Your uses for the LA Jack

[Jerry Olexa]

As part of my trip to "LaLa land" (the LN tool event in Chicago), I was impressed with the demo and performance of the LN LA Jack plane and of course, they made me buy it....
I'm curious how you guys use that plane? As you know, bevel up, low angle, no chip breaker like the STANLEY 62...Not a conventional bench plane.
Tell me how, when you use and your experiences with it..Its being shipped to me so I cannot try yet..But I'm full of anticipation..Thanks for your input,

[Rob Luter]

I have the LV version, but the utility is the same. I use it for shooting more than anything else, but it makes a great Jack plane (go figure) and a decent short jointer. I use it as a smoother with a high angle blade for tough grain. An LA jack is very versatile.

[Jim Koepke]

My LN #62 is used mostly for shooting. It does well as a jack plane for joining or smoothing. Since there are boatload of #5s in my shop the #62 is generally saved for the jobs at which it excels.

jtk

[Stephen Rosenthal]

I use my LN #62 for smoothing gnarly grained woods (followed with a scraper plane) and jointing short boards. I have a dedicated LV shooting plane, so don't use it for shooting, although it would be excellent as it handles end grain really well. It took me a long time to finally buy it, as I have a #5 1/2 and #7 with 45 and 50 degree frogs and a toothing blade that I can use in both, as well as a #4, but once I bought it I find myself reaching for it quite often. However I don't have blades with different bevels for it as yet, as suggested by a number of users.

[Noah Magnuson]

I have the LV and use it as an all-purpose jack, and as a short jointer and shooter. It is my go-to for anything of size before smoothing.

[David Eisenhauer]

The Kool Aid does call, doesn't it Jerry. Just don't book any flights to Guyana, OK?

[paul cottingham]

Honestly, I use mine for everything. Make no mistake, I own a no. 4 (which I love) and a bevel up jointer and a couple no.5's. But I use my bevel up jack for most everything, cause it's so handy.

[Prashun Patel]

I use my la jack mostly as a small jointer.

I have a toothed blade for it that does a good job of flattening without tearing out.

It is heavier than other jacks I have which is good for some things and less desirable for other ops like thicknessing for me.

[Doug Bowman]

I keep a non-cambered blade in mine - it is primarily used as a shooting plane and a small jointer. I have the LV version

[Robert Engel]

Excels at end grain work shooting, cleaning up dovetails, etc.
Don't use it much anymore for face grain planing.

[Brian Holcombe]

I cambered the blade a lot and I use it for rough work that I don't want to use my wooden planes on....for fear of damage to my wooden planes.

If I need to rip a 1/4" of material off of a thin stock, I do so with that LA jack.

[Shawn Pixley]

I use it primarily with the toothed blade and mostly with gnarly woods. I alternate it with a Bailey #5 (toothed work straight blade work, etc...).

Nothing preventing me from using only the LN LAJ, but I find it convenient not to switch blades all the time. I use a #7 for shooting but the LN does that well.

[Jim Koepke]

Another thought some have expressed is the lower center of gravity with a LA BU plane. This may be of a help to some when edge joining.

jtk

[Phil Mueller]

When I got serious about handtools, the LN 62 and a LN block plane were the first quality planes I purchased, and the only well working plane I owned. For multiple projects (workbench, and tables) the 62 did everything...face plane, edge joint, shooting. On reasonably well behaved grain, it can do it all.

[Jerry Olexa]

The Kool Aid does call, doesn't it Jerry. Just don't book any flights to Guyana, OK?

You are so right David!!!!!

[Jerry Olexa]

I'm encouraged!! you guys have given me plenty of uses/options for it!! So Im anxious for my package to arrive next week from Maine...Thanks..It certainly performed well at the LN show friday.

[Chris Hachet]

Congrats on the new plane, I may add one myself.

[Jim Koepke]

I'm encouraged!! you guys have given me plenty of uses/options for it!! So Im anxious for my package to arrive next week from Maine...Thanks..It certainly performed well at the LN show friday.

I should have mentioned liking mine with the hot dog for shooting. Comfortable, but it gets in the way at times for other uses.

jtk

[Matthew Hills]

Usually set up with standard blade, no camber. I use this for shooting and some edge jointing.

I also picked up a toothed blade to use when flattening a bench made with reclaimed timbers (the petrified knots and reversing grain weren't doing my other planes any favors; the toothed blade was a monster for this)


I do use other planes more for general planing (#5 stanley with cambered blade, #7 stanley, and #4 LN)

Matt

[Jeff Heath]

Very versatile plane. I use mine with standard blade for end grain, and normal use smoothing as a backup to my smoothing planes. I use it with a 45° beveled iron (additional purchase) for smoothing difficult grained woods, as it then has an effective angle of 57.5°. I also have a toothed blade, and use that for roughing very difficult gnarly grained woods, crotches, and burls. Cleaned up after with the high angle blade.

[Bill McDermott]

Great for following the face grain around the corners of a frame, flattening the pieces to one another.
Unlike my standard #5, I also keep the LA blade flat (no radius). That gives it different roles.

[Chris Hachet]

I might add I really like the low center of gravity in use with these. Very comfortable for long planeing sessions.

[Jerry Olexa]

Oh, will the package from LN Maine ever arrive??

[Dave Zellers]

:) Been following this thread with interest, as I lust after this plane as well. Someday it will be on its way to me as well.

I will be in your shoes 2 days after I order it.

Have fun! I can't wait and I haven't even ordered one. But I will ...

[Jerry Olexa]

It arrived along with a few other toys (errrrTools) they made me buy.
Initial results with the bevel up Jack were as expected...GREAT!! Excited to use on a real project soon (Maybe the new tool cabinet I'm now forced to build:))

[Tony Zaffuto]

I've had one for about a dozen years (LN). I use it ocassionally for shooting, but that's about it.