with the adj mouth. A few months ago I bought a Millers Falls 56B on ebay for $20. It took 30 minutes to get it how I like it. I don't really have advice for you about getting the LN, but after using the Millers Falls, I forgot I wanted the LN. I'm sure they are nice though.

Good luck-

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

I picked up an old 1890's #18 stanley which has the adjustable mouth for about $25 at a flea market not too long ago. After cleaning it up, truing and sharpening, it is an incredible tool. I know the LN must be the cadilacs (from what I've heard/seen) but I am drawn to the old. (partly because of price, but also because I love the old, well used hand tools that still have life in them)

As for adjustable mouth - unless you are going to buy multiple planes, I say definitely go with the adjustable. It is sooo nice to have all that ability in one single plane.

my 2 cents

Lots of great input here! Thanks guys. So, it looks like the adjustable model is well worth the money. The added features are definitely welcome. Steve C, you are certainly right about learning what makes certain pieces tick. That's why I do a ton of rigorous research. This past weekend I restored my old Stanley #4 to perfect working condition. It was in kind of a "garage sale state" when I purchased it. There were no terrible nicks to the blade or mouth, but it needed a lot of truing up. So I'm definitely learning a lot from everyday that goes by. Nothing like experience for that. A lot of times I'm away from my workshop and can't try/see things for myself. That's where this incredible forum comes in. The wealth of info here is really fantastic, no doubt enhanced by the wonderful people here willing to share their knowledge.
-John

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The Lie-Nielsen stuff is very nice but Veritas has some very nice planes also, and they can be cheaper. I personaly have two Veritas spokeshaves and have used their low angle jointer and their scraper plane and they are awsome.