Block Plane by Woodriver reviewed by Rob Cosman
Block Plane by Woodriver reviewed by Rob Cosman
Rob teaches sharpening, setting up and using the WR low angle block. Explains why he promotes the low angle vs the standard angle. Benefits of the lever cap, adjusting the toe plate for better control when planing difficult grain and planing endgrain.
Question if I were to grind my low angle block plane blade to less than 25 degrees say 22.5 degrees would further improve end grain trimming?
Hello Rob, generally I would very rarely disagree with your reviews of tools, but in the case of Woodriver LA block plane there are several thing, that should be and can be easily done better.
Major issues: Correct allignment of the blade parallel to the throat is not working well, it is too much time consuming, you can see it even on your video. Centre screw has not proper shape and fit in the cap, cap is sometimes hard to fit on the screw. Sole is not flat and coplanar to the throat-piece. Overal grip in one hand is far from optimum.
My modifications:
1/ Plane badly needs adjusting screws for the side to side play – 2 set screws on one side, one set screw on the other. Same design as used on the Veritas skew block planes. I will add this feature – probably some small set screws (in my case metric M3 or M4 set screws).
2/ side ground depressions (recess?) for the fingers need more grip, I have modified this with the centre punch dots .
3/ Sole was lapped flat with blade in tension retracted back. (Mine new block plan had the throatplate protruding something between 0,05 and 0,1 mm above the sole). This way the flatnes is better than originally maschined (probably without tension).
4/ The head of the brass centre screw will be modified (head shape close to "oval head low profile")
I will send photos of all modification when finished.
Lukas H.
Woodcraft is offering a new line of hand planes, made in China, that carry their own Wood River trademark.
I don’t buy chinese goods. Can’t support a communist country.
Does you back ever get sore from bending over to sharpening your irons? Mine would. Your still young someday you’ll be bent like a sway back horse in reverse.
You can’t spell "Woodworking" without "Rod," which sounds very close to "Rob." A great man, a great wood worker, and a great American.
Rob Cosman reviews the Quangsheng … I mean … Woodriver Block Plane.
The usual 20 min video of this guy sharpening his feckin tools. Review STARTS 17 minutes into the video. 😳
Woodcraft just sold me a standard angle block in a low angle box. Very annoyed
lol R.I.P. to the bevel queens that are always crying about getting exactly ‘xx’ degrees on the primary and/or micro-bevel.
I just want to say the brand is wood river, the river that they use is not pronounced like the body of water. It is the river, root word rive. To rive is to separate two materials; cleave. So as to not confuse people, let’s get the pronunciations correct.
great video ROB!!!!!!
Good stuff again. I’ve owned a couple vintage L A block planes, one a knuckle style model 3732, like the WR, the other an old Record 060 1/2. On both of my older planes I can adjust the depth of cut while the cap is securing the blades. Can not do that with the WR Plane, it is either tight or too loose to hold the blade. After years of using the old Craftsman I didn’t understand that the cap should totally lock things in place, until I watched your video, but I’ve never had an issue with the blade moving. I was going to send it back, good thing I watched your video again and caught you flipping the knuckle cap to make blade adjustments. I was going to send it back… because I’m a knucklehead.
Side note, I gave away my new production Stanley standard angle block plane because it didn’t fit my hand, these LA block planes are the only way to go.
Thanks Rob!
Great instruction.
Thanks for the info. I wished i would have seen this before buying the Stanley sweetheart low angle block plane. so far it’s been okay, but a little aggravating adjusting with the wheel. nonetheless, great videos as always. what wax are you using for the bottom, before planning?
What other “premium” plane companies is he referring to? LN?
This is just outstanding. New to your channel and I can’t thank you enough. Really appreciate the time & effort you put into these vids. Stuff for the experienced people and yet explain things as you go for the newer guys. EVERYONE was a newbie at one point.
Hello Rob, Are these planes available n the uk please, I bought one from Axminster Machine Tools here. Rider make, they are supposed to be high end planes made in China, but, they are different to the Woodriver range can you comment please, Derek Rowe
Sellers says primary bevel is the only bevel needed ol’ ron here has primary, secondary, tertiary and soon to come the quadtiary bevel. I stop at 2 myself, after that it’s just more shit to fix later.
Can you please do a review like this on the low angle jack wood river?
What I love about your videos is you waste absolutely no time yapping, you just get right into the thick of it and tell people what you are doing as you are working. Not an easy thing to do at all but it’s such a great way to lead by example.
That lever cap looks great. Never had a low-angle block, but going to search for prices in Australia right now for this very tool.
I don’t think I’ve watched one of your videos in which I haven’t learned something useful, even after 40 years of joinery.
Thanks.
Rob, wwhere do you get those awesome screwdrivers
Based on previous successful recommendations by Rob I just bought one and am looking forward to it . The toggle cap seems a really clever idea to me.It’s really quite heavy too.
It blows my mind how quickly and accurately you grind those blades . Definitely a skill I need to work on !
What stick wax are you using?
Really informative. Thank you.
👍👍👍👍👍
Is there resale-value to these? LN will always keep its value./
The
Excellent video…very informative
That blade was unacceptable.
The only thing not explained is why you would use different angled blades. Now I know how to use my dad’s plane better than he, he was a rough carpenter that "got her done" but was rough on his tools, lol Thank’s for this vid. One thing dad drilled into me was never lay a plane on it’s blade side, always lay it on it’s side.
1600 or 16000
Great vid Rob. I like that you didn’t skip a lot of the grinding process so that we can get an idea of how long the entire job takes. It was also good to see that you have to fuss with the cutting iron as much as I do before you get it where you want it. 🙂
Great information! Just got my first ever descent plane, rabbeting block plane. What a beauty! Now I know how to disassemble it and sharpen the blade. Thank you! BTW what was make or manufacturer of the red "wheel dresser"?
Would a low angle rabbet block plane do all the same work as a regular low angle block plane, plus the "rabbeting" capability? Might be a silly question, but if I can achieve both in one tool, I would get a low angle rabbet block plane.
Holy crap I subscribed just because you know so much about planes. I just bought my first one today and can see I’ll never learn this much but I’m going in anyway…
Hi Rob, where can I buy Woodriver planes in Toronto, Canada?
Thanks Rob! Was very informative.
Thank you Rob, so many tools so little time.
Blessed to have the skills to do all you done without superman equipment to get same or better results. Good for ya’ though.
Rob using a grinder on a blade. I thought I would of never saw that.
thanks. I am in the market for this exact plane and your video was jsut what I needed to convince me to make the purchase.
Thanks Rob for putting the subtitles on so quickly, thinking about those with little worries. I very much appreciate your videos as well as your kindness in helping us and responding as much as possible. 👏
and since I’m clumsy I deleted my first text when I wanted to edit it.
thanks Rob 👍
Hi, Rob. Could you please do a video explaining the differences and practicality of the various types of saws? Online I see crossgrain, tenon, rip, and the old-timey seeming saws that have no brace across the top of the blade and are much longer. Thank you.
I bought a wood river block, #4, #6, trend diamond and 16k shapton and applied the same technique. All my blades cut really well. Also did the same on chisels without the ruler. Same excellent results, cut my hand too
rob has a eye for detail.
Well ,I bought the block plane and I can tell you ,I would not have believed it but i can get shavings on pine down to 1/2 a thou . It really is an unbelievable performer ,and very good looking with its chromed cap . Rob Cosman has never steered me wrong as far as tools are concerned.
Excellent professional video. A lot of information…sharpening, setup and how to use. Sold!…thank you sir!
Nice review but really appreciate the tutorial on bringing that blade back into shape.