More Advanced Than Me? - The Blum Block Plane

[@cliffwood7386]

Jamie, I have just recently gone back and watched all of the episodes of your Modern Maker series. As you can tell, I am a big fan! I don't (yet) have the money to hoard tools from all these wonderful makers, so instead I hoard bookmarked websites and Instagram pages, and it's great to have more of them brought to my attention. Thank you!

[@BatCaveCreations]

Hahah trust me I do the same thing!!! Pretty much all of those places are out of my range but I will keep saving tabs and dreaming hahaha thank you!!! I'm glad you like the series it's fun! I'm also planning another trip to his house to try them out and do deep dives into the tools, use, comfort, performance, ect. So I'm geeked for that!!

[@DonBoivin]

You do a great job reviewing woodworking tools. I always look forward to your next video.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Thank you!! That is great to hear!!

[@jajmcg]

Lovely plane to look at and use but I would certainly dread sharpening day.

[@BatCaveCreations]

That is a great way to word that!!

[@cliffwood7386]

My thoughts exactly.

[@skippylippy547]

Same here.

[@jsmxwll]

I have a blum 5-1/2 jack plane. I made a little sled that the plane sits in and i pass it over a stone to sharpen it. Same for stropping. I am usually set up with a straight blade. I can touch up the blade and be back to work in maybe 2 minutes most of the time. My biggest complaint is how small the blades are. Hit a bit of metal embedded in a piece of wood and regrinding that really eats into the life of the blade. I am thinking i will get the scraper frog and turn it into a dedicated scraper. I love the feel of the plane. I feel like fine finishes on difficult woods mught be where it lives for me.

[@BatCaveCreations]

The sled idea for sharpening is interesting! How do you remove the burr? Great point about hitting metal or digging it in anyways causing it needing to be ground! I've don't that a few times :/ I didn't realize they had scraper frogs I'm going to look into that! If you do make it a dedicated scraper, and remember, let me know how you like it in thay operation vs planning. I also agree they are beautiful and comfortable!!

[@MCsCreations]

Wow... What an interesting little plane, dude! 😮 It looks great, seems to be very well built! Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@BatCaveCreations]

Deff well built and thank you!! You too!!

[@rawr2u190]

This is so interesting.

[@lewkohl]

well done, honest review.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Thank you!!!

[@djelliott1265]

I bought his #5 1/2 and #7 infill planes because I have a thing for infill planes, the planes are gorgeous and affordable (not that much more expensive than a Veritas custom or a Lie-Nielsen). I replaced Record vintage planes from the 80's. I am building my workbench using hand tools so they get lots of use. They perform much better than my Records - the blade sharpness lasts much longer and the adjustments hold over time. I agree they are fiddly but with experience are getting easier. I can change the blade without changing the adjustments by using a solder pick to lever out the blade. I can quickly change the blade and don't have to readjust. I have the #5 1/2 set up with camber and the #7 mostly straight, leave them there and can easily flatten the laminations I am gluing up for my bench build. I bought extra blades and gang sharpen six blades at a time. I put a thin piece of plastic (cut out of a plastic file folder) on the stone to protect the jig and only use short forward stokes (had issues with blade shifting when pulling back). The blades are thin so they sharpen very quickly. I get much pleasure using these planes because of aesthetics and performance.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Thank you for sharing!!! People need to see this too! Great suggestion on the piece of a plastic folder to protect the jig!!!! What is a soldiers pick?

[@FearsomeWarrior]

I have the block plane from Handworks 2017. I was worried about using it for more than a year. Finally got it out when I was doing a special project. I enjoy using it because it is different. It works like any plane but is very unique. Maybe it is the wood body and feeling it cut that makes me enjoy using it. Sharpening is easy. I just do touch up with super light pressure. Not a high use plane for me. Never gonna send it through a hundreds of board feet.

[@BatCaveCreations]

That is a very valid point! It is a block plane so you won't need to sharpen it or adjust it often. I'm hoping someone who had one of the bench planes comments about it and if set up becomes second nature over time. It's like thay for me with Bailey and Norris so it would make sense thay this style would become that too. Thank you!!

[@FearsomeWarrior]

@@BatCaveCreations Been close to buying another Blum plane but I keep throwing money at Lee Valley.

[@BatCaveCreations]

@FearsomeWarrior hahaha I know the feeling! I dream of owning an HNT Gordon but Lee Valley keeps diverting me hahahah

[@michaelnorman5640]

Always great information Jamie! I have a few planes #4 1/2 a 5 and a low angle block plane! But I love every one of them I’m scared to venture off into specialty planes and always love the information you provide! Thanks for sharing Cuz! I’m almost thinking a jointer next just can’t pull the trigger for justification! Mabey rebate plane? Idk suggestions?

[@BatCaveCreations]

Thank you!! I'm happy it helps!! If you are ok with tap tap/wooden planes you can usually grab one relatively cheep to serve as a jointer. I made my jointer out of a 3x3x24 maple block, use hardware from an old wooden autoset plane. I rarely have a need for a jointer so I went a cheep method by making my own. If you dont have a router plane, I highly reccomend one. They can be used for alot of different things. Or! Maybe not a plane at all but a good set of chisels if you don't have a decent set Rabbet planes are awesome (I'm getting one as a Christmas gift from my mom this year) but they are a luxury item. If you don't have a plow plane, I would reccomend one of those first. But back to my original thing, a router plane can kinda do what all those tools do just not as fast lol Sorry for the ramble! Hope this helps!!

[@skippylippy547]

LOL! Jamie has me totally sold on the Veritas line of planes, the Narex Richter chisels,(i bought them all including the new mortise chisels) and Glancy's oil. Oh and the great one day only 50% off Woodcraft butt chisels. 🤣 I think that man missed his calling as a salesman! 😅 All great products and I truly love working with them. 👍

[@BatCaveCreations]

@skippylippy547 hahaha that is halarious! I did do sales for a few months and I was HORRIBLE. It was for direct TV and they literally told me I was too honest and fired me haha I haven't tried the woodriver chisels yet! I snagged a set too when they were 50% off. You like them?!

[@skippylippy547]

@@BatCaveCreations Yes, I like the woodriver chisels because they get in tight places and they take a good edge and keep that edge for a reasonable length of time. I spent time flattening and honing them to a mirror polish. Fits the hands nicely.

[@BatCaveCreations]

@@skippylippy547 that is awesome!! I am really excited to try them now!!

[@gdpjm]

They could have made the plane more difficult to set up and sharpen, but I don’t know how. You’d have to be nuts to buy that thing with all the other great block planes on the market. Or even better yet, make your own.

[@BatCaveCreations]

I want to try making my own block plane!! I recently discovered I can use the tap tap planes. The one I was trying before had an issue, I thought it was me but it was actually the plane lol so now I want to try making some planes :D

[@gdpjm]

@@BatCaveCreationsMaking planes, especially small ones is NOT that difficult. The Krenov style are quick and easy. You don’t need to buy an adjuster. A small hammer is all you need. After you play with adjusting you’ll find it’s easier than you think to get fine shavings.

[@BatCaveCreations]

@gdpjm thank you!! That is encouraging!!! I'm sure I'll make a video when I make one too haha

[@cwell2112]

This plane is pure insanity lol. I think it's what happens when you pursue a really desirable characteristic (in this case being able to fine tune blade depth *and* lateral with one simple set of controls) and end up having to introduce a whole bunch of complication in order to implement it.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Very well said! Great way to put it! Thank you!

[@timothymallon]

I hate to say it, but as much as it is a work of art, for me, it's just too fiddly. A lot of work to sharpen and hone it. Then getting it shaving again. Plus that short iron is just asking to cut your fingers when you mate it to the chip breaker, or whatever its called on this plane.

[@BatCaveCreations]

I agree and I did cut myself 2x but wanted to stay PG for KZbin hahahaha

[@MintStiles]

This is a designer hand plane for retired real estate developers. It's over engineered and completely impractical to service. I am not paid to say nice things, but I will appreciate any attempts to be actually novel. In this case though, I think this is different for the sake of being different. There is nothing that another plane of similar size cannot do with far more ease and elegance.

[@charles1075]

It is an interesting plane. Seems well made ... Also unnecessary over engineering at a comical level

[@BatCaveCreations]

It is very well made! Everything is on point and awesome. But I have to agree with you. :(

[@butterflywoodworks2374]

Well it’s German soooooo🤣

[@vinnythevaper6675]

Do you ever build anything?

[@BatCaveCreations]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHexaHyGnaqNr5Y

[@1deerndingo]

I like the design of the plane, but the blade is too short , It'll have a short life. And I'm not impressed by the sharpening jig. That wears out too quick too. I'm OK with the adjustments but not if it goes out of adjustment in use.

[@BatCaveCreations]

I agree, I am really hoping it's just an error with this plane. I think 2 now said they have one of their planes and like it but no mention of the frog dropping after loosening the locking knob