Lie Nielsen Block or Rabbet plane.

[Dave Lehnert]

was given some money from the family of someone who passed. Been sitting on it for some time now wanting to buy something with it as a remembrance to that person. Want something I will use and not sit in my tool chest.

I had my mind made up on getting the Lie Nielsen No 60-1/2 Block Plane. Got to use one at a hand tool event some time ago and liked it.
https://www.lie-nielsen.com/product/...nes-?node=4072

I went to order it but ran across the Lie Nielsen Rabbet Block plane.
https://www.lie-nielsen.com/product/...cker?node=4072

That got me thinking. I already own a Record Low Angle block plane Something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/Record-060-1-.../dp/B0000223QV
But the one I have is 25 or 30 years old. Well built and like it a lot.

Guess I'm looking for thoughts on the LN Rabbet Block Plane. In use as a standard block plane will I be disappointed ?
I do not own a shoulder plane. Will this be a good option to plane down tenons?

[Brian Behrens]

I just used my LN rabbeting block plane to trim a bunch of tenons and it was superb at this task. It's my only Lie Nielsen plane but definitely won't be my last. I don't see the advantage of the standard block plane vs the rabbeting one, but I'm far from an expert on these. I can highly recommend the rabbeting version .

[Mike Henderson]

I have the LN rabbet plane. It did not work for me as a general purpose block plane. And it's easy to cut yourself on the exposed blade (on both sides). Unless you really need a rabbet plane, I'd get the low angle block plane for general purpose work.

Mike

[Derek Cohen]

As Mike says.

I have owned the Rabbet Block Plane for possibly a decade, and probably used it a dozen times in these years. It comes out when a specialist task is needed, one where the rebate feature is important, such as trimming/smoothing along the inside wall of a drawer recess. It is finicky to remove, sharpen, and return the blade. I always cut myself on the edges of rebate planes! Anything it can do is done better with a skew rebate plane. Anothr alternative is a wide shoulder plane.

The standard low angle block plane is a far better choice for 99% of uses put to a small plane, such as these. I have both the Veritas and LN low angle block planes, and they are both excellent. If you have your eye on a LN, then the #60 1/2 is a better bet, and it is much nicer to use that a vintage Stanley or Record version. The modern planes are simply better finished and more solid in the hand, adjust more smoothly, and the blades (especially the PM-V11 from Veritas) hold an edge longer. Yes, your Record looks the same, but the modern LN is special to use.

Regards from Perth

Derek The Enabler.

[Jim Koepke]

That got me thinking. I already own a Record Low Angle block plane Something like this.
[edited]
But the one I have is 25 or 30 years old. Well built and like it a lot.

Guess I'm looking for thoughts on the LN Rabbet Block Plane. In use as a standard block plane will I be disappointed ?
I do not own a shoulder plane. Will this be a good option to plane down tenons?

Part of this is dependent on you. The LN 60-1/2 would be a redundancy to your Record LA Block plane. In my shop there are three of that caliber and they all get used at various times. If you do not like redundant tools, do you know someone who would like your Record or you could sell it.

Rabbet planes do not work very well as a replacement for a standard plane for many reasons. The edges on the mouth of a regular plane act as guard rails to prevent the blade from digging in. Others have mentioned the possibilities of getting blood stains on your work with rabbet planes. Another is the blade is a special blade that doesn't have as much sharpening life as a standard blade.

The block rabbet or a skew rabbet would be exactly one of the planes a person wants for tenon work. If you do not already have a rabbet plane for this, a block rabbet may be a good choice to honor a friend. A shoulder plane might be another good plane to have for tenon work. Most of the time my shoulders are trimmed with a chisel. The tenon cheeks are trimmed with a rabbet plane or a chisel.

jtk

[Dennis Yamamoto]

Note that the LN rabbet block plane has a fixed mouth. The 60 1/2 has an adjustable mouth. I close the mouth of my 60 1/2 way down for fine shavings and/or problematic grain.

[Rob Luter]

I was looking at the same decision a year or so ago. I already had a couple old low angle blocks (Stanley and Millers Falls) that were serviceable but not top performers. They've moved on to another home. I took Derek's advice and went with the LN #60 1/2, then the #102 (slippery slope). I have a shoulder plane that serves well for cleaning up rabbets.

[Robert Engel]

The rabbet block plane is a specialty tool. I bought one specifically for cleaning up large tenons on a workbench build. While I am glad I have it, I don't use it as a general purpose block plane.

The LN will be a step up from Record, but how much difference? Maybe not enough to warrant another one.

You might want to consider a shoulder plane if you don't already have one.

[Phil Mueller]

I would second the suggestion for a shoulder plane. At first, I used it only for shoulders, but have since discovered many uses. It is like a rabbet, in that it can get right into a 90 degree corner which makes it useful for fine tuning all sorts of things.

[Frederick Skelly]

I have the LN rabbett plane and an LN 102 block plane. I use both, but I use the block plane more. For the work I do, the 102 is more versatile. I like the 102 because it is very small, but I wish I could open up the mouth a bit every once in a while. You can't go wrong with the 60 1/2 Dave.

Fred

[Rollie Kelly]

I have the 60 1/2 and the skew block plane, both are excellent planes. I bought the skew block first and the 60 1/2 later, not because I wasn't satisfied with the skew, but, because I had a gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket. Usually, I use whichever is close to hand or has the sharper iron.

[Rob Luter]

I have the LN rabbett plane and an LN 102 block plane. I use both, but I use the block plane more. For the work I do, the 102 is more versatile. I like the 102 because it is very small, but I wish I could open up the mouth a bit every once in a while. You can't go wrong with the 60 1/2 Dave.

Fred

Interesting. I wish I could close up the mouth on my #102. When I bought it I was lead to believe it would have a very tight mouth for fine cuts. It's actually got a pretty generous mouth, so much so that I called LN and asked about it. They said it was normal.

[glenn bradley]

You can always count on a good number of responses. Those with longer and more diverse experience can share how things work out in actual use over time. Since you have a block plane, my decision would be influenced by what shoulder plane I had. The rabbet/block could handle some shoulder plane jobs if you are lacking that tool.

If your current block plane is a disappointment I would get the 60-1/2. If your current block plane is serviceable and you do not have a shoulder plane I would look at the Veritas Large Shoulder Plane. Your preference will depend on your grip but, the LN shoulder planes were never comfortable in my hand or easy to control. Choices, choices, choices.

[Derek Cohen]

Interesting. I wish I could close up the mouth on my #102. When I bought it I was lead to believe it would have a very tight mouth for fine cuts. It's actually got a pretty generous mouth, so much so that I called LN and asked about it. They said it was normal.

Rob, I have had a LN #103 for about 20 years. This came with a wide mouth. A couple of years ago I decided to do something about it - glue brass shim to the bed ...





This did the trick. The mouth is now as I would want it ...



I also hot rodded the adjuster with a Howard Adjuster, which has a bearing ...



Sweet little blockplane.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Frederick Skelly]

This did the trick. The mouth is now as I would want it ...

Derek

Hmmm. The mouth on mine looks that tight, stock, Derek. I just went and measured the thickest shavings I can get and they are much thinner than I thought - only 0.002 inch. Mine is iron, not bronze - I wonder if the specs were different. (I notice the iron version is no longer offered.)