Tool Gloat - Sharing some of my latest acquisitions
Due to my job and a massive landscaping project I have going on in my garden at the moment, I haven't had as much time for LJs as I'd like, but I've still been seeking out and buying some great tools. Today I was taking some photos and I thought I would share some of my latest acquisitions with you - some new, some vintage.
Spill Planes
I picked up a couple of user made spill planes just for their fun value. Initially I got the low angled one on the right which has a single fence. It only needed some minor tweaks to the mouth and a sharp iron to produce the spills shown in the photo. The other one with the handle is awaiting some TLC to the sole of the plane and the iron which is made out of an old file. It has a double fence.
Carving Tools
The adze on the left is made by Swedish blacksmith Svante Djarv and I was lucky enough to get it secondhand with very little use. The adze on the right was made for me by FadirTools. The big dog leg gouge at the top and the small drawknife at the bottom were made by KharkivForge. Both of these makers are based in Kharkiv, Ukraine and I can recommend them both for the outstanding quality of their tools and their great customer service. Most of their tools also come with custom leather sheaths. You will have to wait longer than you're probably used to for the tools to arrive, but they will arrive. The three gouges in the middle are made by Hans Karlsson, a 90-40 straight gouge, a 90-40 bent gouge and a 15-30 bent gouge.
Marples Ultimatum Brace
I've wanted an Ultimatum brace for years, but trying to find one in good condition for the right price has proved difficult. I've missed out on a few auctions, but I finally secured a great example. I've had the other two braces for a while now, but it felt right to photograph them together. Of course there is no way that wooden braces can compare with later metal ratchet braces in terms of strength and functionality, but you can't deny they're more sexy.
Combination Gauges
Although I have a couple of Hamilton gauges, a Glenn Drake gauge and some other nice modern gauges, for me there is something about the vintage gauges that really appeals to me. Nowadays, I only buy great examples of these old gauges (without spending a fortune) and the gauges shown below have been built up over a number of years. The two combination gauges in the middle with the brass heads are my latest acquisitions. The one on the left is a superb example of a Wm. Marples 490 which as far as I know, only appeared in their 1873 catalogue. The 490 evolved into the one on the right (a 2155) around 1909. It differed by the addition of a brass faceplate under the mortice pins and a full-length brass rule inset into the underside of the stem.
I. Sorby Mortise Chisels
I've been collecting I. Sorby Punch brand mortice chisels (pigstickers) for a few years now. They made 10 different sizes (1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16", 1/2", 9/16", 5/8" and 3/4"). Although I had a 1/8" and 3/16" made by I. Sorby they weren't the Punch brand and the 3/16" was the type that has parallel sides rather than a taper. I've now managed to replace those with Punch brand versions that go with the rest of the set. I still haven't found the illusive 3/4" I.Sorby Punch brand, but I keep looking. Until then the no name Ministry of Defence chisel is doing a good impersonation. I also picked up a Punch brand lock mortise chisel to go with the set.
Miscellaneous Tools
I love my set of 6 Ashley Iles Mk2 bevel edged chisels and I recently added a 1 1/4" and a 2" to the set. I also picked up a new old stock vintage Valvespout oil can, a Stanley auger depth stop, three needle file handles, and a couple of plumb bobs. Finally, a secondhand Clifton 500 convex spokeshave and a Clifton 3110 adjustable mouth shoulder/bull nose/chisel plane based on the old Record 311.
I'm sure I've forgotten a few things, but they're the main bits and bobs I've bought recently. Hope you enjoyed the pics.
Due to my job and a massive landscaping project I have going on in my garden at the moment, I haven't had as much time for LJs as I'd like, but I've still been seeking out and buying some great tools. Today I was taking some photos and I thought I would share some of my latest acquisitions with you - some new, some vintage.
Spill Planes
I picked up a couple of user made spill planes just for their fun value. Initially I got the low angled one on the right which has a single fence. It only needed some minor tweaks to the mouth and a sharp iron to produce the spills shown in the photo. The other one with the handle is awaiting some TLC to the sole of the plane and the iron which is made out of an old file. It has a double fence.
Carving Tools
The adze on the left is made by Swedish blacksmith Svante Djarv and I was lucky enough to get it secondhand with very little use. The adze on the right was made for me by FadirTools. The big dog leg gouge at the top and the small drawknife at the bottom were made by KharkivForge. Both of these makers are based in Kharkiv, Ukraine and I can recommend them both for the outstanding quality of their tools and their great customer service. Most of their tools also come with custom leather sheaths. You will have to wait longer than you're probably used to for the tools to arrive, but they will arrive. The three gouges in the middle are made by Hans Karlsson, a 90-40 straight gouge, a 90-40 bent gouge and a 15-30 bent gouge.
Marples Ultimatum Brace
I've wanted an Ultimatum brace for years, but trying to find one in good condition for the right price has proved difficult. I've missed out on a few auctions, but I finally secured a great example. I've had the other two braces for a while now, but it felt right to photograph them together. Of course there is no way that wooden braces can compare with later metal ratchet braces in terms of strength and functionality, but you can't deny they're more sexy.
Combination Gauges
Although I have a couple of Hamilton gauges, a Glenn Drake gauge and some other nice modern gauges, for me there is something about the vintage gauges that really appeals to me. Nowadays, I only buy great examples of these old gauges (without spending a fortune) and the gauges shown below have been built up over a number of years. The two combination gauges in the middle with the brass heads are my latest acquisitions. The one on the left is a superb example of a Wm. Marples 490 which as far as I know, only appeared in their 1873 catalogue. The 490 evolved into the one on the right (a 2155) around 1909. It differed by the addition of a brass faceplate under the mortice pins and a full-length brass rule inset into the underside of the stem.
I. Sorby Mortise Chisels
I've been collecting I. Sorby Punch brand mortice chisels (pigstickers) for a few years now. They made 10 different sizes (1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16", 1/2", 9/16", 5/8" and 3/4"). Although I had a 1/8" and 3/16" made by I. Sorby they weren't the Punch brand and the 3/16" was the type that has parallel sides rather than a taper. I've now managed to replace those with Punch brand versions that go with the rest of the set. I still haven't found the illusive 3/4" I.Sorby Punch brand, but I keep looking. Until then the no name Ministry of Defence chisel is doing a good impersonation. I also picked up a Punch brand lock mortise chisel to go with the set.
Miscellaneous Tools
I love my set of 6 Ashley Iles Mk2 bevel edged chisels and I recently added a 1 1/4" and a 2" to the set. I also picked up a new old stock vintage Valvespout oil can, a Stanley auger depth stop, three needle file handles, and a couple of plumb bobs. Finally, a secondhand Clifton 500 convex spokeshave and a Clifton 3110 adjustable mouth shoulder/bull nose/chisel plane based on the old Record 311.
I'm sure I've forgotten a few things, but they're the main bits and bobs I've bought recently. Hope you enjoyed the pics.