Question LN iron/LV iron?

[ken hatch]

LN stopped producing O-1 iron awhile back. I've never been a big fan of A-2, mostly because I prefer using Arkansas oil stones for sharpening. Nothing wrong with waterstones, in fact I have a couple of sets and love the Shapton 120 for rough work but for day to day working at the bench nothing works better or quicker than oil..

Come on Bubba get to the chase.

I have some extra LV irons in both PM-V11 and O-1 that I thought I would try in a couple of my later LN planes replacing the A-2 irons that came with the planes. No joy oil breath, I've fiddled, pushed and pulled, looked cross, moved frogs, set the irons and chip breakers on the frog and everything looks OK. Put the lever cap on and the back of the iron comes off the frog about a silly mm. I've tried with a #4, a #4 1/2 and a #5, same story with each.

I know I have to be overlooking something and fully expect to suffer flat head syndrome when it is pointed out, BTW same story with either LN or LV cap irons.

ken

[Tony Zaffuto]

Why don't you try either a Clifton iron (The Best Things) or Ray Isles (Tools for Working Wood)? I have several of the Clifton's and one of the Isles and like both equally well. I am not an A2 fan, but have had good results with LV's PMV-11 (sharpen it with Sypderco ceramic stones).

[Jim Koepke]

Are you sure the slot in the iron is wide enough for the lateral adjusting disk?

jtk

[ken hatch]

Are you sure the slot in the iron is wide enough for the lateral adjusting disk?

jtk

Jim,

Just went out to the shop to double check and yes the disk fits the slot with a little slack. While out there I measured the screw head on both the LN and the LV each is 3.80mm.

ken

[Jim Koepke]

Jim,

Just went out to the shop to double check and yes the disk fits the slot with a little slack. While out there I measured the screw head on both the LN and the LV each is 3.80mm.

ken

Then we have to start the trouble shooting.

Does the blade w/chip breaker seat on the frog properly without the lever cap?

Is it possible the chip breaker is flexing the blade?

This is another situation where pictures might help.

jtk

[ken hatch]

Why don't you try either a Clifton iron (The Best Things) or Ray Isles (Tools for Working Wood)? I have several of the Clifton's and one of the Isles and like both equally well. I am not an A2 fan, but have had good results with LV's PMV-11 (sharpen it with Sypderco ceramic stones).

Tony,

After posting I was digging around in my spare iron pile and found a long lost Ray Iles O-1 2 3/8" iron. It didn't work any better than the LVs. I think what is happening is the cap iron screw head is hitting something but that makes no sense because all should lay flat on the frog with screw head down. All have the same reference surface so there should be no difference in screw head protrusion. The only difference is thickness of the irons but that shouldn't effect the screw head.

Can you tell....I haven't a clue.

ken

[Jim Koepke]

I think what is happening is the cap iron screw head is hitting something but that makes no sense because all should lay flat on the frog with screw head down. All have the same reference surface so there should be no difference in screw head protrusion. The only difference is thickness of the irons but that shouldn't effect the screw head.

The screw on the cap iron/chip breaker sits in a recess in the frog. If the screw head doesn't sit in this recess when the depth adjuster is engaged, then there will be a problem.

One problem I had with a replacement blade and cap iron is the screw was a bit too long and interfered with the lever cap's operation. I filed it down and all was better.

jtk

[ken hatch]

I went back to the shop to check one more time and had my Emily Litella moment....Never mind.

Damn it's tough getting old. I still haven't a clue what was wrong or what changed.

ken

[Adam Cruea]

I went back to the shop to check one more time and had my Emily Litella moment....Never mind.

Damn it's tough getting old. I still haven't a clue what was wrong or what changed.

ken

So you just tried again and it properly bedded?

[Jim Koepke]

I went back to the shop to check one more time and had my Emily Litella moment....Never mind.

Damn it's tough getting old. I still haven't a clue what was wrong or what changed.

ken

Been there, done that... Likely to happen again.

jtk

[ken hatch]

Been there, done that... Likely to happen again.

jtk

I expect more and more often. Thanks for trying to help.

ken

[lowell holmes]

I

Damn it's tough getting old. I still haven't a clue
ken

Welcome to the club!

[ken hatch]

Thanks Derek,

Yep, the LV cap iron is just enough different they will not work on LN planes whatever iron you use. Something was shifting when I installed the lever cap, I still haven't figured out what but whatever it went away.

ken

[bridger berdel]

lateral adjuster failed to insert in the slot?

[Derek Cohen]

The problem is that the screw is 1/4" higher on the LN (here are #4 1/2s) ...



Same as for #3 ...



... and the slot on the chipbreaker is also 1/4" higher on the LN (here with a Stanley and a Clifton, which have the same positions for the slot) ..



I have used a Veritas PM-V11 blade on a LN #51 shooting plane, but using the LN chipbreaker. I cannot recall if other combinations worked on the #3 and #4 1/2 I have.

Regards from Perth

Derek