Mortise Plane

[Jerry Thompson]

I have seen these planes advertised and wonder how one uses them. Would someone enlighten me?
Thank you.

[Mike Henderson]

I assume you're talking about a butt mortise plane, like the LN here (http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?sku=40). They're primarily used when insetting hinges on doors. I've tried using them on furniture but they're too big. A router plane (http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?sku=71) works much better.

Mike

[Zach England]

Are you talking about a butt mortise plane?http://www.lie-nielsen.com/images/40_lg.jpg

[Bill Houghton]

I did an article, which lives on Wood Central, about how I made one and how I use it: http://www.woodcentral.com/articles/handtools/articles_114.shtml

[Caspar Hauser]

If you do mean the LN Mortice plane, the link below is to a LN instructional video,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6T0oHdQK2U

I have one, it lives in my primary tool box and goes everywhere with me. It paid for itself the week I bought it. I use it when hanging house doors and the like.

I do use it for 'finer' work, though I tend to use chisels and a small tailed router/router plane for cabinet fittings. However if LN were to make a smaller/shorter nosed version of this plane scaled for cabinet fittings I'd definitely buy one. In fact I think I just started a queue.

CH

[mike v flaim]

If you do mean the LN Mortice plane, the link below is to a LN instructional video,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6T0oHdQK2U

I have one, it lives in my primary tool box and goes everywhere with me. It paid for itself the week I bought it. I use it when hanging house doors and the like.

I do use it for 'finer' work, though I tend to use chisels and a small tailed router/router plane for cabinet fittings. However if LN were to make a smaller/shorter nosed version of this plane scaled for cabinet fittings I'd definitely buy one. In fact I think I just started a queue.

CH

Hi Caspar,

Wouldn't a small router plane do the same job? How does the mortise plane differ?

[Trevor Walsh]

Not to butt (mortise plane) in, but the mortice plane has a much larger base than a small router plane, and thus more support. You wouldn't have to attach a bigger base to the router.

[Caspar Hauser]

To some extent and I do use one, but I find the mortice plane quicker, less tippy and a smaller one would help a lot.

It is not too uncommon for me to have to fit an entire kitchens worth of doors at the very last minute because the owner/designer put off the choice of hardware till the very edge of the cliff/changed their mind again and again and again and now wants it placed where my laminate trimmer will not fit/reach, with the painter/finish guy/thanksgiving/Christmas/the fabulous new pair of shoes party looming.

So I'm going to stay in the queue. :)

[Bill Houghton]

However if LN were to make a smaller/shorter nosed version of this plane scaled for cabinet fittings I'd definitely buy one. In fact I think I just started a queue.

CH

It wouldn't be hard to make a smaller one. Making mine took about two hours, some of which involved scratching my head and looking like I was thinking.

[Caspar Hauser]

It wouldn't be hard to make a smaller one. Making mine took about two hours, some of which involved scratching my head and looking like I was thinking.

I've been toying with the idea, infact I was just given some Jarrah and have begun to think about its use.