LN block plane: bronze vs iron?

[mark-yo]

Hi Friends.
Is there any real difference (in terms of quality, performance, etc.) between the bronze and the iron body Lie-Nielsen low-angle block planes? The iron is $20 cheaper.
Thx. m.

[Tom Miller]

I thought I heard that one advantage of the bronze version is that it will be less likely to crack if you should happen to drop it.

Regards,
Tom

[scorrpio]

Bronze(brass) won't develop rust...

[JimD]

iron or steel is also harder - won't wear as fast - and stronger. If you keep a little oil on the steel one (so it doesn't rust when stored), I do not think there is a functional difference. Plane bodies were commonly made of wood at one point so I think any sort of metal is strong enough and wear for most of us should not be a factor.

Jim

[scorrpio]

Oh yes, brass is also a 'lubricant' metal. Less friction when planing.

[kwgeorge]

Well I am up to 5 Lie-Nielsen planes right now. All of them are the Iron bodies. It is kind of a pain keeping the bronze on the block planes clean and looking good as it is let alone if the whole plane was bronze. The acid in your skill will react quickly with the bronze and turns it quite ugly quite quick. What I do with all my planes is to spray the sole and sides with Top-Cote and this keeps the rust off and helps them slide nicely.

I think that if I could have bought mine with no bronze at all I probably would have been just as happy and I am sure they would have been just as functional because like I said that bronze is a real pain to keep looking good and I see no advantage to it other than cosmetics. I do love the Lie-Nielsen block planes though and use them about all the time. Once tuned up and honed they turn into a wood slicing machine! They feel exceptionally well in the hand and I am amazed at all the uses that I find for them. They have certainly become one of the more used hand tools in my shop and find their way to the bench constantly. The one that seems to get used the most is my little apron plane (LN 102I) as it is small and handy and it always seems to be just the right tool for that final fitting of a joint or drawer.

Ken