Close-Up and Personal Look at the NEW Lie-Nielsen PLOW PLANE

[Karl Fife]

Here are a few pictures I took of the much-anticipated Lie Nielsen Plow Plane (Plough Plane) while at Handworks 2015 in Amana, Iowa.

Apparently I can only put 8 pictures in a post, so I'll reply to my own post with four more.






As you know, this tool is based on the Miller's Falls #43 (described here):
http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan5.htm#num43

Noteworthy outtakes from conversation with Lie Nielsen:

1.
The tool is apparently the first in a "family" of related planes. As you know, LN doesn't have a moving fillister plane, and the tool shown here (being a Miller's Falls #43 clone) is just a stone's throw from the Miller's Falls #41 (& 42, 44), which you may know as a quasi-combination rabbet/fillister/plow plane. The is difference is that the 41 features an accessory 'fillister bottom' that attaches to the arm' posts that hold the fence. The fillister bottom sits between the fence and the body, and holds a skew blade and nicker making suitable to cutting rabbets. One would presume it will be something like this:
http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan5.htm#num41

2.
The handle shape will be improved/refined over what you see here. The wood handle pictured was 'simply borrowed from a LN backsaw. Look at their dovetail & carcass saw handles. You'll see what I mean.

3.
There is currently no ETA on this tool, nor is there an ETA on the moving fillister variant that should follow it. However, now that the Lie Nielsen honing guide is just days away from being dropped, presumably LN will be able to focus in earnest on this tool, which I understand is the next plane in the product pipeline.

FYI:
I put my name on the master list list of people to be notified once a list is started to let people know that we can begin signing up for early notification about any pre-order lists that are expected to be rumored. :-)

[Karl Fife]

As promised, here are four more shots of the tool:

[Mike Brady]

I too had a chance to handle this plane at Handworks. I was impressed by the robustness of it, compared to other plow planes that I have experience with. I particularly like the depth adjustment and the way the spill is built into the cutter mechanism so that shavings are ejected away from the tool. This plow plane is the real deal. I'll just add this: "Lie-Nielsen...while were young?"

Thanks for the very nice photos Karl!

[Frederick Skelly]

Thanks for posting these Karl. I'm sure your post is going to draw a lot of attention from those of us who couldn't manage to get to Amana.

[Jim Koepke]

I particularly like the depth adjustment

My eyes are missing something. How is the depth adjusted?

jtk

[Mike Brady]

Loosen screw. Move cutter. Tighten screw.

[Jim Koepke]

Loosen screw. Move cutter. Tighten screw.

Okay, the old fashioned way.

jtk

[Malcolm Schweizer]

I heard they also are soon to release Sasquatch and the Chupacabra.
image.jpgimage.jpg

Okay, but seriously- they haven't even worked out the handle yet? This thing was supposed to be released "early 2015." They don't even have the handle figured out? I'm not being cynical, but I'm feeling a bit misled at this point. I put off other purchases so I could have the $ the day this came out.

[Tom M King]

Mike, Nice quote! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN2xZkk59q4

[Kent A Bathurst]

I heard they also are soon to release Sasquatch and the Chupacabra.

Okay, but seriously- they haven't even worked out the handle yet? This thing was supposed to be released "early 2015." They don't even have the handle figured out?

Whine, whine, whine.........

I dunno about this one. Lots of parts look cheaply designed and after thoughts. All this time and Lie-Nielsen still has to copy another design? Come on really? Stanley probably brought out planes at a faster rate without the help of computers and previous designs.

....whine, whine whine.......what in the hell has been their business plan since day one? God Bless us all they are not BCT............

A couple guys have seen one in the wild. That's all. Actual experience should be no impediment. Let the flogging begin.........

I still don't know what the obsession is with those silly slotted screws but clearly innovation isn't in the LN dictionary.

Ummm......you mean that large portfolio of LN tools, all of which use slotted screws? I'm sorry - I meant "silly" slotted screws. This critter is clearly the correct time to break away from that strategy ??? I got enough morphine-derivative products on my bench to go to the streets in ATL and get enough $$ to buy one of these, and even I am wondering what you are on, Hilton.

Maybe they are just as obsessed with having slotted screws as you are with having them be something else.

No foolin....
Full repertoire of slotted drivers available for an exact fit to plane screws. My money says the chipbreaker screwdriver will fit the screw in this spot, in production.......


munch, munch, munch...........

popcorn (640x640).jpg

[Malcolm Schweizer]

I don't think it's whining when they keep saying "soon come" and they still don't have a handle figured out. You don't do interviews announcing it will be released "early in 2015" when you don't even have a handle for it.

The screw thing, however, I agree that's a bit whiny.

Either take more or less of those meds- one or the other.

[Kent A Bathurst]

The screw thing, however, I agree that's a bit whiny.

Either take more or less of those meds- one or the other.

haven't taken a single pill.........trying to not go down that path.........just riding the storm out........

[Karl Fife]

My eyes are missing something. How is the depth adjusted?

jtk

Look closely at the right hand side of the tool (starboard).

IMG_20150516_105732 (Large).jpg

You will see a 'sneck' on the blade (one side only) for tapping with a plane adjusting hammer. Groove cutting does not demand much in the way of precision, so this convenience is not strictly necessary, and affords more precision than is required. Even the original Miller's Falls #43 has NO adjusting sneck (on any example I've ever seen). If you can't identify the sneck, look for the little steel protuberance just below (and touching) the chip-deflector component.

In the plow plane competition department, 'certain people' at the LV/Veritas booth in Amana were talking about future subtle modifications to the skate of the (already versatile) Veritas plow plane, to allow for even more accessory cutters, especially beading cutters and profile type cutters. Is that a compelling case for the Veritas Plow plane? It is certainly a cheaper way to cut beads and moldings than even the smallest, most humble stable of dedicated planes. I'm guessing it will come down to a person's space, funds and tolerance for time spent in tool setup and changeover.

[Derek Cohen]

Look closely at the right hand side of the tool (starboard).

IMG_20150516_105732 (Large).jpg

You will see a 'sneck' on the blade (one side only) for tapping with a plane adjusting hammer. Groove cutting does not demand much in the way of precision, so this convenience is not strictly necessary, and affords more precision than is required. Even the original Miller's Falls #43 has NO adjusting sneck (on any example I've ever seen). If you can't identify the sneck, look for the little steel protuberance just below (and touching) the chip-deflector component. ...

What prevents the blade from twisting when the sneck is tapped? Does the blade on on a T&G or against a stop?

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Jessica Pierce-LaRose]

do the blades have grooves like traditional plow blades? That would solve Derek's twisting question.

I figure the delay is the extra time needed to re-jigger the entire display boards they use at shows, to accommodate a new, largish plane. We all know how projects like that get pushed to the bottom when something more exciting strikes your fancy. !