Official Luthiers Forum!

Steve, can you pass along a URL? It's not obvious where the sale is listed.

If price is really an issue, it's a lot cheaper to pick up a used 60-1/2 and a Hock or other aftermarket blade. Agree on the LA stuff - the LV and LN low angle jacks are pretty close in price, and the LV is def the better tool. On the blocks, I can skip the after noon coffee at SB's for a week and get the better tool, although if your hands are really large, the LV might be more comfortable. I don't think there is any comparison on the bench planes...if given a LV, I'd Ebay it by the end of the day...had one for a few weeks and grew to hate it almost as much as the student Anant that I forced myself to use. Not an uncommon response - I have not had anyone in the shop that has owned a LV BD bench plane that did not upgrade once they had a chance to use a LN or even a well tuned 60X Stanley.

For students, I recommend the following: if cash starved, buy vintage a vintage 60-1/2 and a prewar #5 or 5C and tune the snot out of them....a block will handle almost everything but jointing, and the #5 the rest...well under $100. If moderate means available, buy the LN 60-1/2 LA block and a #5...under $200 total; if cost is not an issue, a LN 60-1/2, a LV LA jack for utility work, and a LN 4-1/2 middle pitch as a dedicated smoother.

All that aside, Chris V loves his LV LA block...what to me is clunky, ill-shaped (too wide/too high), and overly fussy to set is just perfect in his eyes.