Help with shoulder plane purchase

[Jeffrey Cole]

I need to purchase a shoulder plane. I am looking at a medium plane from Lie-Nielsen and also from Veritas. Do any of you have a preference and why. If you have other makers you like let me know also. I wouild Just like to get your input before I spend the $.
Thank you for your time!!!
Jeffrey

[Prashun Patel]

jeffrey-
I have the Veritas Medium. It's fantastic and takes a clean, easy cut. It does what it's supposed to.

But If I could do it again, I'd get a large one. In fact, I'm trying to sell my medium one in favor of a large one or router plane.

[Malcolm McLeod]

I have the LN medium, and have not regretted any LN purchase except my choice of size. On 're-do', I'd get large to start, then add small as needs required.

[lowell holmes]

I have the LV medium shoulder plane. I bought it in order to square tenon shoulders. I have better luck with a sharp paring chisel.

I also have the 60 1/2 block plane. I seem to have better luck with it.

Don't get me wrong, the LV medium shoulder plane is a quality tool. I think it is operator error.:)

I will say that I would buy the large shoulder plane if I were buying a new one.

[Kevin Perez]

I like the size of the medium LV, but that's probably because it does what I need: cleaning out dadoes and adjusting small tenons.

[Mike Henderson]

The LV medium shoulder plane is a LOT more comfortable to use than the LN one.

Mike

[Trevor Goodwin]

Another one to consider is the Stanley Sweetheart #92 that they re-released. I have one and it is the real deal. Not as ergonomic as the LV an LN with its lack of knobs and sharp edges, but it is accurate and has a good cutter (3/4"). It excels at cleaning shoulders. When I use it on cheeks I use it to hog material off, then clean up with a chisel. I don't find it useful for smoothing cheeks because it always needs to run across grain or close to and this leaves a rough finish.

[paul cottingham]

Love my LV medium and large shoulder planes. Bought the medium first, but honetly, if i did it again, i would have bought the large shoulder plane first.

[Derek Cohen]

Didn't we have this conversation justba couple of days ago?

The purpose of the plane is important.

I suspect that those who seek the Large plan to use it on tenon cheeks. It certainly can be done, but I find there are better balanced planes for this task. For example, skew or rebate block planes. I prefer a rasp or float, and will go to a router plane on occasion.

The Small (1/2") is my favourite for shoulders, if I do not use a chisel first (it depends on the situation). It is wide enough for most shoulders and does not obscure the work piece. Having said that, if I only had one shoulder plane, it would be the Medium, since this is the best alrounder, for example, has more heft to use on rebates.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Rob Luter]

The LV medium shoulder plane is a LOT more comfortable to use than the LN one.

Mike

i have one of these. It's a great user.

[Frank Martin]

I have the LV set. They are excellent. Although, since moving to lose tenon joinery (currently with Domino) have not used these planes.

[glenn bradley]

The LV medium shoulder plane is a LOT more comfortable to use than the LN one.

Mike

This goes for me too although I have read posts where people are asking "how do you hold this thing?". I usually hold it like so.

325581 . 325582

Sometimes fingers through the holes, sometimes not . . . other times, other ways; depends what I am doing. I do find I can grip it with confidence in a variety of ways which is probably why it gets used so much.

I was lucky enough to be at an event where I could try both repeatedly so I found the one that suits me best. This may not be true for everyone. I also have the large and love it but, the medium gets used more often.

[Mike Cherry]

I need to purchase a shoulder plane. I am looking at a medium plane from Lie-Nielsen and also from Veritas. Do any of you have a preference and why. If you have other makers you like let me know also. I wouild Just like to get your input before I spend the $.
Thank you for your time!!!
Jeffrey
I bought a LV medium shoulder plane. I rarely use it. Don't get me wrong, I am far from an expert, but as my sawing gets better I find that a paring chisel does all I need for shoulders and cheeks. As for dadoes, I level this joint with a router plane. The router plane can also fine tune tenons.

Im not saying it's not a good tool, I just haven't evolved enough to use it to its fullest potential maybe.

[Mike Cherry]

I hold the LV medium the same way, it's very comfy.

[Jeffrey Cole]

Thank you all for your help, insight and thoughtful answers. I have a lot to think over before I place my order.
Jeffrey

[Greg R Bradley]

I just looked over the collective wisdom of people that know far more than I do about hand tools and bought the LV Large. I just had to buy something during LV's free freight event and this came up. I assume some day my brother and I will try his medium and my large out and make the decision of which one is THE one to buy. I'll bet you a million dollars that the answer will be BOTH. And of course that still leaves the small one to buy........

[Mike Cherry]

But the Lie Nielsen small bronze shoulder plane is so sexy.... Lol

[Ryan Baker]

Both the LV and LN are great tools. The difference is a preference thing. I have the LV, which I find much more comfortable to hold and therefore use.

And yes, that LN small bronze shoulder plane is hard to resist!