DG

"David G. Sizemore"

25/11/2004 12:47 AM

Groz Planes

OK. I know it ain't no Bailey, LN, etc., but probably not a Buck Bros,
either.

So does anyone have/know anything about these planes? Construction,
tunability, materials, ease of use?

If the iron is bad, can you just slap a Hock in there and have it be a
decent tool?

I am not a production shop, just want to do a few projects a year. I am
aware that this $50.00 plane will not act like a $600.00 one, but why not?

Attempting to break in to a newbie neander mode, and don't want to put down
$1500 for 3 planes if I'm gonna put them on Ebay in a year.

So, is this a good tool? If not, can it be made functional? Will it always
be a fifty dollar paperweight, or can i make a few curlies and still feed
the kids?

--
If you don't know to switch the "com" and the "gmail",
You probably shouldn't attempt to email me.

David G. Sizemore


This topic has 10 replies

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Andy Dingley

in reply to "David G. Sizemore" on 25/11/2004 12:47 AM

25/11/2004 1:36 AM

On 25 Nov 2004 00:47:26 GMT, "David G. Sizemore" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>So does anyone have/know anything about these planes? Construction,
>tunability, materials, ease of use?

No, but I've used their measuring tools. They're OK. Somewhere
between good European and typical Chinese. So long as you don't pay
too much, they're alright. They've got to be better than Kunz !

>If the iron is bad, can you just slap a Hock in there and have it be a
>decent tool?

Maybe. You can't just "slap a Hock in" for anything, because Hock ship
them unhoned. Get a decent iron instead and it comes ready to use.

>I am not a production shop, just want to do a few projects a year. I am
>aware that this $50.00 plane will not act like a $600.00 one, but why not?

Try and find a Fine Woodworking multi-plane review from a few years
ago. They reviewed a bunch of planes, right down to an Anant
barrel-bottom-scraping plane. If you tuned it and put an iron in, even
the Anant behaved. They also found that a cap iron that fitted well
(they recomended the Clifton two piece) was a worthwhile tweak.

>Attempting to break in to a newbie neander mode, and don't want to put down
>$1500 for 3 planes if I'm gonna put them on Ebay in a year.

So buy your planes from eBay in the first place.

$500 planes are ridiculous anyway. No-one needs to spend this for
typical bench planes. There are some specialist purposes where sheer
rarity and low manufacturing volume puts the price up, and if you
really need a grockle-shaver, I guess you need a grockle-shaver. For
general bench planes though, anything costing much more than Lee
Valley's is an indulgence.

--
Smert' spamionam

DG

"David G. Sizemore"

in reply to "David G. Sizemore" on 25/11/2004 12:47 AM

25/11/2004 3:48 AM

On 2004-11-25, Andy Dingley <[email protected]> wrote:
> No, but I've used their measuring tools. They're OK. Somewhere
> between good European and typical Chinese. So long as you don't pay
> too much, they're alright. They've got to be better than Kunz !

Good to know, thanks

> Maybe. You can't just "slap a Hock in" for anything, because Hock ship
> them unhoned. Get a decent iron instead and it comes ready to use.

Ummm....as we said in grade school, "duuh"! I knew full well that I would
have to hone the iron. I was asking (incorrectly, perhaps) if anyone knew
of the quality of the "stock" iron, and would replacing the iron with a
decent one would help in changing the sow's ear closer to a silk purse; or
if it was just trying to polish a turd {don't try that-you end up with sh*t
on your hands and a pissed off turd}

>
>>I am not a production shop, just want to do a few projects a year. I am
>>aware that this $50.00 plane will not act like a $600.00 one, but why not?
>
> Try and find a Fine Woodworking multi-plane review from a few years
> ago. They reviewed a bunch of planes,

Will do, Thanks


> They also found that a cap iron that fitted well
> (they recomended the Clifton two piece) was a worthwhile tweak.

Again, good to know, thanks

> So buy your planes from eBay in the first place.

rather pay $100 dollars for a known-limited piece, than $300 for something
that used to be good, and is not salvageable. I will buy many things off
Ebay, but I'll let the tool gloats pass by.


> $500 planes are ridiculous anyway.

But I sure would love to have a shop full

> No-one needs to spend this for
> typical bench planes.

See above

--
If you don't know to switch the "com" and the "gmail",
You probably shouldn't attempt to email me.

David G. Sizemore

DG

"David G. Sizemore"

in reply to "David G. Sizemore" on 25/11/2004 12:47 AM

25/11/2004 3:11 PM

On 2004-11-25, Alan W <[email protected]> wrote:
> I have the 60 1/2 on order from Highland Hardware. I happen to have a
> English Stanley 60 1/2 with a hock iron in it with only the sole
> slightly flattened. Since I have a bit of experience with planing
> purpleheart, I figure I can see how it is pretty quickly stock out of
> the box.
>
> Alan

If you could post the results, that'd be great. Like I said, just looking
to see if there is something "inexpensive" but not "cheap".



--
If you don't know to switch the "com" and the "gmail",
You probably shouldn't attempt to email me.

David G. Sizemore

LH

"Lowell Holmes"

in reply to "David G. Sizemore" on 25/11/2004 12:47 AM

25/11/2004 1:05 PM

Veritas planes come out of the box working and the prices are reasonable.
The iron will require about 90 seconds of honing though.
"Alan W" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "David G. Sizemore" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:<[email protected]>...
>> OK. I know it ain't no Bailey, LN, etc., but probably not a Buck Bros,
>> either.
>>
>> So does anyone have/know anything about these planes? Construction,
>> tunability, materials, ease of use?
>>
>> If the iron is bad, can you just slap a Hock in there and have it be a
>> decent tool?
>>
>
> I have the 60 1/2 on order from Highland Hardware. I happen to have a
> English Stanley 60 1/2 with a hock iron in it with only the sole
> slightly flattened. Since I have a bit of experience with planing
> purpleheart, I figure I can see how it is pretty quickly stock out of
> the box.
>
> Alan

pp

patriarch <[email protected]>

in reply to "David G. Sizemore" on 25/11/2004 12:47 AM

25/11/2004 3:13 AM

"David G. Sizemore" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> OK. I know it ain't no Bailey, LN, etc., but probably not a Buck
> Bros, either.
>
> So does anyone have/know anything about these planes? Construction,
> tunability, materials, ease of use?
>
> If the iron is bad, can you just slap a Hock in there and have it be a
> decent tool?

You can be the first one on the metaphorical block, if you want, or you can
go to an expert, as I did.

www.supertool.com is run by one Patrick Leach, a wRecker of some antiquity.
In addition to his 'more than anyone _really_needed_ to know Stanley site,
he sells old tools. Tools with a soul.

One need not purchase collectable quality planes. By informing Patrick
that you are interested in a user-quality plane, you can get affordably-
priced, common planes, from your grandfather's era, and be assured that you
will get what you are promised. I've purchased more than a complete set
(there's a danger in this...) from him, over the last 2 1/2 years, and been
pleased with every one. The most I've ever spent was on the most recent, a
minty Stanley #8, at 24" long. The plane is at least 80 years old. I
spent less than 4 minutes getting it ready to joint an edge on an 8/4 oak
plank.

There are other good dealers out there. You MAY pay a little more than
eBay, but you buy some expertise as well. I find that combination to be
valuable.

Andy's correct. You don't need one or two of each. And I need to
regularly remind myself of that.

Welcome to the slippery slope.

Patriarch

pp

patriarch <[email protected]>

in reply to "David G. Sizemore" on 25/11/2004 12:47 AM

26/11/2004 5:09 AM

[email protected] wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> those look a whole lot like the ones grizzly is currently selling. I'd
> bet they are the same. the griz package would save you a few bucks...
>
> http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?itemnumber=H5699
> compared to
> <http://www.tools-for-woodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&Pro
> dID=6070> and
> <http://www.tools-for-woodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&Pro
> dID=6068>
>

Rockler has some new planes on the way, too. Want to bet that these are
pretty similar as well?

The local store manager is going to set aside the first ones for me to
evaluate. He has the possibly mistaken impression that I'm suited to
evaluate them for him. ;-)

Patriarch

b

in reply to "David G. Sizemore" on 25/11/2004 12:47 AM

25/11/2004 11:05 AM

On 25 Nov 2004 00:47:26 GMT, "David G. Sizemore" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>OK. I know it ain't no Bailey, LN, etc., but probably not a Buck Bros,
>either.
>
>So does anyone have/know anything about these planes? Construction,
>tunability, materials, ease of use?
>
>If the iron is bad, can you just slap a Hock in there and have it be a
>decent tool?
>
>I am not a production shop, just want to do a few projects a year. I am
>aware that this $50.00 plane will not act like a $600.00 one, but why not?
>
>Attempting to break in to a newbie neander mode, and don't want to put down
>$1500 for 3 planes if I'm gonna put them on Ebay in a year.
>
>So, is this a good tool? If not, can it be made functional? Will it always
>be a fifty dollar paperweight, or can i make a few curlies and still feed
>the kids?


those look a whole lot like the ones grizzly is currently selling. I'd
bet they are the same. the griz package would save you a few bucks...

http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?itemnumber=H5699
compared to
<http://www.tools-for-woodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=6070>
and
<http://www.tools-for-woodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=6068>

aA

in reply to "David G. Sizemore" on 25/11/2004 12:47 AM

25/11/2004 12:05 AM

"David G. Sizemore" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> OK. I know it ain't no Bailey, LN, etc., but probably not a Buck Bros,
> either.
>
> So does anyone have/know anything about these planes? Construction,
> tunability, materials, ease of use?
>
> If the iron is bad, can you just slap a Hock in there and have it be a
> decent tool?
>

I have the 60 1/2 on order from Highland Hardware. I happen to have a
English Stanley 60 1/2 with a hock iron in it with only the sole
slightly flattened. Since I have a bit of experience with planing
purpleheart, I figure I can see how it is pretty quickly stock out of
the box.

Alan

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Andy Dingley

in reply to "David G. Sizemore" on 25/11/2004 12:47 AM

26/11/2004 1:46 AM

On Thu, 25 Nov 2004 08:04:41 -0800, Larry Jaques
<novalidaddress@di\/ersify.com> wrote:

>I haven't seen the Groz planes in person but the pics are very nice.
>I think they're probably closer to new (unuseable) Bucks than they
>are to LNs.

That's what the measuring tools are like. Nice shiny surface finish,
looks great, but there's a honking great burr on the adjusting screw.


Gloat: Bought an "apprentice made" spirit level on eBay - a little
adjustable toolmaker's level about 4" long and with a shielded tube
vial. Turned up today, and it's actually a tiny Starrett. Because it
was described as "apprentice made", no-one else bothered to bid on it
and I got it for only 99p !

--
Smert' spamionam

LJ

Larry Jaques

in reply to "David G. Sizemore" on 25/11/2004 12:47 AM

25/11/2004 8:04 AM

On 25 Nov 2004 00:47:26 GMT, "David G. Sizemore" <[email protected]>
calmly ranted:

>OK. I know it ain't no Bailey, LN, etc., but probably not a Buck Bros,
>either.
>
>So does anyone have/know anything about these planes? Construction,
>tunability, materials, ease of use?

I haven't seen the Groz planes in person but the pics are very nice.
I think they're probably closer to new (unuseable) Bucks than they
are to LNs.


>If the iron is bad, can you just slap a Hock in there and have it be a
>decent tool?

Sure, nearly doubling the original price.


>I am not a production shop, just want to do a few projects a year. I am
>aware that this $50.00 plane will not act like a $600.00 one, but why not?

I got my cheapo Indian plane to cut really well for a couple feet
once. I use that plane for door trimming, where the paint can
have its way with the really cheaparse iron.


>Attempting to break in to a newbie neander mode, and don't want to put down
>$1500 for 3 planes if I'm gonna put them on Ebay in a year.

So start on Ebay, whydoncha?


>So, is this a good tool? If not, can it be made functional? Will it always
>be a fifty dollar paperweight, or can i make a few curlies and still feed
>the kids?

I'd opt for an old Stanley #5. You can find one on Ebay for $15 on up,
most of which have been tuned by their previous owners. Add a Hock
iron to one of those instead. Then you KNOW you have a good chunk of
properly made, well-seasoned cast iron.


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