LN 60 1/2 Rabbet Block Plane question

[Alan Tolchinsky]

Hi All, I'm thinking of getting one of these for final fit of tenons. Is it good for this AND as a block plane? Or should I just get a shoulder plane and separate LA block plane? This one seems to do it all. I posted this on the hand tool side but I know a lot of us are no strangers to the quiet way of working. :) Thanks for your thoughts. Alan in Md.

[Donnie Raines]

I prefer a shoulder plan for fitting tenons. The iron is more narrow, thus the body of the plane, and the longer sole makes it easier(to me) to balance the plane and make nice consitent passes.

Not sure on the block plane situation....how it would work out.

[Robert Tarr]

Alan!!!!! You know the answer to the question.....get all three.

Seriously, I find a shoulder plane to be incredibly useful, but the plane you mention is very helpful as well. I lean a little more the the quiet side, so I find all sorts of uses for the shoulder (and the LV is wonderful....) That said, I have all of the interations of the LN block planes and find I use them all. I don't think you can go wrong having a shoulder plane...it is one of my recommended starting 4 (jointer, shoulder, smoother, block (and scrub if you like the quiet side).

Hope that helps.

Robert

[Greg Mann]

Alan,

I use my 60 1/2 exactly as you envision. It does double duty as a regular LA block, albeit without an adjustable mouth, but that is usually no big deal when going across grain. Donnie is right in that it will not replace the function of a shoulder plane, in regards to shoulders, but it works very well on the cheeks, IMO.

Greg

[Alan Turner]

One advantage of the rabbet plane is that it will do the entire face of the tenon in one pass if it is too wide for the shoulder plane (mine is the narrower LV med. one).