Your Best Block Plane

[Carl L Goff]

L-N 102 I have used this plane the most.

[James Taglienti]

Hideous? yes. Poorly machined? you betcha. Dead flat? Not even close. The Proto 946, made by Ingersoll Rand in the 80's, has got to be considered one of the lamest low angle block planes of all time. So how did I get it to work? I took a "Krenov Style" Hock iron, ground it down, and wedged it in there. It's almost 3/16" thick! No chatter, and end grain just slides right off!

[Mark Berenbrok]

Stanley #18 with knuckle joint lever cap. Something about how you exert pressure on the lever cap let's this thing tame the wildest grain.

[Casey Gooding]

Lie-Nielsen 102 is certainly my favorite.

[Bob Noles]

Veritas Apron plane (seriously)

+ 1 here also

[Tri Hoang]

LN-60-1/2 follow closely by a no name Japanese white oak block. I use the white oak block on BB edges and other places where it would destroy A2 blade in the LN pretty quickly.

[Phillip Pattee]

I like the Stanley 65 low angle with Hock blade and the Stanley 18 for a standard angle. The knuckle cap is comfortable and they feel just right in my hand.

[David Gendron]

LV apron plane, it is just the right plane for a lot of things, I guess it is like the LN 102.

[Andy Hsieh]

Andy, if it makes you feel any better, I tried the nx60 this weekend. If you're an Apron plane kind of guy like me, the nx60 feels a little big and heavy. Looks great, but just too hefty for me as a block.

At least, that's that this fox is saying about those grapes...

I hear ya - I tried my neighbors NX60 and it was certainly too big for me - BUT if ya take the NX 60 hood and miniaturize it to fit the apron and sell it as an add on or upgrade to the apron - I'll take one Obviously I don;t take into any consideration tooling costs or actual market who would want one but thats the joy of a single post

[Bill Houghton]

Bench work: Stanley 65 with a Lee Valley iron in it. Between great bedding for the iron and the knuckle joint cap iron, the iron is held firmly, and the extra length makes for good control.

Jobsite work: Sweetheart era Stanley 60-1/2. Bedding as good as the 65, but it fits in one hand like a tiny magic wand.

[Leigh Betsch]

My own creation. Low angle, 12 degrees IIRC, A2 blade.

[dan sherman]

My own creation. Low angle, 12 degrees IIRC, A2 blade.

Come on now, you can't drop a bomb like that and only post one pic.....

[george wilson]

I'd like to see more of how your plane works,Leigh.

I have an excellent knuckle joint Stanley block plane. I should take it out and see how it does. So far,my best commercial block plane has to be the LN 60 1/2.

[Leigh Betsch]

A pic of the disassembled unit. This plane building is kind of addicting. I've got a retooled woodie jointer in process right now.

[Adam Johan Bergren]

Veritas Apron plane (seriously)

Add another one!