Wednesday, June 30, 2010

A Pair of Pairs...

Hi Folks
Seems I've been making a few pairs of planes recently. First up are some Moulding Planes, #2 and #4 size hollow and rounds from some perfect English Beech.



Next we have a pair of Luthiers Scrub planes - these have cambered soles, both front-to-back and side-to-side. This pair are made from Pau Rosa and they are huge fun to use - you can almost make a bowl with one of these!

Back to the bench - my last piece of Partridge wood is becoming a plane.....

Cheers
Philly

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Summer is Here!

Hi Folks

Its been "busy busy busy" here at the workshop. The lovely weather we've been having lately has even got me wearing shorts - but worry not, there are no photo's of that to hurt anyone's eyes.... ;)

Orders have been pouring in, I guess helped by the recent weakness of the Pound. But that's fine - I certainly pleased to be inundated with work! And now for some photo's....

Philly Shaves - one in Oak, one in Walnut. I do enjoy making these tools, and they feel so much better in use than metal shaves, a much different experience.

Next up is Skew Miter with a Philly Shooting Board. I don't offer the Shooting board on my website as the shipping can work out expensive. But its such a useful workshop fixture - once you use one you'll wonder how you ever managed without one. I've also been making a left-handed Skew Miter, which tests the brain even harder than usual. Lots of checking, checking again and then maybe one more check before making a cut.


A plane I've been wanting to make for a few years now is a baby version of my Miter plane. Mike Wenzloff has asked me a few times to make one for his lovely Wife - I've finally made a prototype so maybe now I can send one his way. It's a 3/4 size version, and is essentially a block plane, perfect for one handed use. My prototype has seen lots and lots of use so I'm about to make the first production models and will have them on the website soon.


And finally, so exciting news. I'll be at the Lie-Nielsen hand tools event at their factory in Maine next month demonstrating some of my planes. So if you're thinking of attending please come on by and say "Hi!".

Bye for now,

Philly