Decent shoulder plane for the money?

[Jeff Monson]

Looking to add a shoulder plane to my small arsenal of planes. Any recommendations with out having to break the bank? I will
add I don't want one that takes 2 hours of tuning to make it work either......I know, I want my cake....

[Barney Markunas]

I've been very happy with the large shoulder plane that I got from the good folks at Lee Valley. I suspect that may edge into "break the bank" territory but I am confident I won't ever be looking to replace it unless it gets stolen. You would likely pay slightly more for something comparable from Lie-Nielsen. I like having the adjustable knobs on the LV, but you may prefer something more traditional.

You might find something more attractive price-wise on Ebay but if it is not square you may be looking at a lot of haggling with the seller and/or more tuning than you'd really like. Good, cheap, minimal fettling... I think you probably only get to choose two. Good luck with your hunt.

[Chris Hachet]

The Lee Valley Veritas plane seems to be the cats Pajamas. I had a chance to try it at the Columbus woodworking show, I plan to get it when finances allow. The LN plane is not as nice ergonomically IMHO.

Best bet for a cheap shoulder plane would be to find a wooden one at an antique mall and tune it if you have minimal finances....otherwise...i think Lee Valley is pretty much the only game in town. The Wood River plane is almost as much money and is not as nice IMHO.

[Chet R Parks]

Jeff,
You can't go wrong with LV. I have both LV and LN but like the LV better. If you lived closer I'd let you take them home to try.
Chet

[Jim Koepke]

I will add I don't want one that takes 2 hours of tuning to make it work either.

This pretty much puts you in the boat paddling up the LN or LV Creek.


Best bet for a cheap shoulder plane would be to find a wooden one at an antique mall and tune it if you have minimal finances.

Tuning will likely be needed. From my experience a wooden rabbet plane is a lot different than a shoulder plane. My old Stanley #93 needed some tuning but is a good plane in its own right. If you were willing to do some tuning and carful buying they are an alternative. I have used some of the high end shoulder planes and can attest to them being worth the added cost as compared to an old Stanley.

If at all possible try to get your hands on both the LN and the LV before purchase. I do not believe one is superior to the other, it is how they feel and fit in your hand. That is a very important feature in a tool you will buy to be using.

jtk

[Prashun Patel]

Jeff-
I got the medium shoulder from Veritas. I wish I had the larger one. Don't skimp on this tool.

I tried. I got a bull nose plane - even a Veritas bullnose plane. Useless in my hands.

I got a Hock shoulder plane kit. Hated it. Hard to adjust and not heavy enough (in my hands).

The Veritas shoulder plane performs as hyped. Not wanting to 'break the bank' I bought the medium instead of the large, and now wish I had the large.

My favorite bell and whistle on this is the precision depth adjuster. But the real beauty is that it's heavy and square and has a great blade. It cuts with minimal effort, which makes it possible to gently and accurately tweak my joints.

[Shawn Pixley]

Unlike Prashun, I prefer the medium size shoulder plane. I have the LN and see no need for another.

[Mike Henderson]

I have the LV medium and like it. Never tried the LV large, however.

In any case, the LV is a lot more comfortable to use than the LN.

Mike

[Jim Koepke]

I tried. I got a bull nose plane - even a Veritas bullnose plane. Useless in my hands.

+1 on this. The bull nose is only seems to be good in places where it has something on which to register behind the blade.

Mine is the Stanley #90. Actually there are two Stanley #90s in my shop one is a bull nosed shoulder plane. The other is a wooden, skew bladed, metal wrapped rabbet plane that is great for many things, but not quite what one would want in a shoulder plane. Though it is very good at trimming tenon cheeks, in fact better than a shoulder plane.

jtk

[steven c newman]

Cost me $10, Garage sale...
332740
Works for me.

[Jeff Monson]

Ok so I'm leaning toward a LN, is the PM-V11 blade material worth the extra $10?

[Brett Luna]

I have both the large and medium Veritas shoulder planes and don't regret buying them for a minute. I also don't regret spending a little more for the PM-V11 steel.

[Jim Koepke]

I bought the little Preston style spokeshave when it was first offered. It came with the PM-v11 blade and I am amazed at how long it has gone without need of sharpening.

jtk

[Frederick Skelly]

I have the small LV. It works just fine for the stuff I build.

[Archie England]

I've got a large LN and a 1/2" LV: both are excellent! Compared to my woodies, they are both much better--but the wood shoulder plane does fit your quest for "decent."

[Mike Henderson]

Ok so I'm leaning toward a LN, is the PM-V11 blade material worth the extra $10?

I think so.

Mike

[glenn bradley]

I have the medium and the large. I bought the medium first because folks who's opinion I respect said "if you only get one, make it the medium". They were right and it was great all on its own until Christmas got me the large. If I had to live with only one it would be the medium for the versatility. Ask for the large for your birthday :D.

As to the PM-V11, once I had the first cutter made with it, I was sold. I always get it when available. Sharpens easily and really does hold an edge longer; it is obvious enough that even a mostly-tailed-woodworker like me can tell the difference. It is not a subtle difference at all.

[paul cottingham]

I have an LV medium shoulder and an LV large shoulder. Love them both. If I only had one, it would likely be the large. But in many ways, the 3/4 probably has more utility.

[Derek Cohen]

I will fly in the face of others. I have the Small (1/2"), Medium (3/4") and Large (1 1/4") Veritas models. They are all excellent, and more comfortable to hold and easier to set up than the LN equivalents.

Now, as to the size: my absolute favourite of these shoulder planes is the Small (1/2"). It is so comfortable to hold. I use it to clean up rebates, which are rarely wider or deeper than 1/2". Ditto shoulders of tenons - in fact, a wide/Large shoulder plane does not balance well here.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Tony Wilkins]

Derek, why do you say the LV are easier to adjust than the LN? I haven't held an LN but have a Med LV and the adjusters look similar other than the set screws in the LV body.

[Derek Cohen]

Hi Tony

There are two main reasons: firstly, the set screws in the body of the LV enable the blade to be removed for sharpening and then reset in the exact previous position. This is helpful with a shoulder plane, which needs to be set up with the blade exactly square and with the correct side projection. Secondly, The LV shoulder planes are more comfortable to push than the LN shoulder planes. The Medium and Large both have handles that pivot and make this process more ergonomic on the left- and right sides. The Small additionally has a blade adjuster, which the LN Small lacks (it is an infill).

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Bill Houghton]

I have a Record 042 shoulder plane, the plane on which LN has based its series, and an LV medium shoulder plane. The Record sits and looks pretty; the LV is so much easier to handle. I may someday get a Lee Valley large, roughly equivalent to the Record in size, but, for now, LV's medium plane has served me quite well for the work I've been doing with it.

As to bullnose planes: I have two (Record 077 and Stanley 90J), and use them now and again. There are applications in which they're the perfect tool, but, lacking one, I could get there with careful chisel work. I see a bullnose plane as a Tier 3 tool, or thereabouts - you buy the tools in the first two tiers first.

[Chris Hachet]

I think so.

Mike

I would agree.

[Chris Hachet]

Hi Tony

There are two main reasons: firstly, the set screws in the body of the LV enable the blade to be removed for sharpening and then reset in the exact previous position. This is helpful with a shoulder plane, which needs to be set up with the blade exactly square and with the correct side projection. Secondly, The LV shoulder planes are more comfortable to push than the LN shoulder planes. The Medium and Large both have handles that pivot and make this process more ergonomic on the left- and right sides. The Small additionally has a blade adjuster, which the LN Small lacks (it is an infill).

Regards from Perth

Derek

I Think they discontinued the infill, unless their website is wrong. I pull up a standard style shoulder plane when I pull up small on their website.

[paul cottingham]

I should mention that I have a friend who vastly prefers his LN shoulder planes to the LV. In fact, I got my LV large from him when he bought the LN. He has MS, and finds the LN much more comfortable. I don't get it, but I got a large LV shoulder at a very reasonable price out of the deal.

[John Sanford]

... in fact, a wide/Large shoulder plane does not balance well here.

Regards from Perth

Derek

That's because Veritas designed them to balance properly when gravity is oriented in the correct fashion. Its not designed for your upside down gravity. :p

[Tony Wilkins]

I should mention that I have a friend who vastly prefers his LN shoulder planes to the LV. In fact, I got my LV large from him when he bought the LN. He has MS, and finds the LN much more comfortable. I don't get it, but I got a large LV shoulder at a very reasonable price out of the deal.

I have nerve damage and it reacts similar to MS. I try to look closely for things that may be more or less comfortable for me to hold.

[Brett Luna]

I have nerve damage and it reacts similar to MS. I try to look closely for things that may be more or less comfortable for me to hold.

I have RA (well managed) and while it certainly isn't MS, I keep ergonomics in mind as well. Both the large and medium LV shoulder planes work well in my hands...but then I've never put my paws on the LN flavor.

[Patrick Chase]

Derek, why do you say the LV are easier to adjust than the LN? I haven't held an LN but have a Med LV and the adjusters look similar other than the set screws in the LV body.

While I normally don't consider those screws to be that significant of a feature, they make a huge difference in flush-cutting planes (skew block, skew rabbet, jack rabbet, bullnose, block). Being able to plop your blade back in and have it register perfectly to the side is a big time saver.

Of course the catch is that you really only get that benefit if you use a honing guide or have come up with some similar way to ensure that you always sharpen the edge to the same angle (preferably 90 deg). If the edge skews as a result of sharpening then the screw settings lose their validity.

[Patrick Chase]

I will fly in the face of others. I have the Small (1/2"), Medium (3/4") and Large (1 1/4") Veritas models. They are all excellent, and more comfortable to hold and easier to set up than the LN equivalents.

Now, as to the size: my absolute favourite of these shoulder planes is the Small (1/2"). It is so comfortable to hold. I use it to clean up rebates, which are rarely wider or deeper than 1/2". Ditto shoulders of tenons - in fact, a wide/Large shoulder plane does not balance well here.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Interesting... I have exactly the same planes (and the bullnose for good measure) and have exactly the opposite preference: I prefer the large, followed by the medium. I only use the small if the work is small enough that the others would be too ponderous. Part of it may be that I've never really gotten the hang of doing shoulders one-handed (which is the small's "super power").

[Jon McElwain]

I love my medium LV shoulder plane - it's one of my favorite planes to use. I don't think that I would use the large very often for the work I do. Don't forget about the LV fully functioning miniature planes. I use the mini shoulder plane to clean out narrow rabbets and other very small tasks frequently.

[Brian Thornock]

The Veritas ones look very nice. However, the only shoulder plane I have is an infill that I built. It has a 1" wide iron and gets used for tons of stuff. If I had to pick one of the current sizes, 3/4" would probably be where I would go. Then again, I will likely never buy a commercial shoulder plane.

[Kevin Hampshire]

I have the LV Bullnose, Medium and the Large. I strongly prefer the large for working tenons. The medium may have an edge for working shoulders.

[Tyler Arsenault]

I just picked up a LN medium. I've only used it to clean up a couple rabbets so far, but it is great. I really like the simplicity.

[Robert Engel]

Hi Tony

There are two main reasons: firstly, the set screws in the body of the LV enable the blade to be removed for sharpening and then reset in the exact previous position. This is helpful with a shoulder plane, which needs to be set up with the blade exactly square and with the correct side projection. Secondly, The LV shoulder planes are more comfortable to push than the LN shoulder planes. The Medium and Large both have handles that pivot and make this process more ergonomic on the left- and right sides. The Small additionally has a blade adjuster, which the LN Small lacks (it is an infill).

Regards from Perth

DerekThis is exactly my experience. I have a 1" LN and ergonomically the LV is better for me.

Blade adjustment is necessary after each sharpening. So with the LN its tap tap with a small hammer to adjust the blade.

[Rob Luter]

I have the medium sized Lee Valley model. Very happy with it.

[Peter Gavin]

Ok so I'm leaning toward a LN, is the PM-V11 blade material worth the extra $10?

Does LN offer a PM-V11 blade? I thought that was 'proprietary' to LV?

Peter

[Dave Cav]

I know this is a somewhat old thread, but it's one of the more recent ones I found discussing shoulder planes. I have had a LV Medium for a number of years, and it's just about my favorite hand tool. I use it all the time, even for things it's not designed for, like some block plane work.

I just started on a project to make all (17) interior doors for my new house. They're stain grade alder, four panel shaker style and all the rails and stiles are M&T. (No, they're not sawn/chopped out by hand, but I am using a 60 year old Newman mortiser and an 80 year old Millbury tenoner.) The tenons are pretty big and the medium LV is a little on the small side for clean up work. I got a pretty good deal on line for a vintage Stanley 93, but I sure don't love it, and sometimes don't even like it. It's small, cramps my hand, and is fiddly to adjust. I think I may have to break down and get the large LV in the next few days.

[Matt Lau]

not to increase competition, but wait until Lee valley's cyber monday sale.

[Patrick Chase]

I just started on a project to make all (17) interior doors for my new house. They're stain grade alder, four panel shaker style and all the rails and stiles are M&T. (No, they're not sawn/chopped out by hand, but I am using a 60 year old Newman mortiser and an 80 year old Millbury tenoner.) The tenons are pretty big and the medium LV is a little on the small side for clean up work. I got a pretty good deal on line for a vintage Stanley 93, but I sure don't love it, and sometimes don't even like it. It's small, cramps my hand, and is fiddly to adjust. I think I may have to break down and get the large LV in the next few days.

The large LV is a wonderfully usable tool IMO. I prefer it to the medium and find myself using it even in situations where it's a little bigger than optimal.

[Dave Cav]

not to increase competition, but wait until Lee valley's cyber monday sale.

Thanks for the reminder. That's in November? I may have a bunch of the doors finished by then, but a discount is a discount, and the Stanley 93 will work for the time being.

[bridger berdel]

I have the LV medium, a Clifton of the same blade width but a significantly smaller body and a couple of wooden side escapement skew rabbit planes.the rabbit planes are definitely a different beast. With the grain they run like gangbusters but I wouldn't even try using them for end grain like tenon shoulders. The shoulder planes will cut long grain but they're slow. The Clifton needed a bit of fettling but now runs fine and sometimes I like the smaller body. The LV Is tall and sometimes a bit tippy but the wide cheeks are ideal for registering square when trimming shoulders. It needed nothing out of the box but final honing. It definitely has the most sophisticated adjustment mechanism of the lot.

[Dominik Dudkiewicz]

I also have both the LV medium and large and rate them highly. I would be hard-pressed to choose one over the other, but I guess if I could only keep one it would be the large. I find the extra mass and size helps more than hinders in most situations. But it would be a tough decision and I don't think you could go far wrong with either. It really depends on the size of tenons / shoulders you typically work with.

Cheers,

Dom

[Todd Stock]

Had both LN and LV - wonderful flexibility, but ended up preferring simplicity, so sold off the LV. Kept the LN large and medium, plus the early infill small. A well tuned woodie is quite useful, but most will need some tweaks that will take some small amount of skill and larger amount of time. If you routinely work in curly anigre or other abrasive, A2 or PM alloys might be worth it.

[Kevin Perez]

LV medium for me. Love, love it. Works great with an absolute minimum of fettling.

[Robert Engel]

Same here as Archie ^.

I like the lateral adjusting screws on the LV. It also feels good in my hands.

The LN is a heavier, stouter plane IMO but I have issues sometimes on lateral blade protrusion adjustment.

[Jim Koepke]

[edited]
The LN is a heavier, stouter plane IMO but I have issues sometimes on lateral blade protrusion adjustment.

Simple trick that those who have not tried it will condemn, but it seems to work for me and others.

If you want to flush the blade with the left side of the plane, lay the plane, left side down, on your bench or a good flat piece of hardwood and press down. Pick up plane and start using. If it is used against the right side of the plane, do as above with the right side of the plane on the bench or hardwood.

It doesn't get much simpler than this. If you want more blade projection out the side of the plane, use a piece of paper and press the blade into the paper. If more is wanted, make a hole in the paper or use two pieces with one on either side of the blade.

My immediate thought is to throw in a 369853

Chances are it won't.

jtk

[William Fretwell]

The LV large shoulder is one of my favourite tools. I have the original blade, edge keeps very well indeed.

[Gary Cunningham]

Ok so I'm leaning toward a LN, is the PM-V11 blade material worth the extra $10?


Yes. I have the medium & -v11 blade. Sharpens easily, and stays sharp.

[Sheldon Funk]

The Veritas ones look very nice. However, the only shoulder plane I have is an infill that I built. It has a 1" wide iron and gets used for tons of stuff. If I had to pick one of the current sizes, 3/4" would probably be where I would go. Then again, I will likely never buy a commercial shoulder plane.

Pictures please :)

[Kurtis Johnson]

I've been very happy with the large shoulder plane that I got from the good folks at Lee Valley. Ditto.

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[steven c newman]

I have sharpened this about twice..once when I bought it, and later about a year ago....still going great.....