Official Luthiers Forum!

Is it me or is the mouth of the Lie-Nielson Model Makers plane to small? I love my other LN planes but this one which I bought for brace shaping just doesn't work that well, or as well as my old $15 plane. I can certainly open the mouth up a bit but it seems ridiculous given what it costs. Perhaps I don't know what I'm doing, I won't rule that out or perhaps I'm just missing something. Your thoughts/input would be greatly appreciated.

I have one (flat bottomed). It has a very tight mouth. I only use it for fine trimming tasks. I don't think it's very good for shaping braces at all. Maybe for planing the radius onto the bottom of a brace. Small Ibex planes do better for shaping. Still, I love mine...just not for that.

I have a L/N modelmaker plane, but don/t use it for brace shaving.The best chisel I have found for brace shaving is long crank neck 1/2in chisel from ron diefenbacher at diefenbacher tools .I have it ground to 22 deg .it is fast quick and vy sharp. To carve the cathedrals on the braces.I use 2 small planes 5 in L ,shorter than a block plane ,one for softwood and the other for hardwood .

Absolutely! I have never picked up my finger planes again. This little plane is amazing. Easy to adjust. Keeps an edge for ever, it seems. None better.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

+1 on Stephen Boone's plane!!!
Wendy

+3

Great planes & great service. I ordered the set & got them in 2 or 3 days from Montana to Ohio.

Kevin Looker

_________________
I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Thanks everyone it looks like I'm buying Stephen's planes.

Thank you to all who are recommending my plane! As Mr. Stock notes, it is relatively easy to make your own and I have posted a tutorial on this website showing just how to do that.

http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10117&t=30569

I am happy to make planes for anyone interested as well. I am back from my "vacation" and getting back to work in the shop. I will have a batch of mini-planes ready in a couple of days.

As a big fan of Lie-Neilson I must say that I am sure the violin makers plane they are now offering is a wonderful tool. I do not think, however, they designed it specifically for brace shaping like mine are. Mr. Stock also has the right of it when he notes a chisel or similar tool is needed for final refinement of braces. I would recommend a number 5 or so gouge for brace end shaping and bringing brace ends down to zero. The sweep of the blade will help prevent top damage from an inadvertent tipping of the tool left or right during the process.

_________________
http://www.booneguitars.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Boone-guitar-builder/488208541257210

Stephen off topic , but how does one go about learning chinese brush painting ??

Oh man, Ernie, now you've opened a can of worms!

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Well Ernie...You did ask!

http://www.orientalartsupply.com/


This is the studio of my wonderful Chinese brush paining teacher Dr. Ning Yeh. If you are interested, everything needed to learn this ancient art form is contained therein.

_________________
http://www.booneguitars.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Boone-guitar-builder/488208541257210

Thanks stephen.Will check it out.We have a number of oriental prints,including a large chinese painting