That's really the point. All else (like cost) being equal, I would be very likely to choose a new premium plane. They are beautifully designed and manufactured and I'm sure they are a pleasure to use. The one exception might be the weight. The premium planes are often heavier than their vintage counter parts and sometimes a lighter tool is an advantage.
I look to the 100+ years that vintage Stanley Bailey style planes have been in the hands of craftsman. Homes and museums are filled with the things made with these tools. I can't point to one that would have been better if only they had a LN jointer or a LV BU smoother.
Originally Posted by
Sean Hughto
YES, THIS. We don't have to try to devine "better" by fickle choices of newbies who can have as many planes as they like (i.e., are not limited to one). We can get specific and empirical: Take like planes and run them through their paces. What can a LN 5 do that a Stanley 5 cannot, or do better? What can a Veritas LA jointer do that a Stanley 7 cannot, or do better? Etc. ad infinitum.
If more expensive and fancier means better results, does that mean we should all aspire to Norris infills and what have you?
I used to think that the one place where something like an LN might actually perform better was in smoothing super difficult grained woods. I haven't done the the tests, but I'm skeptical about even that these days.
So why do I have LNs in addition to my vintage planes? They are a bit tighter feeling in use in some circumstances, for one - not that this affects the result really. Things like far less backlash on the depth adjustment wheel and so forth. They are also often a bit more foolproof having been made to tight tolerances with somewhat superior castings and materials - again, the cut is not affected. I can get a used base model Honda accord that is nice to use and gets me there everytime; I can get a brand new luxury model Honda Accord that gets me from place to place no better and not particularly differently as far as aesthetic feel, but sometimes, leather seats and such are nice, even if unnecessary.
-- Dan Rode
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle