A couple of years ago Lie-Nielsen stopped production of O-1 tools. I can understand from a bottom line standpoint but....There is that damn but again....Some of us really do not like to use A-2 cutters. I like the LN planes, they are very well made if a little heavy, I can live with heavy. Living with A-2 cutters, not so much.
So of course Hock and Lee Valley come to mind, they both make very good O-1and LV makes PM-11 irons as well, there is just one tiny problem. Both Hock and LV plane irons are just a silly mm thinner than LN's irons. That difference keeps either from mating with the LN frog. The LN depth adjuster has a steep slope and to mate with the cap iron requires a cutter of LN's thickness, other wise it will not let the cutter/chip breaker mate with the frog.
I've gone back and forth, sell all my LN planes but I like 'em except for the irons. Live with A-2 cutters, OK I've tried....It's like a bad marriage, you can make it work but is it worth the effort. What to do, what to do. I've had a Clifton iron on back order for months now (Its specs show it is the same thickness as the LN) but so for no joy.
I finally did a little red neck engineering and enlarged the depth adjustment slot on a Hock chip breaker and installed a LV O-1 iron with the modded Hock chip breaker in the LN #4. It works, the iron/chip breaker mate with the frog and there is little "slop" in the depth adjuster.
I'll live with the mod for a few weeks and if there are no problems the rest of the LN's will get the same adjustment.
I don't think LN A2 irons are as good as LV A2 irons. I have used both and give the edge to LV. And like you I prefer O1 and using LN irons in LN planes. Reverse engineering to fit sucks.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the A2 is cheaper for them to produce. I don't have enough experience to feel a difference between the types of steel as I plane or sharpen, but that sucks that they won't sell the type you want. I'm glad you found a work-around and I hope it continues working for you.
ReplyDeleteC Schwarz runs a LV pv11 in his LN #3 I don't know what mods were made.But that said it is just a tool,sometimes if you just have to say screw the resale value and change it to the way you want it
ReplyDeleteI assume that what you are saying about the steep angle is that the adjusting fork is wedging into the chipbreaker hole when you use a thin iron. I think IBC has some chipbreakers with little adjustable inserts that may work for you.
ReplyDeleteI had an issue doing blade swaps on a Sargent for the first time. Those are not true copies of stanley and the slots hang up on the depth adjusters. Are all your different vintage LN's behaving the same way?
I have been pleased with the LN A2 blades off the shelf but have not had to sharpen them yet (yes, they are new). Time will tell I guess. I did a D2 iron from TFWW and it took forever to sharpen to razor sharp. I will cry if it ever gets a chip in it.
I'll have a swap out with LN tonight to see what you are describing.
Steve
that's how it's done. I've been running O-1 and PMV-11 in my LN planes for a while now, I too hate A-2 steel. Just open the cap iron up, like you did. the only other way is file the tongue down, but it's easier to replace a cap iron if you mess up than send the plane back to LN so they can fix something you screwed up.
ReplyDeleteRalph,
ReplyDeleteI don't like it but.....once done the plane is a much better plane with other than A2 iron.
ken
Matt,
ReplyDeleteI think the problem was just low demand and small volume. Not a good way to make money.
ken
Steve,
ReplyDeleteSome folks love A2....It's all in how you work, what's good for me may not work for you or anyone else.
ken
Thanks Billy,
ReplyDeleteYep, I've tried both, doing the yoke didm't work out as well as just a little off the breaker and like you pointed out cap irons are cheaper than yokes.
ken