I have the Clifton 6, inherited from my Dad. Only 'premium' plane I own and I love it. Solid, all the adjustments are bang on and reliable, and somehow just seems to work nicest of all my planes. No idea why that is, I mean its still just a chisel in a box, but nevertheless it's just the feeling I get using it.
I have not been able to get the lateral adjustment levers to work the way I want them to do. They kind of jump on me, going more than I want. I keep a piece of lilgnum on my bench to gently tap it into the position I want. I did pick up an old Winchester plane, and on the sole of the plane, some one scribed in a line which really helps me line up the blade for square. Now, I am going to be attempting to make some wood planes.... Having a lot of fun learning to work these tools....
You read my mine about the weight. I prefer the lighter old planes. I'm glad though that there are still builders in the US and UK making premium planes.
I am sort with you on the Norris adjuster. I have one plane with that style of adjustment (kunz no.4 +) while it offers the finest depth adjustment of all my planes, the easiset throat ajustment, the lateral adjuster is "too effortless" it easy to turn the blade, but sometimes during planing the blade can tilt to one side a bit. It is entirely possible that the problem is user error, but i have to be on the lookout for it happening. Stanley styled planes with the screw that locks the whole assembly together however tight you need worked more reliably for me.
If u like the lighter weight Bailey's maybe try marples transitional planes. Feather light, bailey style adjustment, wooden sole easier and quicker to flatten. Prices vary but picked up my no4 equivalent for £20. Great plane
I got the Clifton 5 1/2 in 2021 I haven't used it much because the company I was working for told me not to bring in expensive tools to work in case the workshop got broken into , but my Clifton is a bit weird when adjusting it winds down fine but if I wind it up the lever cap loses it's tension and the cutting iron slips beck down with no tension on the cutting iron.
Seems really nice plane, though i never tried one. But i do hear you about the weight. For several day i'm plaining 2 meranti boards, 1.5 m long and 25 cm wide. In this case a weight of woden heavy scrub and vintage record no 5 compare to my dictum and jumma/luban (bedrock design)shows .
It's great! Good as a final finishing plane but not practical for taking rough sawn to smooth. It's nice to use if the wood is already there or there about.
@@faceedgewoodworking No worries. Glad all is well. Will check out your stuff no matter when or how sporadic the uploads may be :) Appreciate the response as always.
I think LN started with cocobolo. Which sensitizes employees and it's not so plentiful in bigger stock as it was before, either. Right on the iron - it was W1 and they told a toolmaking birdie at Williamsburg that they weren't hardening the full length due to warp. As to the weight and the iron thickness and the gadget cap iron, it's not really serious users who are buying tools these days. At least not 90% of the market. The market that sustains a business is people who have stepped away from a computer screen or an insurance products sales meeting. I'd be at odds with one due to the weight (and I don't care for the SS cap iron), but it's nicely made. And if the key part of the market isn't served, bankruptcy would be the only steady business state. 540 for LN is bonkers!! But the cost of a lot of stuff has gone up here, especially bits and bobs from LN like blades and chisels and such. the core planes here, though, $425 here for the 5 1/2. Current exchange has your price at $701 equivalent. It's easy to have a distaste for distributors when stuff like that happens! We're often on the wrong end of it here for anything made in europe or originating from there, too. Too, an off center forge stamp that's hand set would be the last thing that would concern me, but I can't center mine, either.
Hi David. I'm with you on your points. I like it as an object. A good level of finish and it avoids feeling clinical. Like you, I don't care that a stamp is off. Modern tool making has taken a direction that seems a bit at odds with simple hand work.
@@Ramplcro I think modern "wisdom" created a narrative where a Bailey is inferior. Sadly that's not accurate. For the 90% hobby market, they want what their online mentor has.
The grief that Clifton got in the US over quality was two-pronged. There are lots of happy owners, though many fewer than there would be if there was no LN and LV sucking up most of the sales like a vacuum. Around 12 or 15 years ago, there were several internet forum buyers who got Clifton planes through retailers here where there was something substantially wrong - Bob ___ (last name escapes me) was one. I recall him saying the seating of the frog was off of square to the point that he couldn't use the plane. Clifton and the retailer may not have figured out who would do the actual work of replacing the plane, both saying they would, and since the issue didn't get fixed, every time someone asked, that was the first thing they heard about Clifton. Costly mistake in judgement given how search engines work. 10 happy customers will say almost nothing. one unhappy customer with something unresolved will type "Clifton" a hundred times with a story attached.
Hi David. Yeah, I've read them but couldn't be bothered to compile them all. Credit to the others though, they were able to keep the quality high enough and avoid the bad press. I think cost has been an issue too. It's nice to see Clifton available here at reasonable prices when compared to Lie-Nielsen.
@@faceedgewoodworking For a while, clifton was the same price, or it sort of went back and forth. Same price here. Clifton in the UK was below LN's price in the US. I looked around a bit earlier - it looks like woodcraft has gotten distribution of them in the US along with tools for working wood, and they're a bit higher than lie nielsen. Not a lot, but 10% or so. Normally, you could suppose that means they wouldn't sell, but if they are in stock when some guy like me but new to the hobby gets a jones and LN is out of stock, some will sell. I have a disgust for woodcraft - anything they sell is marked up enormously, and in some cases, they get exclusive rights and chill even overseas sellers from selling anything to the US, but they have coverage and draw in beginners.
@@daw162 If I was over there I'd just get an LN, unless, as you point out, someone is excited and be sold to. I don't know how long companies like Woodcraft are going to survive. I suppose if Cosman can create enough awareness people will buy WoodRiver but that can be done from a warehouse.
Too bad they moved away from the green paint and the stamped irons if you ask me (i know nobody did). The only thing I don't like about the design of this plane is how the tote is much straighter and vertical
I hear "bedrock" quoted a lot. A bit of googling tells me it's to do with the frog design. But I still couldn't pick up a plane and say "that's a bedrock design" or otherwise. What are the key details of the frog that make it a bedrock type?
@@faceedgewoodworking I think the "it makes no difference" is the key. I'm glad that I know the difference now. I think I'll be in my workshop this evening going through my ever expanding collection of planes to see which (if any) are bedrock.
Thank you for the review. Very helpful.
I have a no.3 Clifton. It's a great plane. Never had a problem with it. Probably my favourite plane.
That's good to hear. I think they deserve more credit than they get.
I have the Clifton 6, inherited from my Dad. Only 'premium' plane I own and I love it. Solid, all the adjustments are bang on and reliable, and somehow just seems to work nicest of all my planes. No idea why that is, I mean its still just a chisel in a box, but nevertheless it's just the feeling I get using it.
(Also wish it didn't have the two-piece cap iron though!)
Glad you like it. Wouldn't be mega bucks to get a one piece. Happy planing!
I have not been able to get the lateral adjustment levers to work the way I want them to do. They kind of jump on me, going more than I want. I keep a piece of lilgnum on my bench to gently tap it into the position I want. I did pick up an old Winchester plane, and on the sole of the plane, some one scribed in a line which really helps me line up the blade for square. Now, I am going to be attempting to make some wood planes.... Having a lot of fun learning to work these tools....
Glad you're making tools, a very good plan. I find the levers just fine but whatever works, right? 👍
You read my mine about the weight. I prefer the lighter old planes. I'm glad though that there are still builders in the US and UK making premium planes.
Absolutely!
I am sort with you on the Norris adjuster. I have one plane with that style of adjustment (kunz no.4 +) while it offers the finest depth adjustment of all my planes, the easiset throat ajustment, the lateral adjuster is "too effortless" it easy to turn the blade, but sometimes during planing the blade can tilt to one side a bit. It is entirely possible that the problem is user error, but i have to be on the lookout for it happening. Stanley styled planes with the screw that locks the whole assembly together however tight you need worked more reliably for me.
Thanks for your feedback Petr. I could just be bias as I only really use the Bailey set up.
Beautiful!!!!!
👍
If u like the lighter weight Bailey's maybe try marples transitional planes. Feather light, bailey style adjustment, wooden sole easier and quicker to flatten. Prices vary but picked up my no4 equivalent for £20. Great plane
Nice tip. I like the Bailey. Great all round option and I keep the wooden ones for rough stock for the most part.
I got the Clifton 5 1/2 in 2021 I haven't used it much because the company I was working for told me not to bring in expensive tools to work in case the workshop got broken into , but my Clifton is a bit weird when adjusting it winds down fine but if I wind it up the lever cap loses it's tension and the cutting iron slips beck down with no tension on the cutting iron.
That sucks on both levels! Theft and plane problems! If you don't need the plane for a few days you're welcome to send it to me to problem solve.
Seems really nice plane, though i never tried one. But i do hear you about the weight. For several day i'm plaining 2 meranti boards, 1.5 m long and 25 cm wide. In this case a weight of woden heavy scrub and vintage record no 5 compare to my dictum and jumma/luban (bedrock design)shows .
It's great! Good as a final finishing plane but not practical for taking rough sawn to smooth. It's nice to use if the wood is already there or there about.
Missin your content my friend!!
Hey! Really appreciate that. We'll get something done this year. It may not be much but it'll be something.
@@faceedgewoodworking No worries. Glad all is well.
Will check out your stuff no matter when or how sporadic the uploads may be :)
Appreciate the response as always.
I think LN started with cocobolo. Which sensitizes employees and it's not so plentiful in bigger stock as it was before, either. Right on the iron - it was W1 and they told a toolmaking birdie at Williamsburg that they weren't hardening the full length due to warp.
As to the weight and the iron thickness and the gadget cap iron, it's not really serious users who are buying tools these days. At least not 90% of the market. The market that sustains a business is people who have stepped away from a computer screen or an insurance products sales meeting. I'd be at odds with one due to the weight (and I don't care for the SS cap iron), but it's nicely made. And if the key part of the market isn't served, bankruptcy would be the only steady business state.
540 for LN is bonkers!! But the cost of a lot of stuff has gone up here, especially bits and bobs from LN like blades and chisels and such. the core planes here, though, $425 here for the 5 1/2. Current exchange has your price at $701 equivalent. It's easy to have a distaste for distributors when stuff like that happens! We're often on the wrong end of it here for anything made in europe or originating from there, too.
Too, an off center forge stamp that's hand set would be the last thing that would concern me, but I can't center mine, either.
Hi David. I'm with you on your points. I like it as an object. A good level of finish and it avoids feeling clinical.
Like you, I don't care that a stamp is off. Modern tool making has taken a direction that seems a bit at odds with simple hand work.
It's funny that there are no new good pure bailey style for around 100-150 euros or clever adjustable chipbraker for bevel up planes.
@@Ramplcro I think modern "wisdom" created a narrative where a Bailey is inferior. Sadly that's not accurate. For the 90% hobby market, they want what their online mentor has.
Just treated myself to a brand new clifton block plane. Sold a kidney for it lol
😂😂😂 How much can you get for a good kidney these days? Could do with a bit of extra 💰 about now.
Very nice. Great content. New subscriber.
That's very generous, thank you!
The pricing in the U.S. for Clifton vs Lie Nielsen is reversed. You’ll pay more for the Clifton in the US than the LN.
The grief that Clifton got in the US over quality was two-pronged. There are lots of happy owners, though many fewer than there would be if there was no LN and LV sucking up most of the sales like a vacuum. Around 12 or 15 years ago, there were several internet forum buyers who got Clifton planes through retailers here where there was something substantially wrong - Bob ___ (last name escapes me) was one. I recall him saying the seating of the frog was off of square to the point that he couldn't use the plane. Clifton and the retailer may not have figured out who would do the actual work of replacing the plane, both saying they would, and since the issue didn't get fixed, every time someone asked, that was the first thing they heard about Clifton. Costly mistake in judgement given how search engines work. 10 happy customers will say almost nothing. one unhappy customer with something unresolved will type "Clifton" a hundred times with a story attached.
Hi David. Yeah, I've read them but couldn't be bothered to compile them all. Credit to the others though, they were able to keep the quality high enough and avoid the bad press.
I think cost has been an issue too. It's nice to see Clifton available here at reasonable prices when compared to Lie-Nielsen.
@@faceedgewoodworking For a while, clifton was the same price, or it sort of went back and forth. Same price here. Clifton in the UK was below LN's price in the US.
I looked around a bit earlier - it looks like woodcraft has gotten distribution of them in the US along with tools for working wood, and they're a bit higher than lie nielsen. Not a lot, but 10% or so. Normally, you could suppose that means they wouldn't sell, but if they are in stock when some guy like me but new to the hobby gets a jones and LN is out of stock, some will sell.
I have a disgust for woodcraft - anything they sell is marked up enormously, and in some cases, they get exclusive rights and chill even overseas sellers from selling anything to the US, but they have coverage and draw in beginners.
@@daw162 If I was over there I'd just get an LN, unless, as you point out, someone is excited and be sold to.
I don't know how long companies like Woodcraft are going to survive. I suppose if Cosman can create enough awareness people will buy WoodRiver but that can be done from a warehouse.
Howcan i get thishandplane am in uganda kampala
Too bad they moved away from the green paint and the stamped irons if you ask me (i know nobody did).
The only thing I don't like about the design of this plane is how the tote is much straighter and vertical
The handle is okay for me. Stamped iron for the win, green paint for traction engines 😂
I hear "bedrock" quoted a lot. A bit of googling tells me it's to do with the frog design. But I still couldn't pick up a plane and say "that's a bedrock design" or otherwise. What are the key details of the frog that make it a bedrock type?
I think I've answered my own question : ua-cam.com/video/MQ3s8UDy-ww/v-deo.html - Thanks for the prompt to go and find out.
Glad you found out Rob. It makes no difference in real life and never caught on until relatively recent times.
@@faceedgewoodworking I think the "it makes no difference" is the key. I'm glad that I know the difference now. I think I'll be in my workshop this evening going through my ever expanding collection of planes to see which (if any) are bedrock.
Mim patrocina
Picky about nonsense