Tool Auction.

Another normal auction was lifted by some wonderful tools. These three planes were made by the same person back in the Victorian times and they are wonderfully shaped. The brass sides were dovetailed to the base before a steel sole was sweated on.  Each was beautifully engraved with the makers name, I would love to have seen the quality of the furniture he made!

This is a fantastic set of antique screw boxes ranging from 1 1/2" through to 2 1/2" in a purpose made box. It was listed as £400 - £600 but I'm sure would have gone for 4 figures, I didn't stay or find out or I might have been tempted!

This is a half set of hollows and rounds by Varvill, unusual in that it picks up on the odd numbers and is stamped 1/2 cabinet. All have the owners stamp with none missing, a rare treat.

Wonderful Antique Violin Makers Plane

I bought this wonderful little plane from a local antique dealer. When I say little, I mean little, it's just over 1 1/2" long!
I've never seen a dovetailed violin makers plane before and it looks great with the contrasting metals. I've looked back through my David Stanley catalogues and can see nothing like it. The condition is very good and the workmanship on this tiny scale is superb.

The mouth is skewed and very tight, this plane was obviously made to be used as well as admired.
If anyone knows of another one like it, I would like to hear from them.

Last Project of the Year.

So here it is, a wood store for our recently installed log burning stove, I just need to order some logs.
Projects like this make a pleasant change (apart from the cold and rain!) from fine furniture and tools.   It was quick to make and I particularly enjoyed doing the cedar shingle roof.

That just leaves me to wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year, with plenty of woodworking!

The Crown Plane Company

One of my Christmas presents this year was a neat little compass hollowing plane made by Jim White of the Crown Plane Company in the US. Mainly used for cleaning up hollowed chairs seats (James Mursell has one), I thought it might be a nice texturing tool for box lids or cabinet panels.
The finish is not to highest of standards, but then this is a very reasonably priced plane. The blade however has been beautifully shaped and sharpened, this is clearly a tool made to be used.
I know this is a personal thing but why do the Americans love dying wood? This plane is made from maple and it just looks a mess with this dark brown dye. If you want a brown plane why not just use a brown wood?

Jim took over the company in 1999 from leon Robbins who started it in the early 1980's, so it's been going for some time now. They keep a low profile but obviously do well (despite the brown dye!). If you want to see their full range of planes see here https://www.crownplane.com/

Dovetailing Course at West Dean College, Available to Book Now!

I'll be taking a weekend course 'Hand cut dovetails made easy' at the famous West Dean College from 9th - 11th May 2014. You can book on line here https://www.westdean.org.uk/CollegeChannel/ShortCourses/Courses/Courses.aspx?ref=WE4606
Above is last years class looking very pleased with themselves!
Below is the class of 2011.

The course is classed as intermediate and would suit active woodworkers, although you don't have to have cut dovetails before. Some of the novice dovetailers produced remarkably crisp dovetails.
All my dovetailing tips and techniques will be covered and I will have saws, alignment boards and dovetail guides available for use.

Everyone will go away with a box made by themselves, similar to this one. The cost of the materials is included in the course price of £224 and there is a 5% discount for booking on line, so don't delay!

Chisel Handle Upgrades in Glorious Rosewoods.

Richard Wile from Canada enjoys upgrading his chisel handles, here are some Blue Spruce with wonderful cocobolo handles.
I remember teacher Bruce Luckhurst commenting drily that woodworkers will buy anything made from  rosewood and brass and he was probably right, especially rosewood of this quality.
Now you may think the pieces below don't look very promising but hiding behind that gnarled exterior is some precious Brazilian rosewood.

Here is a set of the new Veritas PMV 11 chisels with accurately turned handles from those gnarled lumps. I love Brazilian rosewood, it is subtle with great depth to the grain and the wonderful colours will hold up long after the more flashy cocobolo has turned dark purple.
You can see the full post on Richard's Blog http://richard-wile.blogspot.co.uk/

Customer Box From Australia

Here's a fine box from Stuart in Queensland Australia.
It's made from quarter sawn silky oak with an American black walnut lid.
The dovetails were cut using one of my 1:6 guides and they look very sharp and clean.
I particularly like the tented lid coming down to a nice thin edge.

I sent quite a few orders to Australia recently, they must like their wood work as much as their cricket, although the less said about the Ashes tour the better!!