[OP]
Contributor
If you could choose just one, which block plane would you pick and why? I am trying to decide between a Lie-Nielsen 140 and a 60 1/2. From my understanding of the 140 it sounds like it is able to perform as a regular low angle block plane as well as convert to a rebate plane among other uses. Anything I am missing with this analysis?
Contributor
Good luck finding a 140! I think you may just want to settle for the 60 1/2 until one appears on the scene. There is a bronze 140 for sale on FB for $600!!!
Left click my name for homepage link.
Contributor
I have both these planes. The #140 is more of a specialist plane. If it was just one, I'd get the #60 1/2. But also consider the Veritas DX60.Originally Posted by Peter Schussheim
It is pretty, however ...
Regards from Perth
Derek
Member
They've been popping up in stock pretty regularly lately. They sell out fast, but they're getting there.
Contributor
I also have both, while they both do live in the top till in my chest, the 60 1/2 gets the lions share of use. I have a left hand 140, because I used to use it for dovetails.. and that was a more convenient hold for me for that usage.
~mike
happy in my mud hut
Contributor
As another owner of both, my #60-1/2 planes get a lot more use than my #140.
My regular rabbet planes get more use than my #140.
As Derek said, "the #140 is a speciality plane."
In my opinion, you would do better by getting a pair of skewed rabbet planes for the situations a skewed blade has an advantage.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Contributor
My little work horse is this Stanley made in England 6 CFW. Bought at Ace hardware 40+ years ago.
IMG_1330.jpg
Best Regards, Maurice
Contributor
I've had a 60 1/2 rabbeting plane for many years and like it. It lives in the van in a leather sock.
If choosing just one block plane, I would get the #60 1/2. A rabbet plane wants to be finely tuned and babied, where a block plane is a workhorse.
[OP]
Contributor
Thank you for all the responses, they have helped me greatly. I will look into the Veritas offerings as well.
Contributor
Stanley No. 60-1/2 Block plane are plentiful, and fairly cheap.....I do have a spare, if you are interested...
Been using the No. 118, also a low angle block plane, but..IF you should ever drop it, it will NOT break...just reset the iron, and back to work..
Boxing Day, shooting plane .JPG
But, then again...this is Steel...and not iron, nor Bronze.....labeled as "Boy Proof" by Stanley.
A Planer? I'm the Planer, and this is what I use
Contributor
Rather than trying to identify the Platonic ideal of a block plane, I suggest getting several. I use mine a lot for little jobs, and it's nice to have them in a few spots or to be able to pick up a sharp one when the one in your hand is dull. Used Stanleys, Records, etc. do the job and aren't too dear.
Contributor
I have a #60 1/2 and a #102, both from LN. To be honest I use the #102 more often. I used to have a whole herd of Stanleys as Matthew suggests. Touching up the edge at the onset of a project is just as easy as trying to figure out which plane is the sharp one.
Sharp solves all manner of problems.
Contributor
My 3 Stanley #60-1/2 block planes get used more often than my LN #60-1/2. That is likely due to an old hand injury that makes the lighter and smaller Stanely design easier for me to hold.
My Stanley #65 & #65-1/2 also get used more than the LN.
The LN was purchased due to my frustration of trying to purchase an older Stanley with the full blade bed of the pre 1950s models. After purchasing the LN The two older Stanley #60-1/2s showed up on rust hunts at reasonable prices.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Contributor
No one seems to have mentioned weight. I bought one of those new Stanley "Sweetheart" 9 1/2 block planes a while ago. I find it unncessarily heavy (3 lb after a web search) and also don't care for the A2 iron. On one ocasion it just slipped out of my hand. The vintage block planes have a more reasonable weigth and are easier to sharpen. The LN planes don't seem as heavy, but I don't have one to compare.
Contributor
I much prefer a Stanley 65 or similar size. The 60 1/2 doesn't fit my hand nearly as well as the 65 size. I don't have one, but some folks like the Woodriver low angle version.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
