It is a shame marketing has convinced the tool buying world that heaver and thicker is better. I know broken record and all that rot.
One of the Stanley's has a Ray Iles cutter the other a Japanese HC laminated iron. Both work very well in older Stanley planes. For now I'm using a Hock cap iron with the Ray Iles iron because good Stanley cap irons are hard to find.
Of the smoothing planes these are the least used, although the one with the Japanese iron is a very sweet working Type 9 and it is becoming my goto plane when I want to put a final finish on a board.
ken
Nice post
ReplyDeleteI like a match set of iron O1 and cap from LV, never had problems fitting my old Stanleys. Funny thing about the heavy is better mantra, is that, like most rules of thumbs, does applies very well in some applications and others, its overkill. In the end what works best is what fits your hands well, feel well balanced and does the job.
Bob, the tool's guy
Bob,
DeleteYep, it all comes down to what works for you. That is one of the reasons I'll add the YMMV to many posts. When I don't, it usually comes back to bite my butt. I really like the iron and chip breaker on the old style LV planes but I've never found where you can buy replacements on the LV web site. I wonder if they would fit a Stanley?
ken
HI Ken
DeleteHere is the link to the matched set I am using from LV.
As ou can see, they comes in 3 flavours, I used only the O1
http://www.leevalley.com/us/Wood/page.aspx?p=66868&cat=1,41182
Bob
I definitely agree about the LN being too heavy. The LN #4 is only 1/4 pound heavier than the old Stanleys, but you really can feel the difference. The difference is even more stark with the 4 1/2, at 3/4 of a pound. I haven't found any application where an extra 1/4 to 3/4 of a pound would make a bit of difference in planing, except to make me tired quicker.
ReplyDeleteDerek,
DeleteFour oz. doesn't sound like much but it is. Or maybe I'm getting so old and feeble it would be better to just go yell at the TV and forget working wood. Whatever :-).
ken
Hi Ken,
ReplyDeleteHow would you compare the Iles and Japanese plane irons? I've used Hock and Veritas but not the others.
I see LN planes like leather jackets or hiking boots. Sometimes it just feels good to have the extra weight and stiffness. Wouldn't want to wear either items swimming...
I feel more of a difference friction than from the weight. Waxing the plane makes a huge difference for a short time. No doubt part of the allure of woodies.
Steve,
DeleteBoth are nice and both are thinner (read easier to sharpen) that other replacement irons. The sharpening thing is what drives my pick of cutters. They all, when all is said and done, work pretty much the same in the plane.
It's the sharpening routine that matters to me. I like using natural stones, either Ark or Japanese, because I think they leave a "softer" scratch pattern than man made ones. And I do not like grinding very often. Thick, "posh" (A Richardism for other than HC) irons work better with grinding and the faster man made stones.
If you want effortless, wax the bottom of a woodie ;-)
ken