Scraper planes or Jack Rabbet

[john zulu]

I have the acquisition bug.......

I looking at either planes. For some background I do own the LAJ plane and skew rabbet plane and block rabbet plane. Both planes to me are more specialist planes but
which one is going to be used less...... Chime in your thoughts.

[Jim Koepke]

A couple of pertinent question would be:

Do you currently use a scrapers much in your work?

Do your often have a need to make a rabbet?

Which would you use more?

In my case rabbet planes get a lot more use. Between wooden and metal bodied rabbet planes there are at least a half dozen planes with no other purpose but as rabbet planes. If you include combination planes that can be used to make rabbets then it comes out to at least a dozen. My one scrapper plane, a #12, sits unused.

On the other hand, someone who does use a scraper and doesn't do much rabbeting would lean the other way.

jtk

[john zulu]

@Jim do you have a jack rabbet or other rabbet planes?

[John Schtrumpf]

Jim is correct, it depends on how you work, on which will be more useful to you.

What I mainly use my jack rabbet for, is edge jointing. The under slung fence works well for this. I have also used my jack rabbet for making angled edges and raising a panel. I don't have a scraper plane, I have only used scrapers where a plane wouldn't fit.

358153

Note: shown with optional shorter 3½" rods and diy wooden fence face.

[john zulu]

@John Won't a jack plane work also for edge jointing?

[Noah Magnuson]

Since you already own the skew rabbet, I would look at a third alternative if you don't already have the quiver full. I don't think either the jack rabbet or scraper will get much use unless you are doing certain kinds of work. Maybe a dedicated shooter, plow, custom BD smoother, a couple of shoulders? I get the impression though that you probably have a pretty full till already and you are just treating yourself. Maybe a nice boutique saw?

[john zulu]

@Noah, Yes I have the rest mentioned.

[John Schtrumpf]

@John Won't a jack plane work also for edge jointing?
Yes you can edge joint with a jack. The advantage is the under slung fence makes getting a square edge easy (adjustable to balance the plane on narrow boards). That fence is also available for the veritas custom planes (I think), and is on the veritas skew rabbet.

[Malcolm Schweizer]

I have both, and if I had to give one up, it would most certainly be the scraper plane. I can scrape with a piece of saw plate, but I can't rabbet with one.

[James Pallas]

I have the Jack rabbet but no scraper plane. I have a #80 that doesn't get much use. The Jack rabbet gets a lot of use. It's bigger and heavier but sails thru rabbets and other things also. Check out Derek Cohen's write up on this plane.
Jim

[Jim Koepke]

@Jim do you have a jack rabbet or other rabbet planes?

One of my rabbet planes is a #10-1/2 which is like the Stanley/Bailey #10 jack rabbet but is the shorter at the length of a #4.

My other rabbet planes include a Record #778, Stanley planes: #90 & #93 shoulder planes, a #90 steel cased (around a wood body) rabbet plane. There are also a variety of wood bodied rabbet planes. My recollection is the sizes are 3/4", 1" and 2". My combination planes also able to make rabbets include Stanley #45, #50 and #55. There is also a #46 which is in what appears to be a non-restorable condition.

John Schtrumpf's jack rabbet with a fence looks like a nice tool for larger work.

My thought on using a rabbet plane for edge joining or smoothing all comes down to the amount of work it is to sharpen the blade or find a replacement blade. Of course if you are making lap joints for your edge joints then that is another story.

jtk

[john zulu]

Thanks for the feedback guys.