Combination plane, or rabbet plane+plow plane (Veritas)?

[Steven Mikes]

I'm looking for tools to be able to cut nice rabbets, grooves, and tongues. Seems like I could either purchase a rabbet plane and plow plane separately, or get the combination plane which seems to handle all these tasks. Also Veritas makes two rabbet planes, the skewed and the bevel up. I'm hoping someone out there has tried all these tools out and can comment on their relative effectiveness. If the combination plane works as well as the dedicated planes once set up for its task, it seems like a better deal...

Thanks in advance!

[Wojciech Tryc]

The dedicated planes will always do a better job... but the combination plane is a better deal. It really depends on how much are you willing to compromise vs how much are you willing top spend? I have the Veritas combination plane and I really like it. Did rabbets, grooves and tongues without any problem (after small initial hiccup while going cross grain).

[Gary Cunningham]

I have all three. Once you get them set, and remember to hold the plane level, they do the job.

On the skew rabbett you need to make sure to loosen the tension screw before lowering the knicker. If not you will bugger up the knicker screw.

I still want the combo plane, just haven’t pulled out the wallet yet.

[Jim Koepke]

I'm looking for tools to be able to cut nice rabbets, grooves, and tongues. Seems like I could either purchase a rabbet plane and plow plane separately, or get the combination plane which seems to handle all these tasks. Also Veritas makes two rabbet planes, the skewed and the bevel up. I'm hoping someone out there has tried all these tools out and can comment on their relative effectiveness. If the combination plane works as well as the dedicated planes once set up for its task, it seems like a better deal...

Thanks in advance!

Cutting grooves is limited in single iron planes to cutting one size of groove. Most people either purchase a small plow plane for smaller grooves. For larger grooves a combination plane is better. If only cutting tongue & groove joinery and rabbets, and you are not cutting grooves for drawer bottoms and boxes, then your needs could be filled with a T&G plane and a rabbet plane.

The combination plane will be a little more difficult to produce the same quality of work than planes dedicated for each specific operation. It is done by a lot of people. Setting up a combination plane can be a bit more fussy. One good example of the fussiness is with the combination plane there is a blade change involved between cutting the tongue and the groove. With a pair of match planes there is one plane for the tongue and another for the groove. With something like the Stanley #48 or 49, it's pull the pin, swing the base and start cutting again.

Then your choice would be determined by how much you are thinking of spending.

jtk

[Hasin Haroon]

Agree with everything Jim said. That said, they are all excellent planes and you (probably) won't regret getting them all. (Sorry for being an enabler)

[lowell holmes]

I suggest you order one veritas plane and go from there. If you do, you likely will end up with several.
I did.

[steven c newman]

Current stable in my shop.....Stanley No. 45, type 20.....Wards Master ( Stanley) No. 78.....a solid Beech bodied plane, made in 1864, in Cincinnati, OH that is a 1/4" plough plane...a Auburn Tool Co. No. 181 skewed rebate plane...and the Stanley No. 39 3/8" Dado plane....YMMV

[Dominik Dudkiewicz]

I don't have the Veritas combination plane, and whilst i want to want it, I have the specialist planes to do all of it's functions so can't justify it in any way.

That said, the Veritas small plow is a beauty IMO and the skew rabbet planes are also great. I also have the tongue and groove blades for the small plow and the conversion kit and they work well - although I did end up with the LN 48/49. I think if you are on a budget the combination would be the better option - you get dado planes, T&G, plow, and rabbet planes in one. However if budget is less of an issue you may be better off buying specialist planes. Or maybe get the combo to start and then fill specialist gaps over time / if you feel you need or want to.


Cheers, Dom

[lowell holmes]

Come on guys,
Every body knows that we need one of each .

[jim hanna]

What about buying an old combination plane with all its cutters and then finding a cheap body only on eBay.
That way you have all the versatility of a combination plane but can have separate tongue and groove planes.
Blades from the Stanley 45/ Record 405 vintage planes can be used in some of the later models such as the Stanley 13-050 or Record 044C/045C/050C. Bodies for the later models are often cheap because that have no appeal for collectors.

I use a Record 405 and Stanley 13-050, never had any problems and it is handy having a second unit. Together they cost me less than a new Veritas with one blade

[steven c newman]

Hmmmm..
Stanley 45.jpgIMG_6333 (640x480).jpgIMG_6328 (640x480).jpg
YMMV..