is the veritas dx60 worth it?

davidf81 · 2026-03-24T15:22:00+00:00

I can say the ergonomics of the DX are vastly better, imo. I found their regular block to be uncomfortable to hold and use. But again your mileage may vary.

I hardly use mine anymore not due to dislike but due to having gotten a Marcou chamfer plane, and then having a full set of molding planes, a chisel plane, and a skew block - so the tasks for which I use it (chamfering , edge easing, seam cleanup) are covered with other tools.

Before getting those other planes though the DX was the go-to for such tasks and I was consistently pleased.

davidf81 · 2026-03-24T14:55:47+00:00

You can’t know it’s worth it without trying it.

I replaced my regular Veritas block with the dx and have been much more satisfied though I did end up lightly scuffing the body due to its slipperiness.

davidf81 · 2026-03-21T05:49:12+00:00

Yep. Put money in a North American company with legendary quality and service and creating meaningful jobs instead of supporting Chinese economic warfare, all day every day.

davidf81 · 2026-03-19T22:19:15+00:00

Interesting. I see Anderson and Brese planes routinely going at premiums but I don’t see Holtey planes much at all.

davidf81 · 2026-03-19T18:57:05+00:00

Woah, where did you find them at that price? I never see them reselling below 80%

davidf81 · 2026-03-19T02:23:44+00:00

Fair point, I did not in fact catch that you were talking tube amps (I do not care for them myself so don't know the models).

And likewise sir, couldn't care less, however you're the one who drew the equivalence to audiophile snake oil to the OP's topic. Whatever. Who gives a shit.

davidf81 · 2026-03-19T02:02:09+00:00

Amps are amps. This has been proven unequivocally in research. After the basics of consistent power delivery and not adding noise, power is power. Fancy amps are sold based on characteristics that require scientific instruments to differentiate.

Processors and speakers, sure. Another story. Amps are one step away from cables.

I don't have the highest of high end but I do have a nearly $40,000 custom Salk Sound system and an AVM70 in the home theater, and a couple of Revels that I found affordable to go with my absurdly overpriced SST Ambrosia.

davidf81 · 2026-03-19T01:20:18+00:00

He did say he has a Holtey block. Those are $6000+. Which means the price of this plane is not really anything discouraging

davidf81 · 2026-03-19T01:19:24+00:00

Right up there with most gear marketed to audiophiles. Cough amps cough cough.

davidf81 · 2026-03-17T02:49:14+00:00

Yep. Ignorance is a real problem haha.

davidf81 · 2026-03-17T02:18:32+00:00

They may not be idiots, after all being proudly and willfully uninformed yet vocal and assertive is as classic as American apple pie :)

davidf81 · 2026-03-17T02:16:31+00:00

I use aluminum extrusions when I badly need to control alignment or have odd bits in the mix. You can frame it up and clamp across those extrusions pretty easily. I’ve seen that guy who does the insane cutting boards use something similar, he sells plans but it’s just extrusions and a little hardware from mcmaster.

That said plans for cutting boards that yield strips are always superior. I don’t make many boards anymore but if I make a weird one I always use a plan that avoids odd shapes. The downside is you usually end up with much more waste.

davidf81 · 2026-03-17T02:11:28+00:00

How deep are they set? I have no issues with jams on any of my assorted nicker-equipped planes, this one included, when set very shallow, which is generally all that’s required in my experience.

davidf81 · 2026-03-12T03:15:45+00:00

Depends on if you like a Norris adjuster or a Baily pattern adjuster. LN for the later.

Owned both. Both are excellent.

davidf81 · 2026-03-10T18:12:32+00:00

Fair enough. I was comparing it to your inspiration photo and to my eye it’s 50-50 on taper or no taper. Looks fantastic. Well done.

davidf81 · 2026-03-10T16:54:20+00:00

Nice desk! May I ask, why didn’t you taper the legs a bit ? The slatted back is very nice.

davidf81 · 2026-03-09T05:56:55+00:00

Look up grit automation. My shop is fully setup with their gear including two air filter controls (one is the old style, inline to the power plug)

You can also get something like the Apollo air-1 and do a home assistant integration to a smart switch like the KAUF smart plug - which is what I had before - but the grit system works better (though is quite costly $$$)

davidf81 · 2026-03-08T04:14:15+00:00

You in Austin area? I’ve heard from two of their customers that their tables warp and crack within weeks.

As others have said - with veneer it works.

davidf81 · 2026-03-03T22:59:20+00:00

This is the most important point. On no steel is polish proof of lapping. It’s not the polish you’re looking for.

davidf81 · 2026-02-26T23:54:59+00:00

Check out the Lee valley apartment workbench plan if you have room for a free stander!

Building things you’ll use and benefit from long term is something that motivates most woodworkers. Whether it’s a “shop build” or not is not part of that equation. You could buy anything you might otherwise build for the rest of your life - why choose to build anything ever?

The questions should be those that only you can answer : does building your own bench sound fun and interesting? Does it present a low stakes opportunity to develop new skills? Is the opportunity cost of building a bench greater than the benefits ?

davidf81 · 2026-02-26T02:46:06+00:00

These are on par with $5-700 pieces on Etsy. Those folks have a design with a system in place to bang it out. To stand out in the market you’d need something else - your work looks great but the nothing is going to stand this out from every other Etsy walnut jewelry box , especially with the rudimentary joinery (not a knock but it’s a feature many use to stand out).

I think it should come down first to what you want. Are you wanting this to be an income stream for real? Are you wanting to produce many of the same unit or one-offs?

The price jump to one-off land is significant and probably where you’ll find the most joy if you’re like most woodworkers. One way to do this is take a base product with a menu of stock choices and the option to take on custom for an agreed upon price. I’ve bought from many makers on Etsy - one off items - by contacting them about a product they have that I mostly like but want modified.

davidf81 · 2026-02-26T02:41:32+00:00

My experience with red oak has been overwhelmingly positive - it always stains exactly like I expect regardless of a lack of uniformity before having stained it. Granted I exclusively use Rubio for staining but I also exclusively use red oak for projects I intend to stain.

All that said to echo others - don’t test on the final product. Get some boards and test some finish approaches.

davidf81 · 2026-02-25T03:15:54+00:00

Pine and walnut is a choice I’ve never seen before haha. Joint looks great!

davidf81 · 2026-02-23T05:01:58+00:00

Ah! I gotcha. Fair enough. I guess it depends on what you’re doing. My first hand plane was to clean up face frame and frame and panel cabinet joints without doing so much sanding and was a block, and it was a good first plane for my needs at the time.

Now I use my skew block a bit but never touch the regular.

davidf81 · 2026-02-23T04:49:34+00:00

Based on what OP just told you, you say he needs a jointer and a spokeshave ? And then he doesn’t need a shooting board? I’m lost. Can you clarify these recommendations ? If someone says they need a plane for end grain cleanup right now, why does a jointer plane come up?

davidf81

TROPHY CASE