Plane name confusion

Jointers are long, like 22" or longer, 20" is a fore plane like Stanley # 6,
jack (means shortened) would be a #5.
Woodswarf

"Tom Best" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> A little help would be appreciated. I am preparing to build my first
> workbench. I would like to build the Frank Klausz bench from the
> Workbench Book. Instead, I am going to settle for using the plans at
> http://www.terraclavis.com/bws/beginners.htm also known as Bob and
> Dave's Good, Fast, and Cheap Bench.
>
> I've been lurking for a while and I've Scary Sharpened and tuned a
> cheap Harbor Freight plane to the point that it actually works (sort
> of).
>
> I'm told I will need a Jack Plane and a Jointer Plane. My problem is
> that I cant find anything called a jack plane or a jointer pland in
> the Lee Valley catalog. Since the Veritas #5 1/2 is a junior jack, is
> the Veritas #6 the Jack? Also, is the Veritas Edge-Trimming Block
> Plane a jointer plane?
>
> No really looking for a treatise on planes (yet) just some basic info.
>
> thanks
> Tom

"Tom Best" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> A little help would be appreciated. I am preparing to build my first
> workbench. I would like to build the Frank Klausz bench from the
> Workbench Book. Instead, I am going to settle for using the plans at
> http://www.terraclavis.com/bws/beginners.htm also known as Bob and
> Dave's Good, Fast, and Cheap Bench.
>
> I've been lurking for a while and I've Scary Sharpened and tuned a
> cheap Harbor Freight plane to the point that it actually works (sort
> of).
>
> I'm told I will need a Jack Plane and a Jointer Plane. My problem is
> that I cant find anything called a jack plane or a jointer pland in
> the Lee Valley catalog. Since the Veritas #5 1/2 is a junior jack, is
> the Veritas #6 the Jack? Also, is the Veritas Edge-Trimming Block
> Plane a jointer plane?
>
> No really looking for a treatise on planes (yet) just some basic info.
>
> thanks
> Tom

IIRC, Veritas doesn't (yet) make a full size jack plane, nor a true jointer.
Their #6 would traditionally be called a Fore Plane, but it is designed with
the blade set back, so the sole of the plane in front of the blade is
similar to a #7 Jointer Plane. This helps it act more like a jointer at the
front end of the cut, but I wonder about how it works on the tail end of the
cut.

The Veritas 5 1/4 Junior Jack is shorter than a regular Jack, but they have
done the same reconfiguration as they did with the Fore above, so the blade
is set further back. Everything I've heard indicates their tools are well
made.

I'm currently in the same process, though I've designed my own bench. My
planes are all Lie Nielson. While they are more expensive than the Veritas,
they do follow the numbering scheme more closely. For the last several
days, I've been getting a lot of use out the following planes: scrub, #4
smoother, #4 1/2 large smoother, #5 1/2 jumbo jack, and #7jointer. I use
the scrub to get rid of the rough sawn surface, then use the #4 set fairly
heavy to get the surface roughly leveled. The 5 1/2 is set a bit finer to
refine the surface (so using the #7 isn't like skipping a rock across a
pond). Finally, the #7 is set very fine for a smooth and flat surface.
When you get full with and length shavings with the #7 (and proper
technique), you aren't going to get any flatter unless you move up to
something even larger. The 4 1/2 has a 50 degree (York Pitch) frog, set
extremely fine. I only use it if I can't get rid of tearout with anything
else.

Cheers,
Eric

On Sun 28 Dec 2003 08:44:23p, [email protected] (Tom Best) wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> I'm told I will need a Jack Plane and a Jointer Plane. My problem is
> that I cant find anything called a jack plane or a jointer pland in
> the Lee Valley catalog. Since the Veritas #5 1/2 is a junior jack, is
> the Veritas #6 the Jack? Also, is the Veritas Edge-Trimming Block
> Plane a jointer plane?
>
> No really looking for a treatise on planes (yet) just some basic info.
>
I ain't no expert so a treatise is out of the question but I'll jump in
first and say that Jack and Jointer are measured in length. A jack plane is
a "normal" length and a jointer is really long. :-) Don't matter who makes
'em, a jack is about 14" long and a jointer is around 22 or 24 inches.
Don't think there's any longer than that, but I'm not completely certain.

And no, I don't think an edge-trimming block plane would be considered a
jointer. It needs a jointed board. A jointer is long so it can take out the
high spots on a long board. It takes the place of the power jointer, or in
your case, to flatten a bench top.

You can get a good idea of how the nomenclature is used here:
http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan1.htm

Dan

For a jointer plane example do a search on the Stanley # 7

--
Mike G.
[email protected]
Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net
"Tom Best" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> A little help would be appreciated. I am preparing to build my first
> workbench. I would like to build the Frank Klausz bench from the
> Workbench Book. Instead, I am going to settle for using the plans at
> http://www.terraclavis.com/bws/beginners.htm also known as Bob and
> Dave's Good, Fast, and Cheap Bench.
>
> I've been lurking for a while and I've Scary Sharpened and tuned a
> cheap Harbor Freight plane to the point that it actually works (sort
> of).
>
> I'm told I will need a Jack Plane and a Jointer Plane. My problem is
> that I cant find anything called a jack plane or a jointer pland in
> the Lee Valley catalog. Since the Veritas #5 1/2 is a junior jack, is
> the Veritas #6 the Jack? Also, is the Veritas Edge-Trimming Block
> Plane a jointer plane?
>
> No really looking for a treatise on planes (yet) just some basic info.
>
> thanks
> Tom