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Nice Ash Smoother
I offered to do a review on the Nice Ash plane. Wood planes always intrigued me. I’ve restored a lot of them. They are stuck in corners, on shelves and above cabinets all over my house and shop. With a few exception, everyone has been made to work. The only ones I typically use though are a couple I made myself, but I normally use metal planes. I gave this a 3 and would have gone to 3.5 if I could. I believe part of the reason for the lower score is this plane is one of the first 25 ...
Hock Blades Stanley 2 3/8 replacement for #5 1/2
After restoring some 200-300 bench planes this was my first replacement iron purchase. After purchasing a Stanley type 11 #5 1/2 at a flea market, (Seen here, along with some restoration pictures) i decided to purchase a new iron for the worn out existing one. Since Lee Valley was running a no shipping promotion, I decided to go with the #19P2005, 2-3/8” x 7” Hock Plane Blade. The plane arrived slightly before I finished the restore. First this is an earlier type 5 1/2 which or...
Lie-Nielsen #62 low angle jack plane
When I first got this plane, I posted this comment on the “Hand Plane of your dreams” Thread. Since then I’ve used the plane a few time. My thoughts toward this plane remain the same. Its a great plane right out of the box. I have sharpened it once. The back of the iron was perfectly flat right from the get-go. All I had to do was sharpen. My expectation óf needing to flatten the iron was unfounded. The thick blade makes sharpening a breeze. I am good enough to sharpen...
Stanley Works Tools The finest Years
I just received the new” “Stanley Works Tools The finest Years recently published. I bought it when I read the description of it as “Research and type studies……....”. The good and the bad. Let do the good first. If you are interested in collecting Stanley Tool Works collectibles in general, this is the book for you. Also if you are interested in Stanley Tool Works as a company, again this is the book. Its full of information related to the company, how it grew, and what some of it...
Angle Checker
I bought this angle checker being I was ordering a bunch of other stuff from Woodcraft. I’ve seen these almost everywhere so I figured it would be handy to have at my sharpening bench. Bottom line, it just doesn’t work. When you slide a plane blade in (even a thick iron) it goes into the hole cut at the end so the angle of the blade really doesn’t register. You can pull it back some and “eye ball” it, but if your going to eye ball it, you might as well just use a...
“The Fine Art of Cabinetmaking by James Krenov”
A few months ago I found the 1975 version of “The Fine Art of Cabinetmaking James Krenov” at a flee market. It was well worth the $5 I paid for it. There are newer reprints that I haven’t read, but I’ll assume they are similar. This book is probably the first woodworking book I’ve actually read cover to cover. There is usually a chapter or section I’ll skip because of non interest or “I already know that”. This book isn’t perfect, it has some flaws...
Choosing & Using Hand Tools
I bought this book for a plane ride home. Its probably more of a beginners book, but the pictures alone are worth the read. Andy Rae does a pretty good job describing tool, their uses, where to find them and how to use them. He talks a little about the difference in buying new and used tools, and even gives some references for antique tool dealers. He has a section on sharpening. Its not the most comprehensive book I’ve ever read, but it is well illustrated and covers all differen...
