Tool Gloat - Lie-Nielsen Rabbet Block Plane

[nn4jw]

Two in less than a week.

Last one was a Veritas Skew Rabbet Plane. This time around it's a new Lie-Nielsen 60 1/2 R (right hand) Rabbet Block Plane to compliment my Veritas Skew Rabbet Plane. Besides cleaning up rabbets it can do anything else a normal block plane can do.



This one is my first Lie-Nielsen and I couldn't be more pleased. It has a straight across bevel up blade that fits perfectly to each edge of the casting. There are nickers on each side for cross grain work and I had to really look hard to see the edges of the nickers with them screwed in. The seams are almost invisible. Adjustment to the blade are silky smooth. I know this is going to be a joy to use.

 

[MarkE]

Cool. Lie-Nielsen certainly makes some top quality tools.

 

[Jeremy Scuteri]

That one definitely comes in handy. I was under the impression that the blade is just a bit wider than the plane body by design. I know mine is, which I find a bit annoying.

 

[nn4jw]

That one definitely comes in handy. I was under the impression that the blade is just a bit wider than the plane body by design. I know mine is, which I find a bit annoying.

Now that I've looked really closely I see what you are saying. It's just a hair, but it is wider.



I haven't seen an explanation online yet. My guess is to slightly undercut the corner of a rabbet or tenon top get a better fit. Maybe I'll ask the source.

 

[Jeremy Scuteri]

I am impressed that you were able to take that picture. Any tricks?

 

[TENdriver]

If you go to the Veritas/Lee Valley site and look at the Skew rabbet plane page, there is a video link on the top right. They talk specifically about the blade extending beyond the body of the plane and also mentioned that the SKew rabbet instructions cover the blade set up in detail.

I didn't check but there is probably an explanation on the Veritas Jack Rabbet page as well.

 

[nn4jw]

I am impressed that you were able to take that picture. Any tricks?

Thanks. I set the plane on a piece of black felt from Michael's. Over head is a 3' LED shop light. I don't have the paperwork any more on that, but it's from Ace Hardware and is rated Daylight. I don't remember the actual color temperature, but it was on the box. I did a minimal amount of adjustment to the pictures with Corel Paint Shop Pro X9 to correct the white balance, brightness and contrast, but no cropping or other manipulations.



I used a Sigma 50mm 1:2.8 DG EX macro focusing lens on a Sony Alpha 580 with the camera mounted on a tripod and with an electronic remote shutter trigger to avoid introducing hand shake. As it was, the lens was about an inch and a half from the plane here. This is the full size picture and not cropped. I could have gone closer.



But it wouldn't have shown both sides of the blade sticking out if I had.

Besides, that would have just been showing off.

 

[nn4jw]

If you go to the Veritas/Lee Valley site and look at the Skew rabbet plane page, there is a video link on the top right. They talk specifically about the blade extending beyond the body of the plane and also mentioned that the SKew rabbet instructions cover the blade set up in detail.

I didn't check but there is probably an explanation on the Veritas Jack Rabbet page as well.

Thanks! The instruction booklet for the Veritas plane was sitting right near me and I looked it over. To tell the truth, I hadn't had a chance to look over the instructions that came with the Lie-Nielsen until just now.

Those instructions say to "align the edge of the blade with the side of the body that you want it flush with. Laying the tool on its side can help you do this quickly and accurately. Or if you prefer, you can grind a little material off the side of the blade to make it flush with both sides."

I think I'll just align it instead of risking messing up the blade. I'd rather have to adjust it than take too much off.

 

[TENdriver]

Interestingly, the Skew Rabbet video says to extend blade beyond the body about the thickness of a sheet of paper. I'm going to look at the instructions for all of my Rabbet planes. So far, I've always had the blade a touch proud so they'd cut a clean corner.

I'd be really hesitant about grinding back the blade on the block plane.

 

[nn4jw]

Here's what the email from Lie-Nielsen said on the matter:

**********************

The Rabbet Block Plane blade extends the width of of the mouth opening, and is slightly larger than the overall width of the tool. This is also the case for the Shoulder Planes and other Rabbet bench planes. The reason for this, is that it is easier to align the blade in the proper position when it is slightly larger than the body of the tool, rather than if it was close to the same width of the tool body. The little bit of extra width is preferable to having too little width. If the width of the blade is less than the width of the body of the tool, if would be more difficult to keep the blade properly aligned, and it would struggle with the rabbet cuts.

When you are using the blade to take a rabbet cut, align the blade so the inside edge is flush against the side of the tool inside the rabbet. If you try to cut with the excess of the blade extending into the rabbet, the blade will cut into the rabbet and it will not leave a smooth corner or edge. When you are using the tool for general use, you can center the blade, or leave the blade aligned to one side.

**********************

 

[TENdriver]

Jim, Thanks, that's pretty interesting stuff.

A bit different than what Veritas/Lee Valley Skew Rabbet Plane video and all of their rabbet plane instructions say but I could see how it should work fine if the blade was right at the edge of the plane body as LN describes. Based on your photos, I keep my rabbeting and shoulder plane blades almost exactly as what you have yours at right now.

I've had two of LN's rabbet planes (#10 carriage and the rabbet block) on my short list and planned on getting at least one of them next week but I may have already bought too many tools this month, so we'll see. Probably have to pass at this point and they'd be more for fooling around with than anything since I have all the others already.