I finally switched to a low-angle jack plane after fighting with a standard one for years

I read a post on here last week from a guy talking about how much easier dovetails go with a low-angle jack. I've been using my grandpa's old standard #5 for like 8 years now and always struggled getting a clean end grain on hard maple. So I finally broke down and bought a Lie-Nielsen low-angle jack yesterday for $375. Ran a test joint this morning on some cherry scrap and I'm kicking myself for not doing this sooner. The cut feels way smoother and I didn't have to mess with the chip breaker at all. Has anyone else found a big difference switching plane styles for fine joinery?

3 comments

3 Comments

claire_davis311mo ago

Used to think a plane was a plane but you changed my mind with this post.

xena_bailey181mo ago

It really is a TOTAL game changer once you see it. I was the same way for years until someone broke it down for me and now I can't unsee it either. The way they explained the small details really opened my eyes to how different these things actually are. It makes you wonder why we ever lumped them all together in the first place. I'm glad you're on this side of it now because it honestly makes travel SO much more interesting when you know what to look for.

jessica7071mo ago

Oh man, totally with you on this! It's like once you notice the wing shape differences or where the engines sit, you can't go back to seeing them all the same. I used to just look at the tail number and move on, but now I'm spotting the little things like how the wing tips curve up on some models or how the landing gear folds differently. It really does make the whole boarding process way more fun when you're basically playing spot the differences with every plane that pulls up.