TESTED: Lie Nielsen large router plane

The large Lie-Nielsen router plane comes standard with fence and 3/8" wide blade.

Review and photos: Raf Nathan

This handplane is quite minimalist in design and based on the legendary Stanley 71. Similar planes were also made by Record and Preston tools. This is the closed throat version of the Lie- Nielsen but there is another version, the open throat, which is arguably better for small fine work.

It is a beautifully made tool with exceptional quality metal machining. The included small fence sits neatly in a machined way under the base. It locks in place with a brass thumbwheel with minimal under-hang giving you plenty of clearance for edge work. The fence has three tapped holes which allow it to position up close to the blade or sit quite a distance away on either side of the blade.

Showing the perfectly machined base and included fence.

Depth adjustment of the blade is simple and effective using a brass lock knob and steel adjusting thumbwheel to quickly rise or lower the blade. There is also a small brass stop which can be set for repeat cuts at a fixed depth. The two turned cherry handles are fitted at 90° to the base. This is not as comfortable for me as some other router planes with angled handles.

The Lie-Nielsen arrives standard with its fence and a substantial square blade 3/8" wide. There are narrower blades available in 1/4" and 3/32" but you need to first buy an adaptor to hold the narrower blades. Not sure why this system has been employed as Veritas, for example, offer a wide selection of blade widths.

The blade is A2 steel and razor sharp straight out of the box, although I still gave it a quick hone to get it super sharp. The blade is one piece of folded square steel, and as such, sharpening needs care as you have little leverage when moving the short edge over a sharpening stone. I found the metal easy to sharpen on my waterstones.

Overhead view of the neat fence and cutter arrangement.

The blade height adjustment mechanism is quite slick with minimal backlash. The blade rides in a machined square hole secured with a brass thumbwheel. Blade removal is simple.

At a weight of 0.75kg it is it somewhat light to use. I found the plane easy to hold and work with. The overall build quality is excellent – the base for example is perfectly flat. There is a distinct hand finished feel to it and it arrives fettled and ready to work.

At $479, it is not a cheap tool but then again the comparably equipped Veritas plane with fence is only $65 less. This is another beautiful Lie-Nielsen tool and you will never regret the spend.

Review tool supplied by Lie Nielsen Australia and available from www.lie-nielsen.com.au

Raf Nathan @treeman777 is a Brisane based woodworker.