Low Angle Smoother or Jack

[Gary Curtis]

I've got enough money to buy either the Lee Valley or the Lie Nielsen, but not both Having about 14 other planes (incluing a No. 5 & a No. 4 1/2), would the smoother or the jack be more useful? Bevel of up iron, of course.

I'm just starting out at WW, building cabinets and drawers for my shop.

Gary Curtis

[Mike Wenzloff]

Hi Gary--depending on the other 12 planes are, and depending on what you want to do with one of the desired planes...either.

If you do not have a jointer, and the scale of the work would support having an even longer plane than the Jack, consider it over the other two.

fwiw, I typically never have long enough work pieces I joint where I cannot use a #6. I use my #8, the bevel down equivalent to the BU Jointer, a few times a year. But many people build things a bit larger than I do.

Having a #4 1/2, assuming it is tuned well and has an after market thicker iron, will do 90% or more of your smoothing needs. Same goes for the #5. One main difference is that the LV BU Jack is more akin to the #5 1/2, so if I were making this decision and didn't need the BU jointer, I would choose the BU Jack...

Take care, Mike