Planning end grain

[amtc]

Interesting about the L-N No 9.

We frequently had to plane the end grain of bench top slabs.  16" x 4"

The plane which we found best was a 5 1/2 with replacement blade.  (Hock A2 )

best wishes,
David Charlesworth

I started using it for end grain by laziness! I had to trim flush some dowels and the #9 was on the bench so I grabbed it in stead of getting a low angle plane and started using it. I was surprised at how well it performed so I tried it on dove tails and end grain. Again it worked well. Im sure it was not intended for that but none the less it worked so I kept using it. My LN 5 1/2 is another plane that is constantly on my bench. I use it for everything.

[Tony Z]

Rob Cosman is another that uses the 5-1/2 for trimming dovetails. I've used my 60-1/2, but prefer a #3 or #4.

[Derek Cohen]

A great plane for end grain is the Veritas LA Jack. I used one for years with a 25 degree A2 blade as a shooting plane.

I have cut end grain with cutting angles as high as 60 degrees (e.g. HNT Gordon Trying Plane). It works, but the result is not as clean as a low cutting angle. 

An alternative to the low cutting angle of the LA Jack is a woodie made specifically for this purpose ...

.... strike block plane with 37 degree bed (and 25-degree bevel) shooting hard Jarrah end grain ...



Regards from Perth

Derek

[rwe2156]

IMO any plane will work if the iron is sharp enough.

I use a #6 as a shooting plane.

For things like thick boards or dovetails, a low angle jack, or my #4 if it is nice a sharp.

[Derek Cohen]

IMO any plane will work if the iron is sharp enough.

That is too simple an answer. It is correct, but incomplete. Yes, all planes - low- or high angle - will plane end grain if their blade is sharp. However, a lower cutting angle will do so with great ease, and leave a smoother finish.

All work, but to a lesser or greater degree.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Handplanesandmore]

Yes, the angle of attack does matter, so does the size of the plane vis a vis the size of the work.

But both of them are less important than the sharpness of a blade, especially when dealing with softwood. In a pinch, I've used a block plane to shave endgrain, but that's not a plane I normally use for endgrain work. Like some of you, the low angle jack is my plane for shooting engrain.

Simon