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The first thing I did this morning was polish the blade on the Veritas Miniature Router Plane and try it out on a hinge mortise (the pre-dawn use explains the mood lighting in the pictures).
As advertised, the wee router plane works like its larger sibling. In practical use, it’s best-suited for the smallest of detail work – the sole at its widest is 2-1/4″, so it can’t span a hinge mortise that would be typical for most furniture work (I held one side of the sole flat to the face of the workpiece while routing out the waste at one end of my mortise, then switched to the other end and did the same).
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the plane is comfortable in use – the tiny bubinga knobs are easy to grip (with an index finger and thumb only) and it’s easy to use – though you have to be sure to maintain consistent downward pressure, because at only .12 pounds, the tool doesn’t really help you stay in the cut.
If I ever take up inlay work (or small-scale furniture) I foresee reaching for this little cutie. The introductory price of $34.50 is good through today (Oct. 31), after which the regular price of $39.50 is in effect.
Ripsaw
I also tried out the two new Veritas Gent’s Saws (which, by the way, would good additions to the I Can Do That “Gent’s Box” you’ll see in the December issue – if you haven’t already, you should subscribe now!), which are available filed crosscut or rip.
These small saws (just under 8″ in length) have the same steel-filled polymer spine molded to the blade as the Veritas dovetail and carcase saws, and have comfortable bubinga handles. While these saws don’t look traditional, the wood handles make them feel traditional in use. While I prefer the extra heft of my brass-backed gent’s saw (.52 vs. .38 pounds), the sawplate on the Veritas saws is 1.75″ longer, and the depth of cut 3/8 deeper – and you can get a pair for $89, which is less than the price for one of the brass-backed tool I have (the Veritas Gent’s Saws are available individually for $49 each).
Crosscut saw
The gent’s saws have a .015″-thick carbon steel blade with .003″ of set per side. The ripsaw is files 20 tpi with a 14° rake; the crosscut is filed 22 tpi with a 15° rake. Both saws were easy to start and cut smoothly – as you’d expect from Veritas.
All three tools are made in Canada.
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How are these Gent Saws different from the Veritas dovetail and carcase saws? Is it basically the same saw but with a different handle on it or do you use them for different tasks?
Thanks!
~Peter
The itty bitty router crawled up the water spout.
Down came the grain, and washed the router out.
Out came the sun, and dried up all the grain,
and the itty bitty router went up the spout again.