Miter Plane
The Lie-Nielsen Miter Plane is based on
Stanley’s No. 9, discontinued in 1943. Original tools are
rare and very expensive. However, the style is well known from
19th-century European and especially English tools, going back to some
of the very first planes made in Western Europe since Roman times. We
are pleased to be making this unique tool available once more. Weight
(about 4½ lbs.) and solidity make this plane ideal for many
planing jobs on straight and end grain. Its boxy construction is
designed specifically for the tool to be used on its side, with or
without a shooting board* to shoot length, right angles, and of course,
miters. The 'Hot Dog' attachment for the Number 9 Miter plane is a
tubular handle designed for comfort in shooting board
applications.
Geometry:
The blade is set in the tool bevel up at 20° with a 25°
bevel, making this a very large block plane, with an included cutting
angle of 45°.
Blade Sharpening:
The blade comes ready to use. Slight additional honing will
increase performance. A secondary bevel of up to 5 degrees helps achieve
a razor edge quickly. This also improves edge life in
hardwoods. For more information on advanced sharpening we
suggest David Charlesworth’s DVD Hand Tool Techniques Part 1:
Plane Sharpening.
Setting the Yoke Plate:
The blade-adjusting nut engages a cast yoke that fits into a slotted
plate screwed to the blade. The plate is installed with the slot to the
rear of the blade. The front edge of the plate needs to be about 33/4"
from the cutting edge of the blade to give you a good range of motion.
You can make a small jig with scraps of wood to set this distance. When
replacing the plate, tighten the retaining screw very firmly to prevent
slipping.
Mouth Adjustment:
To adjust the mouth, loosen the locking screw on the front top and move
the mouth plate with the screw on the front of the tool. Adjustments
may be made with a screwdriver or any handy coin. Re-tighten the
locking screw, but do not over tighten. A fine mouth opening is
appropriate for thin shavings, especially in difficult grained woods
and finishing cuts.
Blade Adjustment:
The blade adjusts easily and may be adjusted while your hand is on the
rear knob. Turning the adjuster nut clockwise will advance the blade.
The blade will adjust smoothly with the lever cap tensioned. NOTE: Make sure the mouth is adequately
open before advancing the blade to avoid damaging your edge.
Materials:
The body is cast from Ductile Iron, a virtually unbreakable alloy. The
castings are fully stress relieved, a process that removes inherent
stresses and ensures that the tool will remain flat and true. The cap
is Manganese Bronze. Other parts are Brass, Steel and Cherry.
The blade is A-2 Tool Steel hardened to Rockwell 60-62, cryogenically
treated and double tempered. Our heat treating technique ensures that
the blade will take and hold a very fine edge for a long time. After
heat treating, the blade is fully surface ground on the top, back, and
cutting edge, giving a smooth, flat surface that will take a mirror
finish very quickly. The 3/16" thickness provides solid chatter-free
cutting.
Maintenance:
Sides and bottom are ground flat and square to .0015". Occasional light
sanding on a flat surface with 320-grit wet/dry paper will keep your
tool in as-new condition. Wood parts are finished with wiping varnish,
and should require no maintenance. Protect the body and blade from rust
with a light oil, and occasionally oil the blade adjustment mechanism
for smooth action. We recommend Camellia Oil, a vegetable oil based
product. It is non-toxic, odor-free and easy to use. Also, in
our shop, we use a fine abrasive handblock to remove any light surface
oxide from tool bodies and blades. Camellia Oil and the abrasive
handblock are available from us.
Guarantee:
Materials and workmanship are guaranteed for the life of your tool.
Call for repairs or replacement parts. We are available for advice if
you ever have a problem using your tool.
* For more information on shooting we suggest David
Charlesworth's DVD Precision
Shooting Simplified.
Proposition 65 Notice: Bronze and brass alloys contain lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects, or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling.
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