Jointer plane purchase

[Ryan Baker]

I'll take my LV jointer over a woodie jointer (I have an ECE) any day.

It's too late now, but you could have gotten a nice discount this morning at the LV Cyber Monday sale.

[Phil Mueller]

I've been into hand planning for about a year now. I have the LV jointer with edge guide and the Lie-Nielson #62. I have built end tables, hall tables, sofa tables and a work bench. For the typical board length on these projects, the 62 saw more wood at least 90% of the time...for face and edge planning as well as shooting. The jointer was great to have on a few tasks, but unless you plan to consistently work with long material, I'd at least put a 62 plane into consideration.

By the way, as you have probably come to know as well, the guys recommending woodies do know their stuff and I trust their opinions greatly. I will likely go with a woodie or two in the future, but I do think you may appreciate the metals to start. Like mentioned above, you'll never lose much $ on LV or LN.

[Allan Speers]

ECE Primus jointer.

Light weight, wood-on-wood feel (lignum sole) and a lovely depth adjuster (once you learn how to use it right.)

I have maybe 7-8 true jointers, and all the others now collect dust.

[Trevor Goodwin]

I have an ECE "Short Jointer Plane". I bought this over other jointers because: 1. It has a 48mm blade, so requires less effort to push; 2. It is the most inexpensive jointer you can buy new - I didn't want a vintage Stanley/Record because the soles are likely to require flattening; 3. It uses the wedge blade holding mechanism - I've heard the Primus mechanism holds the blade well but is a pain in the ass to remove for sharpening.

In use I don't adjust the depth that often, so while the wedge mechanism can be fiddly to get just right, setting it is kind of a one time thing when jointing. I think a lot of people jam the wedge in too firm and have trouble retracting the blade afterwards (by tapping on the button).

[Matthew N. Masail]

You know Matthew, I have never used the A55 - I just never availed for myself the opportunities when I have shared space with Terry at woodshows. He is the salt of the Earth, utterly reliable ... as are all his planes. It is uncanny that one can drop a sharp blade into a HNT Gordon plane, and it will perform perfectly. Are you getting the O1 or HSS (M2) blade?

Were I buying a trying plane from Terry today, and did not need the extra 5 degrees cutting angle, - I would get the A55. I do use the version I have quite a bit - it is excellent when working on a smaller, narrower board - and the handle I added works well. I am sure that the A55 would be better balanced.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I'm getting tool steel in all the planes except the smoother and mini smoother, these I got off the special page - just couldn't resist ! The wood looks like marble on the site.... I would have asked Terry if I could have them with TS but I figured the M4 would be better for when I use them as scrapers. I finish up on a sigma select II 10k so I think sharpening will be fine. Curios how you feel about the different blades?

I got to use only one of his planes, a handled jack, about 4 years ago, It was brief but as someone who was making planes at the time I was amazed how beautifully balanced it was. Power transfer was perfect! I have no doubt his plans are real gems. I look forward to them arriving, Hopefully next week !