Ok, so laugh - I had the $120 and I just kept thinking how much I wanted to try that WR #1. (I mean, its not like Ill ever get to try a vintage #1.) Anyway, mine arrived unusually fast and I spent an hour setting it up and trying it out. Heres my initial thoughts.
Fit-finish. Pretty good right out of the box, much like the WR #3 I reviewed last year. Needed little except to remove a bur from the chipbreaker. I also polished the chipbreaker for 1/4" behind its front edge. Dont know if that helps in such a small plane but I did so. I sharpened the blade - back was "pretty" flat and needed just a bit of work. Came with a 25* bevel that I honed and then added a 2* microbevel.
Size. Almost exactly the same as my LN 102 block. Same width, just 1/4" longer. Which initially made me wonder why I needed both, frankly. I considered sending it back, until I tried it out a bit.
First trial. I took a few passes down the edge of a 2x4. Got nice, thin full width shavings. Then I tried to flatten the rough edge of a 3/8" thick box part. First I used the 102 block plane on it - that went ok. But when I tried the #1, it felt noticably better - more stable - on this small, narrow part. After thinking about it, I concluded that using 2 hands on the #1 made the difference - as opposed to 1 hand on the block plane. (I played with the #1 until I found a comfortable way to use both hands on it.) I also used it on the face of the small box part - that was fine and comfortable.
Summary. I like the tool, based on just this little bit of playing with it. I think Im going to keep it - it does seem to work well on small parts, as Id hoped. Do I NEED a #1? Heck no - I could have trimmed this edge a couple different ways without it. But I bet Ill find other ways to use it over time. And if not, itll make a great paperweight.Mr. Cottingham, you were ever so right Sir! (See signature line.)
Fred
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Originally Posted by ken hatch
