Well I've assembled my rambling thoughts on the 45° shoot-out, and I ain't posting them. The value to anyone else is negligible bordering on non-existant - the opening for persons to be obnoxious on the other hand, is great. I don't need the hassle, to be honest. But for the purposes of those who care, a summary.
The results from the two were indistinguishable; only the means and time taken to get to that point vary. Which you prefer is up to you.
And yes, you could argue the vociferous minority shouldn't be allowed to dictate what I do, or do not, post, and you'd be right. But life's too short, and I do this for fun, not in order to have my integrity roasted on a spike. Apologies to the Alf-ettes; you're really not missing much.
So just as I start to think I might get into the workshop next week to do some actual woodworking, I get an email from L-V. A whole raft of things, ancient and modern, are due to turn up at Alf Towers some time in that same approaching week. Amongst them, a fence for the BUT (aka Bevel Up Jointer - or Try plane). Now I must confess to wanting to try this and being rather disappointed that it wasn't included with the plane for evaluation. But one hitch; the plane I have never got to the stage of having the holes for the fence drilled and tapped. So I mention this might be a problem. Okay, we'll send you another plane in a coupla weeks when the backlog is cleared. WHAT?! That's crazy. So I opened my big mouth, didn't I? How accurate do these holes need to be? Maybe I could drill and tap them, given my previous? The thread type might be a problem though... So they're sending a suitable drill bit and tap and I'm going to have a go.
Yikes.
I've already got the technical drawing with the relevant measurments - very interesting document that I'm certain I'm not allowed to share with you. Heck of an eye-opener as to what goes into designing a plane though. Even more so if I understood more than 50%...
Dovetail practice was skipped yesterday, I'm ashamed to say. Maybe today. Or then again... For my weekend homework I'm trying to find reasons for having a fence on a router plane. None of mine have one, I've never felt the need for one, and I'm wracking my brains to find a reason for having one. Well that's not strictly true; I could see how the curved variety might be a lifesaver in certain circumstances, but all the straight fence opportunities I can think of would say to me "plough/rebate/dado plane" first. I suppose it's for the benefit of the plane challenged; in which case I can't condone it and it shouldn't be allowed. ;~)
The shootout--with the conclusion of sameness I expected. Well, it was my experience anyway as for the results.
ReplyDeleteI still think the amount of exertion is less with the LV BU planes. Or maybe it is that angle the totes are sprung. My feeling is that Stanleyesque planes were made in a time the benches were generally lower. In any case, it is difficult to push a Stanley-style plane forward without exertion downward.
With the LV BU planes, the exertion is more inline with the forward movement. Less exertion down into the wood.
That's my theory and I'm stickin' to it...
You might be right, Mike!
ReplyDeleteAlf-It is a pity that silly comments from a minority put you off posting stuff. Guess thats the price for actually HAVING something to say. Count your self lucky, M'Lady.
Must say, I rarely use 45 degrees in my planes. 55 is the lowest, as I find it gives an adequate finish on soft woods and is needed for all "nicely figured" hardwoods. Course, I go way higher for my smoother (62 degrees is my current "go-to")
Incidently (going back to the dovetail practise) I write the date on each of my practise cuts and store them in a pile. Sure is eye-opening to go "back-in-time" ;
And Mike-don't even start the "tails v pins" thing.....:)
Philly
Mike, I agree the BUs feel like they hug the wood a whole lot more, but I don't think it's the totes. Remember, I have a Stanley-esque tote on the BUPP now.
ReplyDeleteI didn't expect dazzling differences in the results either; it was more the differences in set-up times, cut adjustment, and edge retention that interested me. They both have pros and cons in those respects, but nothing that really came as any surprise. Except maybe the L-N adjustment took a lot longer than I'd expected.
Well that's me done with faffing about with bevel angles. I'm inclined to put a hollow grind on all the blades and start free-hand honing them again, just for a bit of sanity!
"I'm inclined to put a hollow grind on all the blades and start free-hand honing them again, just for a bit of sanity!"
ReplyDeleteWorks for me...Though I do sometimes use the MK.II for cambering.
So you find a reason to use the fence on the router plane yet?
Mike