Are Buck Bros Planes good enough for WW?
Brad
> newbie?
They're no use at all. Flimsy, tinny bodies and feeble adjustments.
They're a joke new and not solid enough to be made usable,
no matter how much of an overhaul you attempt.
(Planes, even though they're simple
unpowered hand tools, have a fairly high bar
of "acceptability" below which a money-saver is
really just a useless time-waster in disguise.)
Poke around in the wreck archives on google and you can find
lots of remarks about various planes. The money-saving approach
is to find old used planes and spend some time overhauling them.
One difficulty with that: unless you've got contact
with some woodworkers in their shops, you might not
have the feel for what you're trying to accomplish with tuning.
It's good to spend some time with a properly tuned
and sharp plane, to get used to the way
they're supposed to be. That's why some folk recommend
that you bite the bullet, scrape some pennies together,
and buy one really good plane to get yourself started.
ken
planes. NO LESS!!
"Mowgli" <Mowgli@swinginthrudajunglew/outa.gov> wrote in message
news:3sk85v4hi8easqk37...@4ax.com...
> Hiya,
>
> I have a set of Buck Bros. wood chisels I use for demo at work and they
get
> the job done. They're also made in Massachusetts, USA and that's good.
>
> Has anyone here used Buck Bros, handplanes? Are they good enough for a WW
> newbie?
> and a contracters 18v cordless 4 pac. I also have an old Crapsman TS I got
> in exchange for a noisy old air conditioner. A few decades ago it (the TS)
> helped build the guy I traded with's house. "It works" is it's finest
> feature.
>
> No jointer, planer, router etc.
>
> I built a workbench from 2x6s, ˝" plywood for the bottom shelf and ž" MDF
> for the replacable top. Carriage bolts and 3" deck screws hold it
together.
> It's sturdy and square but it has no vices. I have plenty but they don't
> involve holding wood. It was a good first project and I learned alot from
> it.
> Eventually I'd like to build a toolbox of "The Toolbox Book" caliber.
> That said, I know I need to enhance my tool collection.
> And book collection. If you're going to look for WW books at the
Framingham,
> Mass. library don't bother, I borrowed the best ones.
>
> Buck Bros. any good? Stanley? Which ones?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mowgli@swinginthrudajungle/wouta.vice
Greg B
> > newbie?
They're absolute crap.
I bought one and when I set it down on my table saw the middle of the
plane bed was a good 3/16" off of the table. It was warped by that
much.
The blade metal is too soft to hold an edge for more than a couple of
minutes, the body was warped, overall it was just garbage. I sold it
at a garage sale as a doorstop.
For a small amount of money (roughly the same as a Buck Brothers plane
from the Borg) you can find old Stanley/Bailey planes on Ebay. I have
a bailey #4, #5, #7, and a couple of Miller Falls #4 planes as well as
many block planes. I paid $65 for the #7, about $20 to $35 for the
#4's and #5, and as little as $3 for the block planes. The old tools
are generally flat and square and the metal in the blades is much
tougher. It's a much better use of your money.
Hope it helps.
Greg
John Thomas
news:3sk85v4hi8easqk37...@4ax.com:
> Has anyone here used Buck Bros, handplanes? Are they good enough for a WW
> newbie?
>
I have one. It's a total POS. I keep it to remind myself to not be
stupid. Seriously, I have 5 older Stanley bench planes; the BB is *by far*
the worst -- sole is seriously 'not flat'; and it won't hold a setting. It
will cause you some serious frustration.
Google the group, and the web; there are folks out there selling good
quality older Stanley's.
Or get one from ebay (or a local flea market/garage sale) that's not
trashed -- that's what I ended up doing. Garrett Hack's _The Handplane
Book_ is an excellent reference, as is Jeff Gorman's website
(http://www.millard.demon.co.uk/index.htm).
Patrick Leach's Blood and Gore is also a great ref (www.supertool.com).
Or, bite the bullet and get a new Veritas or Lie-Nielsen. (I've not used
either, but they both get great reviews).
Good luck, and have fun ...
JT
Eric Lund
"Mowgli" <Mowgli@swinginthrudajunglew/outa.gov> wrote in message
news:3sk85v4hi8easqk37...@4ax.com...
> Hiya,
>
> I have a set of Buck Bros. wood chisels I use for demo at work and they
get
> the job done. They're also made in Massachusetts, USA and that's good.
>
> newbie?
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mowgli@swinginthrudajungle/wouta.vice
There's a saying. "They don't make them like they used to." Well, in this
case, it's not really true. However, the cost of entry into a really good
new hand plane is not cheap. The makers of really good stuff include
Clifton, Veritas, and Lie-Nielson. There are several makers of good to
excellent quality wooden hand planes, with this group featuring Steve
Knight. On the second tier, just before you fall off the cliff into
oblivion, is Record, and a few of the offerings from Stanley, like the 90
series. These can be made to work, but won't be as satisfying as using a
good old plane or one of the primo planes. Buck Bros. are way down in the
pit of infamy. BTW: There are also products available above the
Clifton/Veritas/LN group, but you really gotta want it.
For affordable hand planes, many shop Ebay (plus auctions, flea markets and
garage sales) for used Stanley Bailey and Bedrock bench planes and block
planes. Patrick Leach also sells used planes, and guarantees working
condition, something you take a chance on with Ebay. You can generally get
a decent user, with a little prep required, for not much more than those
cheapy Buck Bros. planes. If you go the Ebay route, check around for
pricing before you start bidding, so you know where to stop bidding.
Here's some links:
Clifton: http://www.craftsmanstudio.com/html/fine_tools/clifton/clifton.htm
(not their home, but one source)
Lee Valley / Veritas:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=41182&category=1&SID=&ccurrency=
2
Lie-Nielson: http://www.lie-nielsen.com/
Steve Knight: http://www.knight-toolworks.com/
HNT Gordon: http://www.craftsmanstudio.com/html/fine_tools/gordon/gordon.htm
Dieter Schmid: http://www.fine-tools.com/hobel.htm (Euro planes, with Euro
prices)
Patrick Leach: http://www.supertool.com/
Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/
Cheers,
Eric
Dave M
anchor.
Dave M
Steve Turner
--
Rubber Crunchies are the best
Look delicious on your vest
Serve them to unwanted guests
Stuff the mattress with the rest!
Nova
> Has Patrick Leach ever hung out here?
According to "Google" his last post to this group was November 5,
1997.
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
Ray Browne
doesn't keep an edge. Just overall unusable for anything but edge
grain. It can't handle end grain, can't smooth a board, just sucks. I
know good planes are expensive but their is no other option,
unfortunately.
-Ray