One of the best buys of my life...

At last, something you guys in the US can’t get!

Over the NZLJ milling weekend, grimt showed me a plane he purchased some time ago that was refurbished by Philip Marcou. I was most impressed with the plane but it seems that Philip stopped selling them. As you do (or don’t) know, Philip Marcou is one of the top high end plane makers in the world (read the reviews on his site). His planes are beautiful, and probably an experience to use, and just from watching the pictures you want to hug them and cuddle them when you go to sleep.

I decided to ask him if he is still doing it, and hurrey! he had a 4 1/2 (which is what I needed). Apparently he stopped making them because his regular planes are selling well (his regular planes are beyond my budget – 1000-2000$).

The package arrived and in it lay the Stanley (UK) 4 1/2. first impressions where how smooth everything was. the wood parts were finished to perfection

The timber is Affrormosia wood from Zimbabwe.

the sole was satin mirror finish, and so were the sides. he uses a surface grinder for this – you just can’t beat this for flatness.

The blade was cambered and honed. the blade itself was also very flat and smooth. so, out of the box, i could use it right away!!!! such joy!

The 4 1/2 is heavier than the 4 and wider, giving more control and you can skew the plane and still get reasonable width.

the adjustment is very precise – almost no slack in the knob – he milled the knob himself.

This is a piece of Rimu with tool marks on it:

this is the same piece after 30 seconds of planing:

and here are some nude shavings posing for the camera:

All and all, a pleasure to use. I have used it so far to plane my tiny japanese grease box (I would never think on doing this with my old #4), a cheese board and generally every piece of timber in my shop.

-- The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep...