Derek Cohen
03-02-2007, 12:32 PM
The Lee Valley “Little Victor” reproduction Block Plane
Reviewed by Derek Cohen
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/LV%20Little%20Victor%20block%20plane/1Websitepicture.jpg
The Lee Valley website states This little plane is a close copy of Leonard Bailey's 1877 "Little Victor" #51 block plane, which was once advertised as the "perfect tool, useful in house, shop, bank, office and especially in scroll saw work".
The “Little Victor” is the first reproduction plane made by Lee Valley. More will follow this one.
The plane reviewed here was sent to me by Lee Valley for feedback prior to release. I have essentially included below the comments I made to them. Prior to receiving it, I had only seen pictures of the Bailey “Little Victor” block plane. I was aware of their relative rarity and that collectors are willing to pay several hundred Dollars for one in good condition.
To my eye this looks an exact copy, but I was informed that it was fractionally larger than the original.
The other difference is the colour, burgundy, which was apparently chosen for its elegance and distinctiveness.
Features
The notable features of the Little Victor are
· A body 3-1/8" long by 1-1/4" wide, and weighing just under 5 oz.
· An “investment-cast steel body” with a lapped sole (another first for Lee Valley).
· A 45° bed angle and a fixed mouth.
· The blade is secured by cogwheel screw. It has a 30° bevel and is made from O1 tool steel, measuring 0.085" thick by 1" wide.
· Lee Valley state that both the sole of the plane and the working surface* of the blade are lapped to a flatness tolerance of ±0.0002" or better.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/LV%20Little%20Victor%20block%20plane/2Parts.jpg
To appreciate the size of this little pocket plane it is here viewed alongside a Stanley #65 Knucklejoint block plane. The Starrett combination square is 4” long.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/LV%20Little%20Victor%20block%20plane/365vs51-1.jpg
This is indeed a tiny plane.
Using the Little Victor
I had not previously used a plane as small as this and my first efforts were somewhat clumsy. I found it difficult to sustain registration and the blade cut into my palm. The grip in the catalogue illustration appears to recommend a grip that involved a pincer grip with one hand and the use of the thumb of the other hand. Like so:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/LV%20Little%20Victor%20block%20plane/4LVgrip.jpg
This works but is not as stable as what evolved as I experimented. While this plane is high mass for its size, it is still small and light and requires significant even down force to prevent it skipping.
The plane can be used by pushing or pulling.
The grip for the push begins with placement of a ring finger in the rear recess. Then one grips the sides with fore fingers. Finally the thumb is placed across the front recess.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/LV%20Little%20Victor%20block%20plane/5Pushgripcombined2.jpg
The grip I preferred for the pull is identical but in the reverse position.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/LV%20Little%20Victor%20block%20plane/6Pullgripcombined2.jpg
It can be seen that my palm is well clear of the blade in these illustrations. However, it strikes me that many will want to use this plane one-handed in a palmer grip, that is, the palm is wrapped low down around the plane. Lee Valley provide this illustration:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/LV%20Little%20Victor%20block%20plane/7LVgrip2.jpg
This would be what I would do, and what I see as the main use that the plane would be put to. Such as breaking edges (i.e. chamfering). When attempting this the blade cut into my palm. This is the one area that I feel is remiss in the construction – the top edge of the blade was a little sharp (no rough edges – just cleanly squared off). I dealt with this by chamfering them slightly.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/LV%20Little%20Victor%20block%20plane/8Bladebevel.jpg
This does make a significant difference but I felt that the blade could be slightly shorter as well.
END OF PART 1
Reviewed by Derek Cohen
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/LV%20Little%20Victor%20block%20plane/1Websitepicture.jpg
The Lee Valley website states This little plane is a close copy of Leonard Bailey's 1877 "Little Victor" #51 block plane, which was once advertised as the "perfect tool, useful in house, shop, bank, office and especially in scroll saw work".
The “Little Victor” is the first reproduction plane made by Lee Valley. More will follow this one.
The plane reviewed here was sent to me by Lee Valley for feedback prior to release. I have essentially included below the comments I made to them. Prior to receiving it, I had only seen pictures of the Bailey “Little Victor” block plane. I was aware of their relative rarity and that collectors are willing to pay several hundred Dollars for one in good condition.
To my eye this looks an exact copy, but I was informed that it was fractionally larger than the original.
The other difference is the colour, burgundy, which was apparently chosen for its elegance and distinctiveness.
Features
The notable features of the Little Victor are
· A body 3-1/8" long by 1-1/4" wide, and weighing just under 5 oz.
· An “investment-cast steel body” with a lapped sole (another first for Lee Valley).
· A 45° bed angle and a fixed mouth.
· The blade is secured by cogwheel screw. It has a 30° bevel and is made from O1 tool steel, measuring 0.085" thick by 1" wide.
· Lee Valley state that both the sole of the plane and the working surface* of the blade are lapped to a flatness tolerance of ±0.0002" or better.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/LV%20Little%20Victor%20block%20plane/2Parts.jpg
To appreciate the size of this little pocket plane it is here viewed alongside a Stanley #65 Knucklejoint block plane. The Starrett combination square is 4” long.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/LV%20Little%20Victor%20block%20plane/365vs51-1.jpg
This is indeed a tiny plane.
Using the Little Victor
I had not previously used a plane as small as this and my first efforts were somewhat clumsy. I found it difficult to sustain registration and the blade cut into my palm. The grip in the catalogue illustration appears to recommend a grip that involved a pincer grip with one hand and the use of the thumb of the other hand. Like so:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/LV%20Little%20Victor%20block%20plane/4LVgrip.jpg
This works but is not as stable as what evolved as I experimented. While this plane is high mass for its size, it is still small and light and requires significant even down force to prevent it skipping.
The plane can be used by pushing or pulling.
The grip for the push begins with placement of a ring finger in the rear recess. Then one grips the sides with fore fingers. Finally the thumb is placed across the front recess.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/LV%20Little%20Victor%20block%20plane/5Pushgripcombined2.jpg
The grip I preferred for the pull is identical but in the reverse position.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/LV%20Little%20Victor%20block%20plane/6Pullgripcombined2.jpg
It can be seen that my palm is well clear of the blade in these illustrations. However, it strikes me that many will want to use this plane one-handed in a palmer grip, that is, the palm is wrapped low down around the plane. Lee Valley provide this illustration:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/LV%20Little%20Victor%20block%20plane/7LVgrip2.jpg
This would be what I would do, and what I see as the main use that the plane would be put to. Such as breaking edges (i.e. chamfering). When attempting this the blade cut into my palm. This is the one area that I feel is remiss in the construction – the top edge of the blade was a little sharp (no rough edges – just cleanly squared off). I dealt with this by chamfering them slightly.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Articles/LV%20Little%20Victor%20block%20plane/8Bladebevel.jpg
This does make a significant difference but I felt that the blade could be slightly shorter as well.
END OF PART 1