woodhack Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 So, I went to the Lie-Neilsen demo at Cerritos College just to check out their planes. I'm planning on building a slab dining room table by the end of the year and I wanted to check out a number 5 or a number 6 to use to smooth and level (somewhat) the top. Plus both of those were in my budget. Well, when I started talking about what I wanted to use the plane for, this guy named Chuck picked up a number 7 to show me. I immediately think the guy is on a commission and trying to squeeze another $100 out of me. Don't get me wrong, the 7 is a real nice looking plane but I didn't want to spend that much extra right now so soon after Christmas. Then I picked it up.... It instantly felt like I had owned the plane for decades and I was effortlessly creating the finest shavings I had ever created. For a large and fairly heavy plane it felt balanced and smooth. It was a revelation and now I know what all of the other Neanderthals are talking about when they say you have to hold the plane in your hand before you buy it. $425 later, my new #7 should be in my hands in 7 to 10 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChetlovesMer Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Congratulations. And as Alec Guinness once said "You've just taken your first step into a larger world." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhelart Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 I don't know what other planes you own or how much experience you have with hand panes in general, but you will love this one. Over the years I've collected a few LN planes (and others of similar quality), they make it fun. When a new LN plane arrives I know it's true and square all I have to do is put the final share and honing on the iron. Just tonight I finished shaping and honing the iron from a new Large Router plane and a replacement iron for my Low Angle Smoothing plane. Once they a re tuned and in the cabinet I know they are ready for work, no fussing or screwing around, just grab 'em and start planing. Enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodhack Posted January 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Yeah Chet, I know... One weird thing though was Chuck tried to interest me in the low angle jack plane and that thing felt like crap to me. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice plane and all but it just felt like I had to do too much work for it do it's job. Whereas the #7 felt like it was doing all of the work and I was just pushing the handle through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Slack Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 Welcome to the LN world. I own a Nbr. 8 and if you don't have a smoother ... Nbr. 4-1/2 is a good tool to consider next to clean cuts from your table saw. I learned at the Cerritos demo how to use my float. Sometimes I am really stupid and buy a tool knowing that will use it later and in this case ... my float sat on my bench for a while. I thought it was for cleaning through tenons and is also great to clean the end grain cuts as a smoother. Enjoy your investment. I was told that LN planes hold their value better than most other ones, I have no idea how do other planes sell used. ... not that I want to sell any of mine but if you make a mistake you can always get most of your money back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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