General Info Lie-Nielsen Planes

							General Info: Lie-Nielsen Planes




Handplanes have always been treasured by woodworkers. Though today’s
assortment of power tools often threaten to replace them, there still are many
tasks which are best accomplished by hand using a traditional plane. Sanding,
oiling, waxing and varnishing obscure wood’s natural beauty. Planing on the
other hand brings its beauty to the fore, leaving a surface which feels, smells
and looks great. Best of all, there simply is nothing more enjoyable than using
a well conditioned Japanese Kanna to remove long, paper-thin shavings.
Cast iron planes do not have the same smoothness of function, but display
other advantages when hewing rough surfaces due to their greater heft, easy-
to-grip handles and mechanical adjustment mechanisms. The planes made by
Lie-Nielsen, along with the new models available from Clifton, set the quality
standards. Cast iron planes made by other manufacturers often require quite
a bit of initial tuning in order to produce satisfactory results.

Lie-Nielsen
The quality of a plane is best expressed in terms of the results it is able to
attain. In order to produce a beautifully finished surface on even the most
difficult grain patterns, the plane's blade must lie perfectly flush in the bed
and the mouth opening and sole of the plane must be machined with great
attention to detail. Older English model planes remain coveted objects for
collectors and woodworkers alike due to their ability to master these
requirements with style.
The US-based Lie-Nielsen Company has revived many of these nearly
forgotten plane designs with a similar, uncompromising approach to quality.
Lie-Nielsen has not simply copied the old prototypes, they have further
refined their design to improve their performance. For example, the plane
blades are thicker, cryogenically* hardened to 62 RC and more precisely
machined to guarantee an even smoother cut.
The manganese bronze models are heavier, more corrosion resistant, less
prone to breakage and feel soft and warm to the touch. The ductile iron
models, made of a special high-tensile and vibration-dampening iron alloy,
are harder and more resistant to wear.
The rounded cherry handles allow the plane to fit comfortably in the hand. In
order to perform optimally, each plane must be individually tuned by hand.
These planes are not only a feast for the eyes, they are an expression of
Thomas Lie-Nielsen's personal dedication to the art of making fine tools.

*A technique used to improve the crystalline structure of the steel. The process involves a 20
hour soak in --200°C liquid nitrogen with subsequent heat treatment.



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