New Stuff.....

Hi Folks
A long overdue blog update! My apologies for this, if I'm not blogging its because I'm making lots of planes :)
I have lots of news which I'll blog about as the week goes by, but first up is the website. I have added some new models (the Try, Fore and Sliding Dovetail planes) and updated a few articles. I'm also offering my standard plane irons for sale to you keen woodworkers who want to have a go at making your own planes.

Other news.....I had an accident on the band saw in December, injuring the index finger of my left hand. Thankfully there has been no serious damage and I am now back to full use of my hand. We have all read about other woodworkers having accidents and when it happens to you it is quite a shock - needless to say, making sure you keep the guards safely in position and not working when you are tired, ill or a combination of both is extremely important for your safety. Don't take the risk, it truly is not worth it!!!!!

It is so nice to start the New Year with lots of orders to get stuck into - 2013 was a fantastic year for us and I intend to make 2014 even better. Stay tuned!

Cheers
Philly

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

Dovetail Plane

Hi Folks
Things are busy here at the Philly Workshop - plenty of lovely planes have been winging their way out the doors. Here's a rather special plane for making sliding dovetails. It cuts the male portion of the joint - it has an adjustable fence to set the depth (width?) of the tail and a depth stop to stop the plane cutting once the profile is complete. The plane features a reverse skewed iron (a regular skew like on a Fillister leaves a ragged edge on the fine corner of the dovetail - I found a reverse skew leaves it perfectly finished) and a nicker iron to cut a clean shoulder line.
The plane is simple to use (you just need to keep it upright as you plane) and, as it is designed to work across the grain,  leaves lovely curly shavings. Cut one side of the joint, flip the workpiece over and repeat on the second side, giving a perfect dovetail!.

I've been using Facebook a lot more regularly than the Blog - if you use Facebook do head over to the Philly Planes page. I put up lots of pictures of day to day things on the bench!.

Cheers

Philly

The Beauty of Beech

Hi Folks
I recently completed a large order of Moulding planes  - having spent many hours crafting these I found myself reflecting again on what a great timber Beech is for wooden planes. Cut on the quarter it reveals its medullary ray figure, transforming into a 3D show of beauty, Beech is a handsome stable timber. And it is close grained and hard wearing (as centuries of hard worked examples will attest!)
So here are a few photo's - I know I've been rubbish keeping the blog up to date. I will try harder :)

Cheers
Philly

Chamfers

Hi Folks
If you have lots of chamfers to make, and you want them consistent and clean, then you need a Chamfer Plane!
Since it's introduction back at the end of 2009 it has been one of our most popular models. This one is a customised version - made from Bubinga it is an additional two inches longer at the customers request. It works like a dream and I'm really taken with Bubinga - I can see more planes being made from this wonderful timber in the near future.

Cheers
Philly

Chipbreakers

Hi Folks
Had the pleasure of a phone call from David Charlesworth today. As most of you probably know, David is a leading woodwork teacher and at the forefront of tool use and techniques. I was pleased to hear from him for two reasons - first, to hear that he has finally recovered from a serious illness (he contracted pneumonia whilst teaching in Germany last year) and secondly to talk planes!
On various woodworking forums around the world there has been much discussion on a Japanese video showing planing on a microscopic level - and the effectiveness of a chipbreaker. It is quite interesting to watch and shows how a chipbreaker can work when set a precise distance from a cutting edge (in the video it is 1-2 tens of a millimetre). David called to discuss this as he has been experimenting and wondered if I had tried it yet.
Another aspect of the video is the front edge of the chipbreaker is ground at quite steep angles - I really want to spend some time playing with this. To be fair, the "plane" in the video is bedded at 40 degrees, lower than a regular bench plane, but if a tear free surface can be achieved at a lower angle then it has to be worth investigating.
I welcome any thoughts on this subject - do drop me a line.
Cheers
Philly

The Try Plane

Hi Folks
Things are busy here at the 'shop and there have been some wonderful planes heading off to customers. I've been a bit behind with blogging so here goes the first of a few entries!
Try Plane - the Try is an essential bench plane. For making quick work of flattening surfaces and jointing edges nothing can compare. This one is 24 inches long with a 2 1/4 inch iron and has a 50 degree pitch. The customer wanted a few custom touches - the tote is offset slightly to the right (I have built this customer planes previously with the tote offset hard to one side like early 18C planes). It also has a round ended iron, again like the early 18C planes, a detail I really like. And finally, the strike button (used to adjust the iron and loosen the wedge) is diamond shaped instead of my regular round button.

If you are interested in a Try plane drop me an email and don't forget, I can customise any plane to your needs as each plane is made by hand, one at a time.
Cheers
Philly

Mini Panel Raiser Review

Hi Folks

One thing I've noticed (and it pleases me a lot!) over the last year or two is the large amount of repeat orders from customers. Customers that come back for another plane, or sometimes many.
I recently had an order for a Mini Panel Raiser and the customers name rang a bell - he'd had a plane from me a previously. His name also rang a bell because I read his blog (take a look over at "The Renaissance Woodworker") - he has kindly reviewed the Panel Raiser with a video on his site.

It's that time of year again - the Yandles Woodworking Show is nearly upon us. Come on down for a great day out on the 13th and 14th of April near Yeovil, Somerset. It's a very enjoyable show set in a real working sawmill - free entry and parking! I'll be on the Classic Hand Tools stall making shavings - do come by and say "Hi!"

Cheers
Philly

Turning Japanese...

HI Folks
I find Japanese tools (and Japanese woodworking) to be quite exciting - they are familiar and yet completely different at the same time! The subtle differences in the way they are made and the way they are used reveals a parallel history to the way Western tools and methods were created, yet from a freshly different viewpoint.
Japanese planes are a case in point - they have a stock, cutting iron and wedge. Yet you would never mistake a Japanese plane for a Western one even though on paper they are identical. I have watched Japanese woodworkers demonstrating at shows and it is thrilling to watch such skilled workers. But the differences in approach is what interests me most.
I will be at the Yandles Woodworking show with Classic Hand Tools next month on the 13th and 14th - also attending is Michael Huntley who has a special interest in Japanese tools. I aim to pick his brains a little more on planes as I have just made my first Japanese style smoother.
As this is my first attempt at this style of plane I was rather pleased with how well it works. I just need some more in-depth detail of the throat geometry and I may offer a small range of Japanese style planes if there is interest. Drop me a line if you have any thoughts on this.
Cheers
Philly

Twins..

HI Folks

Recently I've been making lots of "pairs" of planes. First up, chamfer planes. One in Beech and the other in Goncalo, giving a nice contrast.


Next are Mini Panel Raisers. I offer these in left hand as well as right hand versions, so you can have a matched pair if you desire. We are "lefty-friendly" here at Philly Planes - no extra charge for a left handed plane!

Back to the bench - just finishing off a special Coffin Smoother in Box!


Philly

P.s. - recently I've been using my mobile phone camera to take pics. Can you guess which ones are phone pics and which ones are taken with a normal camera?? Yes, thought so :)

Jack Planes....

Hi Folks

One option I offer on my traditional Jack Plane is to have it made as a "Panel Plane". Essentially this means the plane is a large smoother instead of a Jack - see the photo below for the obvious differences. A straight iron instead of cambered and a tight mouth - combine this with a high angle bed and you have a superlative smoothing plane with increased heft and a comfortable handle. The added length of the sole over a smaller smoothing plane can be a benefit if you are smoothing large pieces like a table top.



In other news I was saddened to read this article on fake infills that have been sold on Ebay - if you are ever offered a second hand "Philly Plane" please feel free to contact me to check its authenticity.

Goncalo Alves

Hi Folks

One of the most common questions I get is "why do you offer your planes in Goncalo Alves as an alternative to Beech?". So here's my reasons...

1: It's colour - the timber is an orangey brown when first worked and reminds me a lot of mahogany. Most planks also have some streaks of black through them, giving a striking individual look to each plane. And it darkens with age and exposure to light, giving it a deeper, handsome shade.
2: It's easily available in quartersawn planks. I spend way too much time searching for quality timber and it is especially difficult to find quartered Beech in the UK (which sounds crazy as Beech grows everywhere in these parts). So to be able to get hold of large (12/4) planks of decent quality quartersawn stock is a dream for me - and Goncalo is usually available in this form.
3: The timber is quite waxy. This varies from plank to plank, but I find on the whole Goncalo to be slightly waxy, which is great for a plane. In use I find the sole very quickly achieves a tough, slick patina, which is exactly what you want in a wooden plane.



It has interlocked grain like so many tropical timbers (and Goncalo reminds me of Mahogany a lot) and this varies from plank to plank. Some pieces plane easily, others require a high angle smoother and a fine cut to prevent deep tear-out. But I do enjoy working with it - it takes crisp detail and polishes up a treat.

So to summarise - it's a hard wearing, handsome timber that is perfect for wooden planes. It feels good in the hand, moves slickly over the work and looks good to the eye. What more could you ask for?

Cheers
Philly

New Plane #3

Hi Folks

And here's the last of the three new models - the Snipes Bill.
This is an interesting looking plane with its swoopy, pointed profile. They work hand in hand with moulding planes to start and refine profiles and can also be used to define a gauge line for a rebate plane. The planes come as a matched pair allowing you to work with the grain on any profile (i.e. linenfold panels).
The planes are available to order now on the Phillyplanes website.

New Model #2 - Side Rounds

Hi Folks
So here's the next model - the Side Round. This plane cuts a profile that is a quarter of a circle ( 90 degrees). You're probably thinking "well can't you do that with a moulding plane?". The Side Rounds secret weapon is it can cut right up to the edge of a corner - the side of the plane is vertical. So adding this plane to your arsenal of moulders will allow you to cut a much wider range of profiles.
The planes come as a matched left/right hand pair and are available to order now on the Phillyplanes website!

New Model #1 - Rebate Plane

Hi Folks

Introducing new model #1 - The Rebate Plane

This plane is one that we get asked for a lot so it's about time it made its way onto our list of standard production planes. Perfect for making rebates, trimming shoulders and all of those tasks where you need to get "right into the corner".


We are using a 55 degree pitch with a 4mm thick iron for good performance on a wide range of timbers. The iron is square not skewed as in some planes - this makes the plane much easier to use AND sharpen. To begin we are offering this plane in 1 inch and 1 1/4 inch widths - the price is £140 for either.



The plane will be on the website shortly. In the meantime feel free to contact me directly for more information.

Philly

New Stuff.......

Hi Folks

Got some exciting things cooking in the workshop at the moment. To get things started here's a photo of a "Philly Shave" I just completed in English Yew. I've not used Yew before and it was joy to use, revealing a lovely pattern to its growth rings as I shaped it. And a coat of oil really brought out the strong ornage colour of the wood - beautiful!

Email - I am finally giving up on Outlook and moving over to Googlemail. After yet another PC crash that has corrupted my email folders I am now using phillyplanes@googlemail.com as my main email address - please could you update your address books.

Facebook - yes, Philly Planes has finally got a Facebook page of its own. Please feel free to drop by and leave a comment - I shall endeavour to add lots of photo's and titbits that don't make it to the blog. The address is : www.facebook.com/phillyplanes


Finally, we have three new models to release. These will be up on the website (and premiered here first!) over the next week. Stay tuned - it's going to be a great 2012!!

Philly

Christmas is Coming.....

Hi Folks

Been crazy busy here at Philly Towers - lots or orders coming in and plenty on the go. Some times there really aren't enough hours in the day, but it sure beats being quiet! I realised I haven't updated the blog for a while and the guilt has been weighing me down ;)

I recently was demonstrating at the Harrogate "North Of England Woodworking Show" and shared the bench with woodworking teacher Paul Sellers. It was very enjoyable watching him work - he has a down-to-earth, honest approach to woodworking. No special tools or jigs, just straightforward time-honoured ways to work. I fully recommend you check out his website, especially his blog - he offers hands-on training courses and also books and dvd's.



I am putting the finishing touches on a half set of Hollow and Rounds at the moment - these planes are a blast to use and it's amazing the variety of shapes you can unlease with just a few sets. On my site I offer two sizes to get you started but I can build any size you desire - just email me for more information.



Finally - a chamfer plane made from English Box. This plane is so useful and remarkably easy to use. This is the only one I've made from Box, and it really suits it.

So - back to the bench.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas,

Philly