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Anyone tried or own a Veritas Bench Plane Fences?

3K views 8 replies 9 participants last post by  fuigb 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Just wondering if anyone has tried or owns any of the Veritas bench plane fences (variable or 90 degree versions)? I own a couple Lie Nielsen bench planes and am wondering if these work well or whether they only work in logic? Is there one you'd recommend?

Thanks,

Dan
 
#3 ·
I don't see how these would even work. Veritas makes some really GREAT stuff, but they also make a lot of gimmics. For the fence to work, it pretty much requires that you use a non-cambered blade for jointing. For most people the only time you'd use a straight iron for jointing would be if you were match jointing two boards at the same time, and if you do that then it becomes pointless to try to be 90 degrees because they are complimentary angles. If you are jointing a single board at a time, then you would normally use a cambered iron, which wouldn't work with a fence - in fact, the fence would defeat the purpose of the camber.

If you want to try it, just grab a piece of 3/4 scrap that's a good 4 to 5 inches long. Rip off two inches and glue it back on. Then just clamp it onto your plane and give it a go. If it works, and you want something fancier (but not more effective), then get the Veritas version. My guess is that it will not work as well as just using a cambered iron and doing it the old fashioned way. Yeah, it takes a little practice, but after your 6th board you'll have it down. Just keep a square handy to check your work as you go.
 
#5 ·
I have the universal magnetic fence as well as the fence for the Veritas BU jointer (and the jointer). Yes they do work, and very well. Dont use them for glue ups, just bookmatch edges, but use them for any single edge I want perp to a surface, table edges etc. I dont camber jointer irons. If one is able to joint an edge perp without a fence, good for you, I screwed up too many till I got the fence. I also may be too anal about getting perp.

I cant guarantee it but Im sure the mag fence will fit LN planes. It fits all of my Stanley Bailey planes - 4, 4-1\2, 5, 5-1/2, 7, a grizzly 4, Fulton 4, I even configured it to fit my Veritas LA BU jack by drilling/tapping another hole for the retainer pin.
 
#6 · (Edited by Moderator)
If you are jointing a single board at a time, then you would normally use a cambered iron, which wouldn t work with a fence - in fact, the fence would defeat the purpose of the camber.
- chriscarter
No, the Veritas fence is only parallel to the side of the plane where it attaches with a magnet/screw. The rest of it is inset enough to avoid any camber.

Parallel Rectangle Cylinder Font Diagram


OSU - I joint everything by hand and don't use a fence. But I'm just as "too anal" as you about getting it right, so I understand where you're coming from. Sometimes I like help (when I do dovetails I always use a David Barron guide), but I like the challenge of getting it right with only planes and my eyeballs. I definitely use at least two planes when jointing. The second is a block, I might use others.

And if you can get it done the first time on a long board with a a no-fence #8 it's like a miracle and time to celebrate with a beer. That's happened with a short board with me. Never a long board.
 

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#7 ·
I recently bought the Veritas #7 Jointer with the screw in guide fence…I am still getting used to working by hand tools alone and I can say for me it does make it a little easier to get a square edge vs freehanding it. The fence does create some other problems though, firstly, I hold the plane differently so as to add some side pressure to the fence instead of to the front knob of the plane as I normally would. Secondly I am constantly checking the fence registration against the side of the board, so that slows me down…not a huge deal, but I do feel like it is training wheels for the jointer and I will eventually grow out of it.
 
#9 ·
Another owner and sometimes-user here. I find the fence to be cumbersome, but for some jobs it performs splendidly and helps to compensate for my so-so handplane skills. "Gimmick" and "training wheels" appear above as descriptors and both apply, but for those without a mentor on hand the gimmicky-training wheels are not a bad investment. Also, Travis is correct about the off-set: mine performs well on a resurrected jointer with an uncambered iron.
 
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