Early Access Video: Make your own low-angle jack
Added 2019-10-05 14:53:44 +0000 UTCFriends:
You saw the prototype; now meet the real deal. After a hectic week of sawing, filing, chiseling, and editing, I have it. And it's pretty great. The plane works and does most of the things a low-angle jack is supposed to do.
Should you make one in your shop? I'll let you be the judge.
A quick note: I'll be spending next week in Hershey, Pennsylvania attending the world's largest antique car flea market. Why? Because car people often have tools to sell. Cheaply.
I don't get back until Saturday, so next week's video will be late. I beg your patience. I'll be taking a camera with me and I hope to do a deep-dive into my flea market strategies (and I've got a few). The earliest that video will come out will be Monday. If you're not already following me on Instagram (@rexkrueger), you can catch me there for photos of the event and hot dispatches on my great tool finds.
In the mean-time, the weather here has turned crisp and breezy. My family and I gathered around the fire for the first time this season. In my travels, I'll be thinking of my Patrons and how I can bring you more great stuff. I wish the very best for you and your families.
Thanks as always!
--Rex
Comments
That’s awesome, Rex! Yeah, the limiting it was just a fun little joke. I haven’t gotten into the hand tool rabbit hole to where I’d be in need of such a thing. While I’m not still at the course woodworking stage yet, I’m closer to that than the fine woodworking level. I’d say I’m 80-120 grit. ;)
Jason Bailey
2019-10-13 15:27:15 +0000 UTCThat's a total possibility! (Although it would be open to everyone!.)
Rex Krueger
2019-10-13 13:17:38 +0000 UTCHaha---touche, number 1--you win...but doesn't your name appear in a plane brand, too? I guess they leave off the "gh".
Jason Bailey
2019-10-07 19:15:07 +0000 UTCAnyone named after a plane is ineligible...
Matthew Leigh
2019-10-07 19:08:30 +0000 UTCI'd watch it, but that's not saying to much because I'd watch any of your videos....that's kinda why I'm a Patreon supporter. But if you buy it and don't like it, you could always get rid of it with a giveaway...one that's only open to your first two Patreon supporters. ;)
Jason Bailey
2019-10-07 15:51:51 +0000 UTCBoy do I need to learn to proofread before hitting the return key. That first sentence is a doozy.
Mark L
2019-10-07 13:53:25 +0000 UTCA great looking plane and I loved watching the build, but you pretty well captured my current thoughts when you said "given a choice, I'd reach for my Stanley...." That being said, should you choose to do a comparison video, I will watch and be ready to be convinced should the Stanley low angle prove to be a jewel.
Mark L
2019-10-07 13:51:13 +0000 UTCPerhaps not the Stanley. I was thinking Veritas myself or perhaps Wood River.
Lawrence Jones Jr
2019-10-07 12:58:46 +0000 UTCThat's true. I think the Stanley would make a more reasonable comparison.
Rex Krueger
2019-10-07 10:13:39 +0000 UTCAwesome! Can't wait to watch that one too!
Ramin Chalili
2019-10-07 05:05:27 +0000 UTCRex, A1base has a Veritas. Comparing against an EXPENSICE plane....
James Boatright
2019-10-07 01:15:53 +0000 UTCOf course you're right about the shipping, but if we're going to shell out $30 just shipping it around, I might as well just buy the Stanley. I'm thinking it over.
Rex Krueger
2019-10-07 01:13:47 +0000 UTCI've been thinking almost exactly the same thing.
Rex Krueger
2019-10-07 01:12:36 +0000 UTCYou're very kind. To be fair, it was just the bandsaw, sander and drill-press. You could do everything by hand, but it would take a long time. My wife does think mine is pretty.
Rex Krueger
2019-10-07 01:12:06 +0000 UTCI'm really glad you liked it so much! I will be doing a router, but I'll be using a chisel as the blade, since most people have a chisel handy. You can use an allen key, but that takes a grinder, which many people don't have.
Rex Krueger
2019-10-07 01:11:06 +0000 UTCI'm really thinking about just buying one. Might be good to have.
Rex Krueger
2019-10-07 01:09:43 +0000 UTCA1base... a medium us postal flat rate box is $14.35. For up to 70 pounds, and is 14 x 12 x 3 . If it fits thats pretty cheap. William, i guess youre out ay?
James Boatright
2019-10-06 23:00:48 +0000 UTCGreat video, Rex. I would like to see the comparison with and assessment of the Stanley low angle jack. Like you, I've been low-angle curious (and skeptical). If I've been missing out, I might be willing to spring for the Stanley's price point.
Anderson Young
2019-10-06 22:20:28 +0000 UTCAnother great video Rex! I learn something every time I watch you! For one thing it takes a LOT of power tools to make a hand plane! Lol I think my wife would divorce me if I spent that much time building a tool even if it IS a work of art!
Adrian Abshire
2019-10-06 19:52:20 +0000 UTCOooh I like this one! If nothing else I feel like it's a crazy neglected tool on YT. Paul Sellers does have a video making a cheap wooden one with a chisel. I'd like to see how you would approach it Rex. Or at the very least your take on how useful you find them, similar to your block plane video. I don't have a ton of money, but I can save for a quality tool. My main interest in the WW4H series is getting a better idea of which tools I really have a need for. I love my router plane. I run a no5 and a no4 (though less frequently). My shoulder planes come in handy but are less than essential. Luckily those were gifts and I didn't have to splash out the cash for them. Doing this build, then making a judgement on whether a tool is essential is great content for me.
Nic Beurskens
2019-10-06 19:42:36 +0000 UTCI love the result, Rex! Congrats! The channel gets better and better! I wanted a nice router plane but I can't afford one. So, I have purchased a veritas cutter and I've been thinking how I can try and make one. So, here's an idea... probably make a video on making a router!
Ramin Chalili
2019-10-06 17:07:41 +0000 UTCDo it!!
Jared Leff
2019-10-06 17:02:58 +0000 UTCI would be happy to loan it, but I’m in Canada and he’s in the US. By the time I ship it to him and back it would be over the price of the plane lol.
William Allen
2019-10-06 16:42:02 +0000 UTCI have a hand drill press, it is awesome, picked it up for $65cdn. We use to have a hand Motiser on the farm, but it disappeared at some point. The ones I’ve found so far have been far more $ than a brand new electric chain mortiser. I will keep looking. If I don’t find one I’ll have to buy a new one. The Makita one is only $365cdn. I much prefer the hand cranked one because you have so much better control.
William Allen
2019-10-06 16:39:32 +0000 UTCI’ve got a Shop Fox pillar drill that actually doubles as a spindle sander. You can attach another belt into the gearing and the quill automatically moves up and down as it turns, and it’s built to take the load. It’s what I recommend for new shops that don’t want separate big bits of kit. A dedicated spindle sander would be dead useful though. I wish I had the room!
A1BASE
2019-10-06 14:06:59 +0000 UTCA good tip, for sure. I only do it now and then and this press is stout. I do want to pick up a spindle-sander at some point.
Rex Krueger
2019-10-06 12:22:56 +0000 UTCI have never seen one in the flesh, but last year, I did see one of these portable, hand-cranked drill presses meant for timber-framing. It was cool...and expensive.
Rex Krueger
2019-10-06 12:22:12 +0000 UTCI love wooden planes. So under-rated these days!
Rex Krueger
2019-10-06 12:20:00 +0000 UTCIt wouldn't violate my free stuff policy at all, but it's also a big pain to do all the shipping. By the time we shipped it back and forth, it would be a significant fraction of just buying the damn thing. I do very much appreciate the suggestion, though!
Rex Krueger
2019-10-06 12:19:02 +0000 UTCFor my 2 bits, I'd take the low angle loaner Rex for the comparison so as to not take the free stuff and I'd really like to see it.
Lawrence Jones Jr
2019-10-06 12:18:47 +0000 UTCThanks for saying so! I happen to be quite proud of this one myself. I appreciate the vote of confidence.
Rex Krueger
2019-10-06 12:17:48 +0000 UTCBest video I have seen you do, yes get another for comparison. Thank you for your great tutorials. Falkirk, Scotland.
Gary Meechan
2019-10-06 11:32:34 +0000 UTCI think Rex has a homemade jointing plane, and I’ve got a high end one I’d be happy to loan out... there could be an entire series here. High quality files are another thing I would always pick over cheap and cheerful and could loan for a video.
A1BASE
2019-10-06 03:00:56 +0000 UTCWilliam, could you LOAN Rex your low angle plane so he could shoot the comparison and ship it back to you? I don't see how that could violate his 'I don't take free stuff ' ethic.
James Boatright
2019-10-05 23:24:55 +0000 UTCYou should definitely do a side by side. On the other hand. I have a low angle smoothing plane. It works great for some things, and not at all for others. End grain is great, softwoods are great, mixed grain hardwoods are absolutely horrible, just OMG bad. For those, I've taken to using a high angle smoothing plane (it's wooden)
William Allen
2019-10-05 19:56:09 +0000 UTCYa, I don't use a plane hammer anymore. I use to, but not anymore. I just tap the plane on the bench. Actually gives finer adjustments, so I'm happier with that way
William Allen
2019-10-05 19:41:05 +0000 UTCWhile you are at the boot sale, keep your eye open for a hand cranked chain mortiser. :P
William Allen
2019-10-05 19:39:13 +0000 UTCJust a heads up - be super gentle using a pillar drill as a spindle sander. Most aren’t made to take lateral load, even a slight one. I’ve broken a cheap one by doing this.
A1BASE
2019-10-05 19:30:53 +0000 UTCExcellent video! Mayhap you can do an addendum, adapting the construction techniques to the building of a conventional jack plane! Or just modify the plans set, adding the angles, etc, to do that.
Howard Tuckey
2019-10-05 18:54:48 +0000 UTCGreat idea for the build! I wish I had a plane to give you a loan for testing, but I do hope someone out there can help make that happen.
Kris Towson
2019-10-05 18:26:31 +0000 UTCLane House said exactly what I was thinking. I would enjoy seeing a comparison, but at the same time I see it like this- if I wouldn't spend $100 or so for the cheaper option I'm not going to ask someone else to do it. I did enjoy seeing how you solved the mouth issue, has been wondering what you were going to do. As far as direction goes I think what you've been doing works great I mean we're all here right? I do know that lots of people enjoy seeing that woodworking can be done with relative frugality and you demonstrate that very well. There are tons of woodworkers on YouTube trying to sell people on the whole "buy this expensive tool otherwise your not going to be able to do good work" line and that's a load of BS, my proof is the three tool mallet, $30 bench and the whole woodworking for humans series. First video of yours I watched was the three tool mallet, watched it and five min later went out into my shop and did it took me 2 hours been a fan since.
The Poor Man
2019-10-05 17:11:54 +0000 UTCMaybe you can find a cheap one at that flea market
Shanni Marmen
2019-10-05 16:52:00 +0000 UTCI actually have a Veritas low angle jointer and I love it. I never saw the need for another version of it though. Lie Nielsen says this of low angle jacks “The trick to making the most out of a low angle plane is to keep a number of different blades. For example: 25° for end grain work, 35° for smoothing, 40° or more for tackling wavy grain with less tear out, a Toothed Blade for aggressive removal of material with less effort, and a 90° Scraper Blade.”... who has the time for that nonsense?
A1BASE
2019-10-05 16:45:08 +0000 UTCYou're probably right. Thanks for looking out for me!
Rex Krueger
2019-10-05 15:48:32 +0000 UTCI'm sure my wife agrees with you!
Rex Krueger
2019-10-05 15:48:12 +0000 UTCI feel like it would be an interesting video, but not worrh the financial investment. Perhaps someone can loan one to you for a video?
Lane House
2019-10-05 15:32:04 +0000 UTCGreat video Rex! Save your money for important things, like anniversary present and the like.
Jim Williams
2019-10-05 15:24:46 +0000 UTC
