Contemporary Dovetailed Planes

Re: Harris Tools Planes

Alister

>I bought a finger plane at auction.

Gaps in soldering and a back that isn't quite right looking...thumb hole in front is rough to the touch.

I also looked at their jointing plane at a show in Fort Washington once and the size of the mouth was huge.

Alister.

Re: Contemporary Dovetailed Planes

William Duffield on the Cohansey

>They are for sale, for sure. I've picked up and examined his tools at more than one event (PATINA, e.g.). Every one of them had a price tag on it. I took photos and put them back down. Note that he started into the infill line by making miniatures, but has expanded into full size planes. Even the miniatures are fully funcitonal.

His plows, OTOH, while functional, are more intended to be authentic historical reproductions, and works of art. Some of them he has built just for the challenge of the machining. He explained that the original of one of them, the McMaster Single Arm Plow, would probably have never survived if it had actually been used to work wood, it was just too fragile. Another, the Tidey Double Beveling plane, is a very complicated solution to one very simple problem.

All are beautifully made.

Reasons for decision.

Art Geiger

>There was never a single reason but many. It was nice to get recommendations about DH's planes from owners and this tells me that the performance is extremely good. The other factor is build quality and only a dealer is qualified to pass judgement because he has had so many dovetailed planes (old and new) thru his hands. The comments by Toolbazaar owner Andrew Stevens was a deciding factor. Further, I liked the choice from Steiner and Sauer but it seemed that their deluxe model came as standard at classic planes and the price difference made the choice a simple one. I'll get back to people with the results of the A13 but have no reason to feel I'm gonna be anything less than delighted.

Re: Contemporary Dovetailed Planes

Todd Stock

>Just for the sake of completing the list, did anyone include Bridge City Tool and their Gucci-inspired line of planes?

No experience with or desire to own, but should be included.

I have that plane

Robin Frierson

>And its wonderful, my heaviest smoother at around 7lbs and only 9 inches long. I think you will really like it. On my wish list is his miter plane.

Advertising Scam!

Art Geiger

>I'm grateful to the relevant parties and don't get me wrong over this but what started out as a simple enquiry to make contact with a particular planemaker's customers, turned into a lame excuse for almost every planemaker (or his buddy) to plug his own web site. The forum ought to be for discussion, and not advertising. Adverts can go in the links section. Sorry if this offends.

Your lame message is way off base.

Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL

>

I think what Don meant to say....

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>Only kidding, Don. You're more than capable of speaking for yourself.

Art, I thought it was a very interesting thread though I have no interest (or funds) to buy an in infill right now. What happened, as I'm sure you know, is your thread was "hijacked." As a consequence it turned into one of the best single threads I've seen on where (and from whom) you can buy a ready-to-go infill plane.

As you may well know, hijackings are pretty common here, and I'd encourage you not to take it personally (at least I don't when one hits a thread I start). For the most part - it seems to me - its just when someone stream-of-conscious sees a comments and simply wants to respond even if it's somewhat off-topic.

In any case, I'm sorry to see you were offended. Personally, in reading those threads I did not take them as intending to be clandestine advertising. Don, in particular, went to the trouble of providing the link to six different manufacturers. I doubt even Don knows all these guys - much less owns at least one each of their planes - but who knows - Don, inquiring minds want to know :-)

Regards -

Dave

Re: I think what Don meant to say....

Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL

>Hi Dave,

I do not personally know any infill plane manufacturers, I do no sell infill planes, I do not have an infill plane, I have never seen an infill plane (other than photos).

(I would like to fondle an SMT Loopy, though)

Harris Jointer

Art Geiger

>I was very disappointed with the Harris Jointer I bought and eventually sold it on for a fraction of what I paid. The issues:

Mass produced look and fit - even down to the boxy, shapeless infill.

Enormous mouth caused even friendly woods to tear. Eventually got a 1/4 inch thick blade made but still the mouth was less than ideal.