Bevel up jointer planes?

[colin north]

I have been thinking to buy a plane for flattening/thicknessing especially back plates as per Gore/Gilet book.
Looking at Veritas BU jointer and L-N 7 1/2 low angle jointer (with high bevel angle blade), and with all the tough woods down under, thought this may be a good place to ask if anyone has experience of either, especially the LN, - I can find reviews of the Veritas, but nothing on the LN 7 1/2.
Can anyone help?

[jeffhigh]

Never used one, but I thinks it would be the wrong tool for thicknessing plates, that is intended for jointing long straight edges
Too long, you would be better off with a 4 or 5

[kiwigeo]

+1 a jointer is for just that...jointing.

I have a Veritas No 8 jointer which only gets used on the shooting board for dressing tops and backs prior to glue up.

For thicknessing backs and tops I use No 5 and 6 planes by Veritas and LN. On the LN I also run a toothed as well as normal blade.

[Allen]

I agree with Jeff. Much too long unless you were perhaps doing Weissenborn style guitars.

[colin north]

I don't have a my copy with me (working away from home)but I thought I remembered the Gore book recommending No 6 or 7 plane for backs??

[simso]

Not to disparage, but I would never use my jointer for thicknessing a back plate.

Hand planer yes

[colin north]

Not to disparage, but I would never use my jointer for thicknessing a back plate.
Hand planer yes

I would not even contemplate using an machine jointer/planer for back or top jointing.

Veritas BU jointer and L-N 7 1/2 low angle jointer

are both hand planes, and, as I remember, the Gore book specifically recommended a no 6 or no 7 hand plane.

I have a smoother and a bevel up LN 62 (bevel up jack), and a thickness sander.
I'm not actually asking about what people recommend for thicknessing back plates.

I was just asking if anyone has experience of those specific bevel up (or low angle) hand planes in use, especially the LN (with a high angle blade), on those famously difficult to work aussie woods you guys are blessed with.

[Trevor Gore]

I cross-grain plane backs to close to target with a #5 or #5 1/2 standard-angle plane and finish up with my custom high-angle #6, (60 degree) in line. If I need a higher angle, I use the Veritas bevel-up adjustable mouth jack.

On tops I'll use a #5 1/2 standard angle or a #7, depending on whether I need the weight training. Long planes work really well for this job, provided your substrate (bench) is flat. Like real flat.

For sides, I plane to approximate thickness with a #7, used cross grain, planing both sides together. With the #7, the toe is long enough to hold down the second side when I start the stroke. I finish up long-grain with the high angle #6 if I can plane into a stop, or a high angle block plane if I can't (holding the side down with my other hand).

I have planes from 35mm long to 560mm long and use them for whatever, whenever.

The planes that I use least (basically not at all, because they just seem the wrong size for everything on a guitar, or anything else for that matter) are the size 4 or 4 1/2. But that's what most texts recommend as a general purpose plane. The best GP plane is the size 5, IMHO. The size 4 1/2 (if you must have one!), 5 1/2, 6 and 7 all take the same width blade, which can be handy if you swap them around (I have thick ones and thin ones, so that I don't have to adjust the frog to adjust the mouth).

And, Colin, sorry, no; I have small LN block planes but no LN bench planes. LN do 50 and 55 degree high angle frogs for their bench planes, but I would suggest that 60 degree is really the starting point for high angle. LN make good tools, so I would think the LN 7 1/2 would work fine.

A really good tool (which no-one seems to make) would be a long, bevel up standard angle plane, so getting to the high angle is easier.

[Kim]

I was just asking if anyone has experience of those specific bevel up (or low angle) hand planes in use, especially the LN (with a high angle blade), on those famously difficult to work aussie woods you guys are blessed with.

Hi Colin,

I can't be of much help re; the LN high angle plane but to say that I have not heard of a poorly made LN tool. That said, when it comes to hand planing aussie hardwoods the master of all would have to be HTN Gordon. I recommend that you give Terry Gordon a call to discuss your requirements. As you would expect HTN Gordon planes are not inexpensive, but considering the standard of fit, function and visual appeal they certainly do offer good value for money and are designed with the challenge of working cranky 'hard'woods in mind.

Here's the web site: http://www.hntgordon.com.au/

Their standard smoothing plane has a 60 degree set and 90 degree when you flip the blade over for scraping. The A55 smoothing plane has an 55 degree set and flips to 85 for scraping.

The drool worthy A55 Smoother dressed in ebony



Cheers

Kim

[colin north]

Trevor, thanks for the clarification and the review of your use of planes, excellent, lots to digest there.

I may take a road trip to one of my favorite suppliers to compare the Veritas and LN choices (and to pick up a large granite surface block - postage is not funny)

Kim - HNT Gordon - really nice planes, work of art, thanks for the link. I'm just not too sure of wooden planes, and like the weight of my LN's - sorry.
But if I ever need one to put in a glass case......

May I suggest, something else to drool over, well worth a look http://www.holteyplanes.com/

[Dominic]

Hey, I have found you need a nice stable climate with wooden planes as changes in humidity can distort the sole slightly making planing difficult.
The Veritus jointer plane looks nice but can't be used on its side on a shooting board which is a shame. I've been using a veritus BU jack plane http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.a ... 1182,52515
Nice plane, hefty and low centre of gravity with many blade angle options. Handles on all my veritus planes are horrible but I have reshaped them all to suit my hand. And they will be releasing their new super metal blades soon so that will be interesting.
Dom

[colin north]

Dominic, I hear what you as saying about hefty and low centre of gravity.
With my LN 62 I keep looking for excuses to use it, and am genuinely sorry to have to put it down.
Unless, that is, to pick up one of my LN block planes! (103 + 60 1/2)