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Hand planing timbers- Lie-Nielson or Veritas #31870 01/26/14 05:14 PM
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Ron Mansour Offline OP
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Hello all.

I have a job coming up, 4000 bf in band-sawn (nice finish, not toothy at all) white oak that the client wants planed smooth. I am a small handtool shop, and am very interested in hand planing these timbers. I am looking for opinions and suggestions from those that have experience hand planing timbers.

1) LN vs LV? Any preference as they apply to planing timbers?

2) Ideally, I'd like to get by with one plane, Lie Nielson #4-1/2 or #5-1/2? Can I? Should I? I have a friend that uses two #4's in the process, each with a different shaped iron. Makes sense to me, but since I'm just removing the bandsaw marks off the timber, would one plane work?

3) How much to camber the irons so as not to leave tracks?

Any and all comments, opinions, and suggestions are very welcome.
Thanks.

Re: Hand planing timbers- Lie-Nielson or Veritas [Re: Ron Mansour] #31872 01/26/14 07:01 PM
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Dave Shepard Offline
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I would get one plane and several irons. Brand doesn't matter, but I like L-N planes as they are an improved Bedrock design. When I hand plane timbers, I go across the grain at maybe a 30 degree angle. I don't plain parallel to the length. I use a moderate camber, and you will see undulations, but not tracks. I think it looks great that way.


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Re: Hand planing timbers- Lie-Nielson or Veritas [Re: Ron Mansour] #31873 01/26/14 10:07 PM
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TIMBEAL Offline
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Right on with Dave on this. I also find a spoke shave handy for around knots and where the grain is crazy. I don't work hard wood much so no comment in that department. Keeping them sharp with be the laborious part.

Re: Hand planing timbers- Lie-Nielson or Veritas [Re: Ron Mansour] #31877 01/26/14 10:48 PM
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D L Bahler Offline
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Going along with Dave,

Go across the grain at an angle, there is less risk of tearout in the grain.

I also think there should be some texture when hand-planing. If I want it smooth, there are more effective means.

The thing to watch out for with oak, remove a very thin shaving at a time and keep your blades SHARP. Oak can be tough, it might chatter or want to dig in with the grain, causing tearout.
But it will finish nice when you get it figured out. Hand planed oak can be one of the most attractive things

Re: Hand planing timbers- Lie-Nielson or Veritas [Re: Ron Mansour] #31878 01/26/14 11:27 PM
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Dave Shepard Offline
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I forgot to add this to the first post. I talked to Jack Sobon once about hand planing, and he makes two passes. The first cleans up most of the band marks and any dirt, and the second is made with a freshly sharpened iron to leave a nice, smooth, although still undulating, finish.

In white pine, I think I could hand plane band sawn timbers in one pass at a rate of two square feet per minute. I haven't tried the two pass technique yet.


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Re: Hand planing timbers- Lie-Nielson or Veritas [Re: D L Bahler] #31879 01/26/14 11:41 PM
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Roger Nair Offline
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I am a big fan of the Veritas bench planes. Many unique features, one big selling point is the top of the rear tote connects directly to the frog, to me a real improvement in power transfer. About a hundred less than LN, a nice surplus for the blade budget. I would consider the 4 or 4 1/2.

Last edited by Roger Nair; 01/26/14 11:43 PM.
Re: Hand planing timbers- Lie-Nielson or Veritas [Re: Ron Mansour] #31884 01/27/14 02:04 AM
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Gumphri Offline
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No old Stanley lovers out there?


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Re: Hand planing timbers- Lie-Nielson or Veritas [Re: Ron Mansour] #31885 01/27/14 02:23 AM
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Ron Mansour Offline OP
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Thanks fellas, all very helpful and good points that I will keep in mind.

Do you guys think a 5-1/2 is too long?

I like the idea of one plane with two differently shaped irons, although if the process really dictates that two planes are needed I would get two.

Dave, how much is considered a "moderate" camber?

Should the finish iron just have the edges rounded a bit?

Re: Hand planing timbers- Lie-Nielson or Veritas [Re: Ron Mansour] #31886 01/27/14 03:04 AM
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TIMBEAL Offline
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1/16" air gap on each side is a lot. I try for a nice arc across the whole edge.

Re: Hand planing timbers- Lie-Nielson or Veritas [Re: Ron Mansour] #31888 01/27/14 10:29 AM
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Will Truax Offline
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I've always thought planed texture was handsome, and am quite fond of the rippled surface left by scrub planes.

Fast (for what it is) on band-mill sawn timber, and there is far less danger of tearout on Oak.

http://www.wkfinetools.com/contrib/cschwarz/z_art/scrubplanes/scrubPlanes1.asp


"We build too many walls and not enough bridges" - Isaac Newton

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