I have an LV custom 5 1/2 that I got to be a super smoother/panel plane/Charlesworth technique plane. A recent thread on an LV custom 4 1/2 made me wonder about the difference. What is the difference between the two in smoothing operations? How does the shorter length of the 4.5 really effect its use?
(for reference I have a 4 and a coffin smoother)