Primus vs Ulmia Planes

[James Purchase]

I am considering getting a good wooden bodied smoothing plane. The two that
I can locate are the Ulmia Reform-Type Smoothing Plane and the Improved
Primus Smoothing Plane. Both appear to be constructed similarly, with
Pearwood bodies and Lignum Vitae soles, and both have adjustable mouths.

Is there any differences in the planes which would make one better or more
useable than the other?

Thanks,

James Purchase
Toronto

[Ken Stovesand]

James,

I am unable to comment on the Ulmia, however I have the ECE Primus planes and
they are great. They are lightweight, fit my hands like a glove, and the iron
adjustment is like a micrometer - no slop in or out. I only wish they were
available in more styles, such as a panel raiser or plough.

Regards,

Ken S.

[Wolfgang Jordan]

I too own the ECE Primus (because it was a bit cheaper than
the Ulmia) and are very content. I only had to flatten the
sole a tad, but that's an easy task with a woodie. E. C.
Emmerich (ECE) and Georg Ott (Ulmia) both are reputable
German manufacturers, and I wouldn't expect much of a
difference in their line of planes. There are more planes by
ECE than the Primus smoother, but most of them must be
adjusted in the conventional way with a hammer. See for
example 'The Best Things' for the full line of ECE planes
and tools
'http://www.thebestthings.com/newtools/planes_nt.htm'.

Wolfgang