"hammer adjusted" plane choice

[Joel Goodman]

I would like to add a "hammer adjusted" smoothing plane to my arsenal. I have never used a traditional plane and would like to see how I like them. I have several old Baileys that I've fettled and a LN low angle jack and low angle block and am getting good results with them. For a reasonable price the HNT Gordons seem a good value -- sorry Ron Brese I just don't have the $ at the moment. I am considering the Gordon block plane or the Gordon smoother. Would anyone with experience with either or both please chime in as to your experience. The block is a 55 degree and I would use it as a small smoother. The smoother is 60 degrees and "chinese" style with a crossbar and has a thicker iron (1/4" vs 1/8"). Any feedback as to which might be a better first pick would be appreciated. Ease of setup is a concern as I am a newbie to the world of planes without adjusters! Thanks.

[Bob Strawn]

Gordon's Hong Kong style smoother is a beauty. No offense to his block plane, but it is not winning any contests vs the smoother. Gordon's Smoother has to be one of the prettiest planes ever made.

I think you should get a one of the Harbor Freight #33 Bench Planes.

It is not hammer adjusted, but if you go with the HF I won't feel any jealousy at all. Not one bit.

Bob

[James Scheffler]

Originally Posted by Bob Strawn

I think you should get a one of the Harbor Freight #33 Bench Planes.

It is not hammer adjusted, but if you go with the HF I won't feel any jealousy at all. Not one bit.

Bob

I saw a very similar Stanley plane at HF for about the same price, but I don't think it was an identical rebadged thing. I really had the urge to buy it just to take a look, but finally convinced myself that it would just be a waste of $10. Anyway, it's probably better not to encourage them to make more.

Jim

[RickT Harding]

I have the Gordon jack plane and I really like it. The mouth is tight in my experience so it's turned into a smoothing plane in my arsenal. The 55deg angle is a nice middle ground between my normal MF #9 and the LV LAJ with the high angle blade.

I'd say grab the smoother. It's one of the next ones on my list when I hit the jackpot. The light weight of the wood planes is awesome and the smooth finish of the HNT planes is sweet.

[Phillip Pattee]

I have the HNT Gordon Jack plane that I built from the kit. This is available from Highland Hardware and Craftsman Studio. It really functions for me as a high angle smoother as well. It only has the 1/8" blade and still performs very well. I think you would be very pleased with the smoother.

[Joel Goodman]

Philip and Rick -- Do you have the new style (with tote) jack or the old style? I had considered this plane as well but it doesn't have the brass insert in the front of the mouth so I had sidelined it -- but maybe that's not an issue and I should put it back in the mix. The old style jack is available at a reduced cost.

[RickT Harding]

I have the jack with the tote. Honestly, when you get used to the wooden planes I don't think I'd miss it. So I'm not sure it's that big a deal if you can get a good price on one without.

[Phillip Pattee]

Joel,
My kit was the old style jack. But because mine was a kit, I put a razee on it and added a tote to make it look more like the new style. The overall length of the old style jack is close to the new A55 smoother too. Just for comparison, here are pictures of the A55 smoother, the New Aussie Jack, and my plane from the kit.

[Frank Drew]

My feeling is that if a plane works, it works, regardless how it's adjusted.

That said, the best planes I've used have been traditional Japanese planes, which are, of course, hammer adjusted. But they only work well when they're correctly tuned up, meaning an ultra-sharp blade combined with a precisely calibrated plane sole, and the plane sole might need to be reworked several times over the course of a workday.

[Joel Goodman]

Thanks for the advice -- now I'm torn between the jack and the smoother! I guess an advantage of a wooden plane is that you can add your own tote! I agree that different adjustment systems probably all can work well, I just want to expand my horizons a little and try something that's new to me.

[Steve Schoene]

In honor of his passing, it would be appropriate to make a Krenov style plane. His book, The Fine Art of Cabinetmaking, shows how to do it, and I suspect there are other sources for amplification if needed.

[David Gendron]

Hi, I just finishet a Krenov plane with the Hock blade and it is the best plane I have right and I do have a few... It work realy well!

[Bob Strawn]

Originally Posted by Steve Schoene

In honor of his passing, it would be appropriate to make a Krenov style plane. His book, The Fine Art of Cabinetmaking, shows how to do it, and I suspect there are other sources for amplification if needed.

+1


Bob

[Derek Cohen]

The HNT Gordon Smoother and Trying Plane are two of my staple planes. They are superb and reliable. Here is my review of these two ...



http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRev...g%20Plane.html

I have also reviewed the HNT Gordon Block Plane. This is one of those sleepers. It looks clumsy but it works so well for the type of tasks that are most common: trimming, edge- and face grain.



http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRev...lockPlane.html

Don;t forget the HNT Gordon small smoother - this is an amazing little plane - and the Mujingfang range for the best value-for-performance around.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Chuck Nickerson]

I have the 60* Gordon smoother and love it. For me it was a great addition to my kit because it was my first high-angle smoother. I now fear no African Mohogany.