Show Breakdown

Hi Folks
I'm back down to earth (and back in the workshop!) after a very enjoyable few days at the European Woodworking Show. It just gets better every year - a varied and interesting mix of woodworking being demonstrated or on display of every possible kind, a wide choice of food and beverages for when you need a break and a fantastic venue to explore (the historic barns are just amazing!)

It was great to meet so many interested Folk over the weekend - I talked non-stop over the whole weekend leaving me hoarse but happy. Getting feedback from customers new and old as well as chatting to Folks who stopped by the bench really helps re-assure me that I am taking my work in the right direction and that is appreciated - as I work alone it is easy sometimes to doubt yourself.
The big bonus for me is meeting up with old friends and spending the evenings having a beer or two at the local pub - spending quality time with the likes of David Charlesworth, Chris Schwarz, John Hoffman, Deneb Puchalski, Richard Maguire and many others really makes the weekend something special.

So - back to the bench. I've got some interesting planes on the go which I'll share with you shortly as well as trying to find some time to complete the Plough Plane prototype. More soon!

Cheers
Philly

Show Time!

Hi Folks
Time certainly flies by - the summer arrived with a bang and we had some wonderful weather. It was roasting in the workshop by three in the afternoon most days, a far cry from the chilly winter months. Orders have been coming in strong, too, the busiest I've ever been. A very promising sign!

Next weekend sees the wonderful European Woodworking Show at Braintree - by far the best woodworking show in the UK! I am pleased to be demonstrating my planes there and will be set up in-between the Lie-Nielsen bench and Chris Schwarz (of Pop Wood and Lost Arts Press fame!) If you're considering coming along don't hesitate - it's a well organised show with top exhibitors and demonstrations, excellent food and drink and set in fantastic ancient timber framed halls! And please drop by and say hello if you do :)

Our Side Bead planes have been very popular since their introduction earlier this year and I'll be bringing some along to try out at the show along with hollow and rounds, rebate and smoothing planes.

I was very excited to see a three page article published in Fine Tool Journal on the planes and how I got started. Many thanks to Ethan Sincox for the interview!

Cheers
Philly

New Model - The Side Bead

Hi Folks
We're pleased to announce a new addition to our line of planes - the Side Bead. I love these planes, very simple to use, and you dress up a simple project into something very sophisticated quite quickly. Drawers, panels, corners - you name it, there's an opportunity for a bead!

Megan Fitzpatrick of Popular Woodworking magazine ordered one recently and placed a little review here - I think she was quite pleased with it.

The planes are initially available in 1/8" and 3/16" sizes, perfect for most smaller scale cabinet work. Price is £150 each or the pair for £280, available now on our website.

Oar Making Planes

Hi Folks
Earlier in the year we completed a commission for Glasgow's "Museum of Transport". It was to duplicate a set of nine planes that were used to make oars. Each plane varied in size and they all had convex soles, curved in both directions, to allow them to carry out their specialised tasks. We copied them extremely accurately from the originals, using the same kind of irons  - some had block plane irons, others cut down bench plane irons and other had offcuts of saw blades fashioned into blades. One thing we did not copy was the many years of patina and wear on the originals but hopefully with a little use our replicas will soon acquire  a patina of their own.

In the meantime things have been extremely busy here at the workshop - it's very exciting to see demand growing for wooden planes! We have two new models to add to the website in the coming month and I have just completed converting a large delivery of quartersawn English Beech into many, many plane sized billets and put them on the conditioning shelves.
Now it's back to the 'bench!

Cheers
Philly