The "Plane" truth...
Rob Lee
>Hi -
As I suspected last week - you're all good sports!
I have to admit that I got more nervous as I saw the hit counter on my original post pass 800, and then 900! (The entire thread was at 17801 total views earlier today).
The pictured plane is an early version of the new 62 1/2. We had planned to have it available next, but made a few tweaks to the body casting, which has added 6 weeks to the delivery date. The final version will sport a different knob, a slightly modified and re-located rear handle base, and of course, the new feature we're not showing just quite yet.
It's 15" long, 5.88 pounds, has a 3/16" A2 blade (2 1/4" wide). Toe length is quite long at almost 5" (4.81), and (sorry Lyn) it will have milled circles on the sides. The balance point on this plane is 1.92� behind the front edge of the bed (identical to the LA Smooth). What's really different is the center-of-gravity - which is .54" above the sole (versus .64" for the low-angle smooth and .98" for the no. 6). The lower COG and increased mass really sets this plane up well for use as a high angle plane, in addition to being a good shooting plane. It will have a LA blade as standard, with an optional pre-ground HA blade.
As for other plane, which will actually be available first - it's the #90 based bullnose/chisel plane. It'll have all of the features of our shoulder plane (except for the pivoting knob - as this plane is designed for an overhand grip). It'll be 1" wide, 4.7 inches long, and have excellent ergonomics.
The large (073) style shoulder will also arrive before fall, but is still far enough away that we can't nail it down to a specific month.
As for the promised tease - there's something new in the spokeshave line also in the May catalog, not a convex, concave, or cigar shave... nor a travisher. It too, has a patent pending.
Cheers -
Rob