Planes

[pjl83]

Hi Guys.

What's your views on electric planes? I know you can never replace the hand held plane but is there a place for electric in the boat-builders workshop?

For a few years, I refused to buy a battery drill to use as an electric screwdriver, but once I bought one I never looked back. It's a great tool. Again, there is a time and a place for electric and manual but I wouldn't be without it now.

All views for or against the eletric plane would be good to hear :weg:

Thanks
Paul

[Mike]

Hi Paul

I'm going to dive straight in and say that there definitely is a place for an electric plane. However, the hand-held electric plane, in my view, is a slip-up waiting to happen and is useful only for ripping off excess - and even then for ripping it off very carefully indeed.

The problem with them all is their ability to pare off wood at such a rate that the slightest mistake becomes the hugest disaster. I have two of the darned things (a Makita and a De Walt). I use them judiciously and only when I am happy that I'm well away from where I am aiming for.

Now, an electric plane that can be used for precision work is that which comes as a planer/thicknesser or, if you like, a thicknesser/planer. The difference, of course, is that you are handling not the plane but the wood. And that allows you to exercise infinitely more control over what is happening. I would certainly recommend the use of such a machine but ... the hand-held electric plane is, to my mind, rather a waste of space and of your hard-earned money.

That's my two penneth, anyway, for what it's worth. Over to our members ....

Best wishes

[pjl83]

I have to say Mike, that not having used the electric version before, I have watched others using it and I did think that it looked a little brutal. I think I'll spend the money on getting myself a really good "manual" plane.

Any recommendations on size, make, things to look for etc?

Thanks
Paul

[Mike]

Hi Paul

When building simple, skin-on-frame kayaks, I had no need for anything other than a decent Stanley bought from my local hardware store. All the wood I bought for those was ordered PAR (planed all round) and needed very little modification.

Since deciding to go into bigger boats, I have gone perhaps way over the top and invested in a few, very expensive, Lie-Nielsens. That said, when you compare the cost of a good Stanley in the days when they were all made in Sheffield (a few are still made there, by the way), the Lie-Nielsens are not really expensive at all. And they do carry a lifetime guarantee. I can tell you that holding a Lie-Nielsen in your hand and using it on 'good wood' is an experience of itself. They are superbly made tools. I have their No.62 low angle jack plane, No 102 low angle block plane, and their little No.100 1/2 convex sole palm plane. The primary use for the first is scarfing, the second for trimming up when planking, and the third for things like making oars and seats. I would emphasise that I would not recommend this route if you intend to build just one or two boats. The cost is simply not justifiable.

I would suggest you would be wise to buy a decent block plane. Have a look at both Rutlands and Axminster websites in this regard and buy the best one you can afford. A good block plane is perhaps the most useful tool you will own when building a boat.

On Stanley planes, I am reliably informed by a man who has built more boats than I have looked at that even the cheap Stanleys can be tweaked and tuned to perform well. The key to such performance lies in a sharp blade and proper adjustment. And don't forget to resharpen frequently. It pays dividends.

I recently bought a Stanley Bailey No.7 Try plane, this for much more than boatbuilding. It is made in Sheffield and was a delight to use straight from the box. Nonetheless, it performed even better once I spent some time on honing the blade to razor sharpness.

I think perhaps the best advice I can give you is to always buy the best tools you can afford for the job in hand. And DO NOT be tempted, as I frequently am, to invest in the best simply because you like the way they look or feel. I've always been a sucker in that regard, I'm afraid. ;)

Hope that helps in some small way.

Best wishes and happy hunting

[pjl83]

sound advice as usual Mike. Thanks for that.

would you be tempted by this little beauty. http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=794073&name=block+plane&user_search=1&sfile=1&jump=44 it's nice and shiny - a bargain at £215 :escape:i can just imagine me now trying to explain that one to the wife! I'm hoping not to spend much mre than that the whole Tender Behind project! (Though the paint may take it a little over) ;) :surrender2:

I will have a good look around and have a feel of a few before I buy one.

Thanks,
Paul

p.s. a little off topic but there's never a bad time to drop it in - :brittania_rules: well done again Mr Button. Absolutely stunning lap :appl:

[Mike]

I reckon this Stanley (http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=23365&name=block+plane&user_search=1&sfile=1&jump=44) would be okay and would last you until you get to my vintage, Paul, but, as you say, it is possibly best to get one in your hand and give it the old mark one eyeball treatment. The best way to fend off the wifely frown is to buy her the plane as a birthday present. When she throws it at you, you must catch it and tell her you'll buy her something more useful in its place. Heh heh.

That Veritas job has to be the ultimate chrome dazzler but I reckon it would be a lesser plane than the Lie-Nielsen equivalent. It reminds me of those Yank trucks - covered in shiny metal.

As to JB's effort today, I was gob-smacked, mate. Didn't the boy do well? I thought he was going to be about fourth or fifth. That was just about the perfect lap - and he only got it in with less than a second to spare. Hats off to him and fingers crossed for tomorrow. This is the best F1 season for many a long year - so far, anyway.

Best wishes

[Philip]

l just read this eletric planes have there use but ONLY for stripping timber down personally l will use a chain saw or power planer but the best man for the job would be a decent a bansaw but you are talking money. stanley planes are very good for there value and more crucial stay sharp very good blades, same as there chisels good value phil

[Mike]

I agree, Philip. Bandsaws are fantastic tools, allowing great control over the work. But they don't come cheap, as you say, especially if you want one that will handle the scantlings for a 25 or 30 footer. And it can't be used 'in hand' on the boat. You have to prefabricate what you need. That is not usually much of a problem, of course, but nothing beats the old fashioned, hand held, plane for working 'in hand' on a boat.

The real problem with power (electric) planers is their ability to chew through more timber than you want them to when you take your eye off the ball for just a moment. At least, that is my experience. I have one of my electric planes locked into a Triton Table. That just acts like a planer/thicknesser or a router table and allows me to handle the timber rather than the tool.

It's all about control at the end of the day. Power planes will get the meat off for you but to take material off down to the pencil mark nothing beats the hand held plane. And my favourites are the low angle planes. I have a low angle jack and a low angle block plane, both Lie-Nielsens, and, though they cost far too much, they are an absolute delight to work with. I also have some Stanleys and agree they are good value for money. The key to success with them, I find, is to sharpen the blades frequently. Well, more frequently than I have to with a Lie-Nielsen.

Regards