Modifying the LV Small Router Plane

[Derek Cohen]

A question recently came up, "how can you stop the LV small router plane blade from twisting?". The problem is the shaft of the blade is round and set in a triangular-shaped mortice, and only friction prevents it from twisting or rotating. Some find this occurs frequently, while others rarely so. My own Small Router Plane fell into the latter category. Nevertheless and blade movement was undesirable.


The recommendation to date has been to rough of the shaft with sandpaper to increase friction. This works for some, does not work for others. There is a better, more permanent way.


I completed these mods some time ago, and did not take photos of the actual method, but this is simple enough to do. Basically, you will need to grind the rear of the shaft into a right angle triangle. This will match the angle of the triangulated mortice in which the shaft runs.


The result looks like this ...


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Planes/LV%20planes/Small%20Router%20Plane%20Modification/SmallRouter1_zpse4acb17a.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Planes/LV%20planes/Small%20Router%20Plane%20Modification/SmallRouter3_zpsb0aa8ffc.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Planes/LV%20planes/Small%20Router%20Plane%20Modification/SmallRouter2_zps26629b25.jpg


The blade is locked squarely ...


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Planes/LV%20planes/Small%20Router%20Plane%20Modification/SmallRouter4_zpsda341a3f.jpg


For reference, blade sharpening is made so much easier if you first hollow grind it ..


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Planes/LV%20planes/Small%20Router%20Plane%20Modification/SmallRouter5_zps0fdc985c.jpg


There is a tutorial on the jig to do this here: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/WoodworkTechniques/SharpeningRouterPlaneBlades.html


In use the blade is solid ...


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Planes/LV%20planes/Small%20Router%20Plane%20Modification/SmallRouter6_zps92e495c4.jpg


I gather that Lee Valley have a depth stop out and that all will be receiving one!


Regards from Perth


Derek

[Maurice Ungaro]

Thanks, Derek! I had taken a coarse grit sand paper to the blade shaft, but your mod looks MUCH more secure. Will be doing that soon.

[Hilton Ralphs]

For reference, blade sharpening is made so much easier if you first hollow grind it ..

Thanks for this tip as I dropped the blade on the concrete floor and the corner is now damaged.





I gather that Lee Valley have a depth stop out and that all will be receiving one!

Do we have to prove this somehow as I may have not bought mine directly through Lee Valley?

[Don Dorn]

Now I wish I had kept mine. Why do you suppose LV doesn't do that as default? They are certainly known to be innovative and the machining is fairly simple. Perhaps, the extra step would add enough manufacturing cost to make it prohibitive.