Luban® No. 102 Bronze Low Angle Block Plane, No. 103 Bronze Block Plane
DESCRIPTION :
Luban No. 102 Bronze Low Angle Block Plane, No. 103 Bronze Block Plane - Fine Woodworking. Based on the Luban No. 102, No. 103, this small plane fits perfectly in the hand, slips easily into the pocket, and is destined to become the most useful tool in your workshop.
Cast in bronze, this delightful little block plane is traditionally carried in the apron pocket, ready for immediate and frequent use.It has a super smooth, low ratio, type 3 adjuster.
"BEST OVERALL BLOCK PLANE"
& "BEST VALUE BLOCK PLANE"
Fine Woodworking Tool Guide

For musical makers, model makers and similar precise work
Features of No. 102
¦ Material of body: bronze casting
¦ Degree of blade with sole: 12 degree
¦ Blade size: 3mm thick, 32mm wide / Blade is 1¼" wide x 1/8" thick
¦ Base (sole) size: 137mm/ 5¼" long, 41mm width
¦ Weight: 486g / 15.2 oz
Or
Features of No. 103
¦ Material of body: bronze casting
¦ Degree of blade with sole: 20 degree
¦ Blade size: 3mm thick, 32mm wide/ Blade is 1¼" wide x 1/8" thick
¦ Base (sole) size: 137mm/ 5¼" long, 41mm width
¦ Weight: 486g / 15.2 oz





In the early stages of a piece, an apron plane might be used to make small adjustments to the ends of squared timber blanks, or to create chamfers on waste material before it is cut away, both to aid visibility and prevent breakout.
In the later stages it may be used to fine tune joinery or sliding components to achieve the desired fit; or to take tiny threads off sharp corners to strengthen them. In some cases it may even be needed after a piece is finished, to correct the odd squeak or binding drawer.

Notes on use:
To adjust the blade, loosen the cap wheel until it is just beginning to exert the lightest possible pressure on the blade.
Position the blade laterally with finger and thumb and then, with the plane sole down on a piece of timber, advance the blade until it just makes contact with the surface.
Wind the cap iron screw twice (about half a rotation) and take a test shaving and adjust if necessary.
You don't need to apply all of the tension that the thumbwheel is capable of, it has the mechanical advantage of a screw thread and a 2:1 lever advantage, so two twists is plenty.

ABOUT BLADE:
① No. 102, No. 103 Bronze Block Plane includes an original T10 high carbon steel hardened to RC63 blade, sufficient for any normal working operation.

② Premium CPM3V Magnacut Powder Steel Blade.

Magnacut steel is a corrosion-resistant high-performance steel produced by powder metallurgy, with relatively low chromium content. Compared with O1, A2 or similar PM steels, it has higher cutting durability. The high hardness of vanadium and niobium carbides ensures a perfect combination of notch impact strength and wear resistance. Due to the low chromium content and fine grain structure, the sharpness is impressive. The hardness is 62-63 HRC.
* Magnacut Blade: ZEN-WU premium Magnacut powder steel, hand-precision ground and sharpened. Providing a smooth planing experience during operation, sharper, smoother, and making work easier.
* This blade is made out of superior premium steel CPM V3, that works much better than regular blades, even A2 steel, and holds the sharpness very long.
* The steel layer and the base material are inlaid with grooves on three sides, and the edge of the blade groove is inserted in a dovetail structure with a slight angle of 2 degrees!
* The inner half-circle structure at both ends of the chute slider can directly change the direction when equipped with Norris mechanism and pressure bar tongue pressing structure!
WHY CHOOSE CPM3V Magnacut Powder Steel Blade?
Performance characteristics:
* 3.5mm thick TC4 titanium alloy substrate, high strength!
* Blade steel: American BOS heat-treated cpm3v powder steel for directional use, HRC60.7, and the impact toughness of the cutting edge reaches 95 joules, super toughness!
* The whole blade is natural and permanent anti-rust
* The entire blade is 3.5mm thick, The titanium base provides a "soft" buffer support for the blade steel, ensuring stable cutting like butter!
(Soft support planing is the outstanding feature of this blade! The significance is even greater than the sharpness retention)
* Independent property right design: The counterbore groove design of the blade body, which comes with the sliders of the "Norris" and "Tongue And Groove" adjustment mechanisms of various brands, perfectly fits most domestic and foreign brands of conventional angle European planes, Luban, Veritas, etc.,
* It can plane hardwood up to 3000 shavings with one sharpening. Even then, looking at microscope, the blade is still in a very good condition.
* Planing hardwood smoothly and effortlessly.
Three unique outstanding performance characteristics:
* Customized BOS company special data heat treatment powder steel, creating a strong sharpness retention performance!
* Thick titanium-based "soft and soft" cushioning support, the cutting edge does not vibrate or tremble! Experience the touch of planing!
Grinding efficiency ratio in the shortest time:
* The bevel of the blade angle is about 1.2 cm wide and can be easily sharpened by hand without the aid of a fixed-angle sharpener!
* The whole blade is ultra-lightweight, and there is no weight sinking at the end of the blade when grinding, even if there is no freehand sharpening experience, it can be easily sharpened and honed.
* The blade steel is thin, the sharpening efficiency is even faster than that of the carbon steel blade, and the sharpness value can be restored within 15 minutes at most in daily use!