Buck Rogers Plane Has Landed!

Ever since I saw this 'Buck Rogers' plane by Millers Falls in the Hand Plane Book, I wanted one. Not usually seen outside the US and even then not common, one popped up on E Bay a couple of weeks ago and I had to have it!

It's in very good condition retaining nearly all the chrome and paint work with no rust or pitting and a nearly full length iron.

The styling is typical of the period with Tenite moulded handles and an oversized adjuster wheel.

The Bailey style adjuster (the only one worth having) is incorporated within the frog in order to retain the clean lines. The frog and the handles are all one casting which makes for a very solid set up.

The lever cap is a substantial thing with a hinged lower section similar to Clifton although it's not removable. The blade was made shorter than normal to stay within the confines of the design.
It was advertised as the worlds best plane which is perhaps stretching a bit, but there is much to commend it. It has a 2" wide blade and is certainly more substantial than a Stanley No 4. On the digital kitchen scales (don't tell the wife) it weighs exactly 4lbs, surely another part of the well planned design.

This is my favourite bit the rounded front end. Solid steel, polished but not chromed, great stuff.

The Worlds Best Block Plane!

Yes Karl Holtey has released a new plane and it's a cracker! Let's get the price out of the way first, it's £5,160 + vat. A friend of mine owns this one and I was privileged to be allowed to have a go with it.
The 983 has been engineered to unbelievable standards and the finish is immaculate. It combines brushed and polished stainless steel with a very comfortable knob. This one is in a whacky acrylic but it is also available in wood for the less brave.

The blade is 1 1/2" wide and the plane is very heavy and a treat to use. It planed this masser birch effortlessly with not a hint of tear out.

The plane disassembled showing the Norris style adjuster and the lever cap milled from a solid lump of stainless steel.

My friend has a few Holtey planes including this 98 panel which was made in very small numbers. The panel version of the No 98 smoother is a more versatile plane and one I would love to own.

An even more impressive plane is this 22" jointer, there's not much this can't take on, assuming you've got the strength to get it going!

The rosewood handles are a joy to behold!
If you want to see more of Karls work please

Dovetailing Course Full!!

I've done a few courses at West Dean College, but I've never had one fill up in just three weeks!
The course is limited to eight students which is a nice number and just about the maximum I can juggle at one time!
Thank you to all those who have signed up and I look forward to meeting you in May.

Home Made Moxon Vice.

Norman sent me some pictures of his home made Moxon vice. He bought the screws and nuts and made the handles. He's very pleased with the performance and it certainly looks a robust vice!

Customer Projects from around the World.

I always like it when customers send me photos of their work, so keep them coming! The shot above is from Mike of Germany, this was his first go at dovetails with the guide and 372 saw and he's done a great job!

This is copy of my chisel hammer from an article I wrote for F&C magazine. It took Robert, from the UK, a few hours to complete but he was very pleased with the result. The walnut handle looks nice.

The rest of the pictures are from Roger in Mexico, a talented and obviously very active woodworker.   I like the money box in the last picture the best.

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.