Jorgensen 102 Low Angle Block Plane Review
Jorgensen 102 Low Angle Block Plane Review
This is a review of the Jorgensen 102 Low Angle Block Plane. I test the plane, tune it up, and put it through its paces. The video concludes with ratings, recommendations, and alternatives.
Chapters:
0:00 Unboxing and Examination
4:17 Testing – Pre-Tuning
6:58 A Rant of Blade Angles
10:04 Tuning – Sharpening the Blade
12:59 Tuning – Flattening the Sole
16:33 Testing – Post Tuning
18:39 Ratings and Recommendations
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*101 Sized Planes*
_Jorgensen No 102 Low Angle Block Plane:_ https://www.lowes.com/pd/Jorgensen/5013525471
_Lie-Neilsen No 101 Violin Maker’s Plane:_ https://www.lie-nielsen.com/products/violin-makers-plane?path=block-planes&node=4072
_Veritas Pocket Plane:_ https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/planes/block/76879-veritas-pocket-plane?item=05P6501
_Stanley 101 Block Plane:_ https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313&_nkw=stanley+101+block+plane&_sacat=0
*Independent and Custom Plane Makers* (please let me know who I need to add to the list)
_Bent Rivers:_ https://www.etsy.com/shop/BentRivers
_Bill Carter:_ http://www.billcarterwoodworkingplanemaker.co.uk/
_BJS Planes:_ www.bjsplanesandwoodworking
_Boaz Zeffertt Tools:_ https://www.boazzeffertt.com
_Crown Planes:_ https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrownPlane
_Daed Toolworks:_ https://daedproduction.wpengine.com/
_Daniel Porrett Tools:_ https://instagram.com/danielporrett_tools
_Forrest Blyth Infill Planes:_ https://instagram.com/forrestblyth
_Karl Hotley:_ https://www.holteyplanes.com/
_Lazarus Handplane Co.:_ http://www.lazarushandplane.com/
_Neville Planes:_ https://www.nevilleplanes.com/
_Old Street Tools, Inc:_ – www.planemaker.com/
_Sauer and Steiner Toolworks:_ http://www.sauerandsteiner.com/
_Scott Meeks Woodworks:_ https://scottmeekwoodworks.com
_Voigt Planes:_ http://voigtplanes.com
I occasionally make tools to sell as well. I can be contacted at ericmeyermaker@gmail.com or any of socials.
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Behind the Scenes:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eric.meyer….
About the Builds, Gallery, Tools for Sale, and Plans: https://ericmeyermaker.wordpress.com/
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#handtools #toolreview
At $14.50 for a ham plain these things are absolutely amazing!! Works just as well as my lie Nielsen, or any premium planer ,,, Has a nice thick blade , extremely stable. I give this plane a AAAA. The plane does its job.
Have you tried the $35 Jorgensen No 60 1/2? I was researching it when I came across your video.
Informative review! Thanks for adding a list of small makers in the description. When you got to that portion of the video I was disappointed you didn’t recommend any, but you did after all!
does giving chinese tools a european name make them work better?
Nice review! I always stare hard with temptation at the other jorgensen planes at Lowes, particularly the smoother. Kind of reminds me of a budget early pattern Bedrock after watching Rex Krueger’s video on it.
I bought one. Spent 1-1/2 hours stripping the orange paint. Flattened the bottom, and the cap iron. The frog was flat on mine. Performed fabulous after honing. BTW, this plane is virtually an exact copy of the Lie-Nielsen version.
Thanks for a top review of this plane. I have a weakness for block planes and was pleased to see this plane has a blade of some thickness not the paper thin blades seen on some cheap block planes. Another plane that is of the same type and is an almost exact copy of the LN 101 violin makers plane is the Luban 101 block plane. Its performance is nearly identical to the LN.. I have upgraded the occasional Stanley 101 model makers plane with a Veritas blade from their little Victor block plane which is jut that little bit thicker and takes a fine edge. The Veritas pocket plane you listed has a bed angle in the middle around 15 degrees. I have a couple one in stainless and one in iron, they both perform really well. I did try to buy the Jorgensen "102" from Lowes only to find they do not ship to Australia. I will keep an eye out on ebay and Amazon as I hope they will eventually be available there. All the best.
Sorry I was asking questions on the IG post when it very clearly stated in your reply thread that there’d be a YT review posted. It’s pretty ignorant that calling this a low-angle block plane made it all the way through the process and actually onto the packaging/marketing material. BTW; if you have a L-N 60-1/2 or 60-1/2R, you’ve got to check out the adjustment knob built with bearings that Reed Planes has started selling (Wood by Wright is selling them too for him)! Absolutely ZERO backlash and is like butter when adjusting; would certainly recommend for your next block plane build. Let me know if you need one for mock up/design. (I’ve got a picture on my IG with one in a °102 and a °97) 👍
You must not be as good as you think you are. I bought the same plane last week. Out of the box I got a .003 shaving. Five minutes on a 1200 grit diamond, 3 minutes on a 5000grit wet stone, a minute stropping and I got a shaving that my micrometer read .001. Had to fiddle with it a bit but I can get it consistenly. I’ve got old 60 1/2 stanleys that won’t do that all the time. The paint job didn’t stop the plane from performing at all. This is one I will be carrying in my pocket when woodworking.
How does it compare to stanley 12-101?
It’s about 2/3 of my L-N 102, and the fit & finish isn’t too bad for $15. It’s a good toolbox plane that might take some knocking around. The blade could use a little honing. By the way, a swipe of wax on the sold would result in more energy being put into removing wood instead of heat from friction. I might spring for the 60-1/2, but I doubt it’s as good at my old Stanley 60-1/2.
When you did the math on the bed plus bevel angle, I stood up and cheered. Good video.
Saw these, was intrigued. I’d say for a budget plane go buy on old Stanley and tune it up. They work great and are nastolgic. Nice video
Your rant on blade angle is not 100% spot on, and I do agree with the rest of your opinions.
First, there are bevel up and bevel down planes. Most common bench planes are bevel down planes.
Second, there are low angle, standard angle and high angle planes in bevel up and bevel down configuration. There are 33 degree bed angle bevel down planes in the English miter plane family. That is considered a low angle bevel down plane. Why 33 degrees? You can hone a 30 degree secondary bevel on the blade and still have 3 degree of relief angle when it’s bevel down.
Third, I am fairly confident to say most cast iron body block planes are bevel up planes (Stanley 10x series have some bevel down models).12 degree bed is considered low angle, and 20 considered standard angle.
With all that said, if this plane comes with a bed angle around 20 degrees, it is a standard angle block plane. It has nothing to do with the blade bevel angle. You can grind a 20 degree blade, put it in this plane, resulting a 40 degree cutting angle. However, it does not change the 20 degree bed angle, so does not change the fact it’s a standard angle block plane.