Comments on: New Line of Lee Valley Planes http://thewoodwhisperer.com/new-line-of-lee-valley-planes/ Just another WordPress weblog Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:59:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Paul-Marcel St-Onge http://thewoodwhisperer.com/new-line-of-lee-valley-planes/#comment-38140 Paul-Marcel St-Onge Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:57:22 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=2805#comment-38140 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! 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!

]]> By: BarryO http://thewoodwhisperer.com/new-line-of-lee-valley-planes/#comment-38138 BarryO Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:47:06 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=2805#comment-38138 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. 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.

]]> By: Tim http://thewoodwhisperer.com/new-line-of-lee-valley-planes/#comment-38129 Tim Thu, 27 Nov 2008 07:00:23 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=2805#comment-38129 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..... 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…..

]]> By: Paul-Marcel St-Onge http://thewoodwhisperer.com/new-line-of-lee-valley-planes/#comment-38124 Paul-Marcel St-Onge Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:07:47 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=2805#comment-38124 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. 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.

]]> By: Germain http://thewoodwhisperer.com/new-line-of-lee-valley-planes/#comment-38123 Germain Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:01:07 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=2805#comment-38123 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! 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!

]]> By: John http://thewoodwhisperer.com/new-line-of-lee-valley-planes/#comment-38104 John Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:23:55 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=2805#comment-38104 I like LV but...not as much as I like my Lie-Nielsen planes. The ones I can afford, that is... I like LV but…not as much as I like my Lie-Nielsen planes.
The ones I can afford, that is…

]]> By: Paul-Marcel St-Onge http://thewoodwhisperer.com/new-line-of-lee-valley-planes/#comment-38102 Paul-Marcel St-Onge Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:07:11 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=2805#comment-38102 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 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.

]]> By: Frank http://thewoodwhisperer.com/new-line-of-lee-valley-planes/#comment-38099 Frank Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:22:02 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=2805#comment-38099 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 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

]]> By: Spaids http://thewoodwhisperer.com/new-line-of-lee-valley-planes/#comment-38097 Spaids Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:42:53 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=2805#comment-38097 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? 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?

]]> By: richard in Indy http://thewoodwhisperer.com/new-line-of-lee-valley-planes/#comment-38096 richard in Indy Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:38:34 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=2805#comment-38096 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. 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.

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