New Line of Lee Valley Planes
After a couple weeks of somewhat cryptic hints in their online ads, Lee Valley announced today a new line of planes. And they are kicking it off with the launch of two new block planes. The first is the DX60 Block, which is the reworked replacement for their old standard block plane. And what a replacement! Its made from ductile iron, has a die-cast lever cap, and is finished with a durable powder-coat polymer paint. It is machined and surface ground to half the normal flatness specifications; the sole and sides are flat and square to within +0.000″ and -0.0015″ over the entire surface. This unit retails for $179.
Now their new premium block plane, the NX60, is a real eye-catcher. It has a polished nickel-resist ductile iron body (contains about 20% nickel) and is machined to the same specifications as above. The look of the plane is rather unique and reminds me of something from the future. Not the “real” future, but what people thought the future would look like 50 years ago. An old depiction of a super-sonic bullet train! Either way, its quite a looker! But those looks come at a cost: the NX60 retails at $279.
This announcement is a great launching point for a discussion. I am curious what you guys think about premium planes. Do you find them worth the investment? Do you think we need to keep increasing the standards for flatness? Lee Valley already produced what I considered to be “premium” planes, so this new line is what I would now refer to as “super premium”. I would love to hear your take on this!
Comments
34 Responses to “New Line of Lee Valley Planes”Speak Your Mind and Maybe Win a Prize!
Leave a comment and you could be a winner in our Wood Whisperer Giveaway!And if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!
Check it Out!
Premium Membership
Keep Up With TWW!
Shop our Affiliates
Latest Video
Proud to be Sponsored By:
Support our Advertisers
To be good looking…that’s for sure. Will they do the job…of course. But for that price…I think that’s going overboard.
Have their cheaper model…doing a great job.
have a good day,
pierre
I tell all people the same thing. If you buy a Stanley or Buck Brothers plane from a big box store, you may have some success with it, but ultimately you will be disappointed with the performance of the plane as your skills improve.
Conversely, a Lee Valley or Lie Nielsen product is ready to go right out of the box for a life-time of good service. Plus, these products are the clear winner in cut quality.
I really like that someone is finally doing a nickel plated block plane. One of my most annoying moments in the shop is when I grab my block plane to use it for just a couple of swipes on some plywood, only to find that the next day, there is some surface rust/discoloration where my fingers touched the cast iron. Aside from sharpening, this nickel plane is probably nearly maintenance free, and you don’t have to worry about wiping it down after every use.
All I know is, I can’t get the Flash Gordon’s theme song out of my head.
These are amazingly beautiful! I imagine they (Like all Veritas tools) are a joy to use, but are they really any better than their previous block planes? I hope so, but doubt it.
When I think of Veritas, I think of innovation and usability, not cosmetic appeal or flash. New ways of catching mice is what I expect from them, not a chrome plated mouse trap that looks like it came from Naboo.
I am curious who Veritas is trying to lure with these planes? Are they trying to appeal to collectors, or the common woodworker?
I like it, but for some reason don’t want to.
ooooooooooooooooooh, shiny!
They are indeed beautiful and nothing less than I would expect from LV.
OTOH, I won’t be buying these because:
1) I’m of Scottish descent and tend to hold on to my money.
2) I have a small collection of pre-war Baileys and know how to keep them sharp enough to remove fingerprints without removing fingertips.
3) Most of my work is boat building using lumber types that are easily worked by the planes I have.
I wish LV very well with the Veritas line because it’s absolutely great to have a few high quality tool makers keeping hand tools alive. We need these folks. So, while I might not buy their premium planes, I d buy many of their other tools.
They sure are pretty!
I also immediately thought, “Flash – a-ah – saviour of the universe
!”.
Bum-bum-bum-bum,
Bum-bum-bum, bum …
A session at the Woodworking in America conference covered this exact topic. The group of planemakers, including Robin Lee, Konrad Sauer, John Economaki and Thomas Lie-Nielsen, all seemed to agree that woodworkers are high-standardizing themselves to death. 1/1000 of an inch here or there isn’t going to make that much of a difference on something as elastic as wood. Maintaining these high standards makes all tools more expensive: 1) it’s expensive to machine things that accurately 2) woodworkers with micrometers return products because they are a half a 1/1000 off. Magazines also contribute to the problem (if it is a problem).
That said, beautiful, well-made tools inspire people to use them and maintain them. They make woodworking a more pleasant experience and call for your best work.
There’s got to be a balance somewhere. I tried a Holtey smoother that cost $3,500 and it was sweet, but I’d have to take out another mortgage to own one!
haha, great minds, I was gonna say Flash Gordon too…
I guess I like the _idea_ of a super premium version of this, or any tool… BUT… commensurate with both my skills and income, I tend to shop somewhere in the “medium” quality range…. the DX60 looks like all the plane I need (or deserve)…B-)
I’m indifferent to the aesthetics of these new planes. Nice but not really really nice. With all the hype, I was expecting something new and innovative in the world of planes. Something new that we didn’t know we needed. I just don’t get why they have done this? Their current block planes are among the very best you can buy. What was the point in make ones that just look a little different? I’ll save my money for the regular block planes.
I don’t see any faults with introducing a premium line of planes. I’m assuming that Lee Valley has done their research and believes that there is a market for the premium line. That market definitely doesn’t include me but I can’t fault them for bringing it out. What I do find very cool is that they are at the same time inroducing the same design plane in a standard line variety. Makes me curious in this case if they will discontinue their current “standard line” block plane. Maybe I can get one on discount!
I think they did a good job of achieving the wow factor with this introduction though.
Reminds me of the old Buck Rogers plane flops of the 1950S, back then people were reluctant to buy the unusual planes. Nowadays the Miller Falls 709 and 714 Buck Rogers planes are worth around 100$ to 4000$ depending if they still include the factory boxes and the quality of the planes
Check out this link:
http://oldtoolheaven.com/bench/buckr.htm
Pete
One of the whispers I have heard is that the premium line is intended to extend to Lee Valley’s normal bench planes, which–while functional–don’t win any points for attractiveness. I am not as fond of the very modern styling on these as with their usual planes, and I regard the extra precision as pointless, but if other people want to buy them I’m not about to say no!
I want one, but am not willing to sell off my first born for a block plane. I am considering putting up my new LN and getting the lower priced version. Blade positioning and lack of lateral adjuster kind of bug me on the LN.
Looks like Derek C. has his review up already (hope he doesn’t mind me dropping a link)
http://www.inthewoodshop.com/T.....lanes.html
wow those are amazing! they look great too but I’d buy a lie Nielsen any day before these.
This new plane is awesome looking. I am sure it will perform too.
I would never spend $180 on a block plane, but I am sure the high quality will translate into high quality woodworking.
This plane is now accurate down to one gazillionth of an inch. I guess at this point, so what really. In my opinion I think this has crossed over into the point of diminishing returns. Twice as good of very good is very very good, and is that really that different? I mean I have a Stanley, and everyone in my family loves the stuff I build. It is functional, and looks nice, but it is not perfect, but so what. It is way better than some knock down furniture at a department store. The mistakes or flaws that I am getting are probably more of a factor of my patients and skill rather than the limits of my medium grade collection of tools. I am sure if I took the time to exactly tune my grizzly jointer and my craftsman saw, I could get better results, but I have only so much time and so much money. I hate to settle with good enough, but when the difference between good enough and better is only visible with micrometers and magnifying glasses, I will stick with good enough. And use my time for building, and money for wood.
Also I am from Wisconsin. We are getting into the very dry season we are talking static shocks from everything you touch and spontaneous bloody noses. 4 months ago we were just the opposite with high temps and high humidity. What I am getting at is does accuracy this precise matter when wood goes through these changes twice a year?
It looks pretty cool though. I have always loved the retro futuristic look. Is it fare to call this Art Deco? Maybe not.
Very ill-timed release given state of the economy. I guess these tools will appeal to the guys who buy over-priced products like Powermatic and Festool. Woodworkers in general make stuff shine with not very shiny tools so this will be bought by guys that love to put their tools on display. Ordinary folk, which I suspect constitutes the majority of the market, will pass on this offering.
Wait a minute. I’m not supposed to use my Powermatic and Festool stuff?!?! Crap, I’ve been doing it wrong! ;)
I am a big fan of Lee Valley from products to customer service, but i was disappointed with the new products. Sure they look great, but they add nothing to the performance of the planes. I was hoping for some new additions to the line of planes, perhaps some combination plane that worked well for example.
I don’t think they should be moving in the direction of collector tools. And if you were going to up the ante in terms of quality, why would you start with a block plane and not a finish plane or smoother?
My Father in his youth (he’s 77) used to work for one of the leading cabinet makers in London using a couple of post war Stanley’s (4.5 and a 7 I think) and some second hand I. Sorby chisels. The planes, if their bases were subjected to the inspection I’ve seen on some web sites; not this one I hasten to add, would be compared to a corrugated roof at best. He, on the other hand, has been perfectly happy with it for the past forty or so years and can still produce woodwork I could only dream of. No thicknesers, electirc planers or band saws.
I’m sure they’re very nice planes but, in all honesty, when you’re talking about .0015″ or 0.0381mm you might as well don a tweed cap and start taking down train numbers.
Use a try plane my old man made from a unknown hardwood being used as a sleeper and a smooth plane I made myself, so maybe I’m biased.
mpm beat me to the Miller’s Falls buck rogers planes link. Ironically, those planes had some decent innovations but rumored to have never sold because of how they look and the plastic handles. I think most woodworkers who are looking for hand tools are a touch nostalgic. personally, I would’ve loved to see wooden knobs on their block planes rather than go with a 50’s era futuristic theme. Still, I’ll pay for quality, but I think Lee Valley is treading into dangerous territory. I think Lie Neilson is going to see quite a dip in their profits soon with the crashing economy, and one of the better quality-for-moderate-price options out there has been Veritas. I hope they still plan to offer their current line for those who just want a decent tool, and not pay half a car down payment for it. If they cut well, they cut well. I’m rarely interested in a tool that’s overly expensive for a few niceties. They’re tools after all. Next think I know I’d be spending $1300 on the jointmaster pro.
Muddler
your supposed to pass that stuff on to your poor British cousins Marc… sheesh!
I read my post once it was posted. Wow, do I have bad grammar. I normally am not that bad, but I hope you saw my point. Keep using your PM and Festool Marc. To expand a bit I think that if someone really had the desire to dive into quality, power tools is the place to do it. I think there are so many more variables in power tools that these tight tolerances will make a difference. How much more can you improve on a had plane vs a table saw. My basic point is that I think we have reached to point of diminishing returns with this plane, but not with the power tools.
I think I would get one if i was in the market. Why not? I spent a gazilion dollars on tools already. And if i spend 300$ on a plane now or 100$ on a plane I replace 3 times then I still spent the same amount of money.
I learned My lesson when i got a cheap router table for 100$ couldn’t return it and got a slightly better one for 160$ My router was too heavy for these and kept warping the plate so now i’m on a full alluminum table for 500$
Point of that long winded story is I spent 760$ trying to save money when I could have spent 500$ and saved 260$ and have the same plane they use on a Romulan Warbird!
They definitely are beautiful and I’m sure work very well. Personally I hope to get the standard model some day. I use a restored 60-1/2. It works well but I have a thing for tools new or vintage. One of the things I’ve heard frequently after starting this hobby is, “They don’t make tools like they used to.”. Hand tools, it was believed, saw their hey day over sixty, seventy years ago. I think companies such as Lee Valley are proving that this sentiment is no longer the case and doesn’t have to be. The best hand tools for woodworking ever manufactured are being made at this very moment. And it keeps getting better.
But, of course, there is a price to pay. And I think it’s justified when you consider the quality of these tools and the engineering required to make it happen. A great benefit is that the latest innovations will trickle down to the rest of their tools. Kinda’ like auto racing.
As far as the price point question, I’ve heard and would believe that the target consumers for such premium items aren’t as affected by the economy as you would think. Porsche still sells cars, just like LV will sell plenty of NX60’s. And I ain’t well off by any means but I know that I can work a few side jobs, wait for Father’s Day, and get an NX60, a Wenzloff tenon saw or an LN shoulder plane. I, like many of you, love tools.
The other LV tool causing a stir is their new dovetail saw. Some- ok, many think it’s butt ugly. I’m warming up to it the more I see it. But 65 bucks for a new, high quality western saw can only be good for woodworkers.
I don’t think anyone is capable of producing work that actually needs these tolerances. Are the customers people who just think its fun to buy tools or do they think their work is actually that good?
Ooo ooo so shiny…
I would consider buying one if I already didn’t own a Lie-Nielsen Block Plane. My next plane is a #9. Good luck on making that pretty… :o)
Frank
I seem to routinely be off by 1/4″ to 1/2″ so I could use the cheaper SX60 model with a sole flattened to 1/8″ tolerance. :-)
After buying a bunch of Veritas planes recently, I was waiting to buy the block plane. Personally, I like the DX60. It’s a bit more than the original one (bit narrower, too), but I like the powder coating idea since the sides get a lot of finger contact. Dunno if I could justify the extra nickels for the nickel.
I like LV but…not as much as I like my Lie-Nielsen planes.
The ones I can afford, that is…
Lately I’ve been thinking it would be cool to build some Steampunk furniture. It’s hard to find good examples or even define what this means. But I just realized, those planes are definitely Steampunk!
Small addition… the new block planes can’t use the chamfer guide that was offered with the previous block plane and they don’t have plans to make a new one. Dunno what that’s worth to anybody, though.
Second, they will be coming out with an O1 steel blade, but unlike the original block plane, they will not come out with blade at different bevels other than 25*. While the other bevels may not matter much, I was interested in picking up the toothed blade so I could use the smaller block plane to tame a knot before using the other planes.
Absolutely beautiful set of planes! As an amateur luthier, I love quality hand tools, but something is wrong when a block plane will cost you nearly as much as a decent bench top planer (I don’t know that I could ever throw $300 at a block plane…..). I wish more tools companies would focus on developing high quality woodworking tools at a reasonable price to encourage more amateurs to take up the art. Not to mention, if I owned it, I’d be too scared to use it! I probably just take pictures with it, stare at it, coddle it…..
BTW, the price on the LV website for the DX60 is $189, not $179. I dunno, $190 for a “nonpremium” block plane? The LN equivalent is $165 currently (still a big increase from the $135 I paid for one a couple of years ago).
I can’t blame them for the tight tolerances on the no-holds-barred “premium” product, though. Plane owners are always wanting to boast about how they can produce shavings whose thickness is measured in molecules, and the flatter the sole, the easier it is to produce ultra-thin transparent shavings. Whether shavings this thin needed or desirable is questionable, but if LV wants to have a “Bridge Cityesque” pruduct line to grab some of that market segment, fine. I wish they had left the standard line as it is, though.
The DX60 price is $179. If you click through the link posted on this blog, it includes a ‘c=2′ term in the URL specifying US currency, which is priced at $179. If you just go to LeeValley.com and haven’t set your currency, it defaults to Canadian, which is 189 $CAN.
I just wish I could order it in Canadian dollars; it would be cheaper!