[UpstateNYdude]

It was nice meeting you Red, and Walden too. Last night I lucked into having dinner with Ron Hock, Tico Vogt, Dave Jeske (Blue Spruce Toolworks), Joel Moskowitz (Tools for Working Wood), Gary Blum and a few other celebrities in our niche. I was kind of awkward but got to show off my chisel and drawknife.

- bobasaurus

Jeez added Schwarz and St. Roy and I'd probably keel over.

 

[galooticus]

Was looking for a dedicated handworks thread, guess it's here

I was wandering around the show too. First time I've been to any sort of woodworking event. Amana is a good place for it; the wife was entertained by the nearby shops as well.

I was hoping to see or hear something about the upcoming Veritas large plow and wasn't disappointed. They are calling it the combination plane and had it on hand. If you preordered there at the show, they included a nice case for the plane and a pair of blade boxes for free. Rob Lee himself showed me the plane and the case; he's super cool and approachable. I was told Handworks was the only time they are taking preorders. Planes are expected to ship in August. Of course I got on the preorder list.

They have a bunch more blades coming, but I don't think there were any molding type blades. Mainly wider straight blades, more reeding and beading type things IIRC. Also mainly in PM-V11. All the existing (right handed) small plow blades work plus stanley 45 (and/or 55?) blades. The plane (really the fence arms) are reversible for left/right handed. Lots of extra knobs for fine-tuned adjustments, like on the fence and depth stop.

I talked to Scott Meek a bit and tried out a couple of his planes. He's cool, and his planes are amazing. The sculpted feel is super nice, and the function just feels incredibly precise and and refined. I would have bought one if I hadn't preordered the combination plane. When you have one in your hands, it's hard to resist, no matter the price. Might buy one still.

Tons of people. BRK pointed out the line, it was 2-3x that long waiting for Roy Saturday morning. Normally I detest lines, but coming from CA and not knowing how it would play out, I got there early to make sure I'd see him. Later I got books signed by Chris Schwarz, Nancy Hiller, and Roy Underhill. Chris was super busy, but I did get to chat with Nancy and Roy a little.

Trying to think of other highlights, but those were the big ones for me. Didn't win a door prize.

Since I'm staying at my grandma's (old) house, I went hunting and found some old handtools that belonged to my grandpa and great grandpas. Drawknife, chisel, #3-size plane, and a transitional jack plane. Good haul for the trip as a whole. Might post some pictures when I'm back in CA.

 

[bobasaurus]

That s awesome Allen what a great time for everyone.

We should be seeing these in a promotion some time in the future.

U da Man Allen ^^

- waho6o9

Thanks Waho, I had a good time showing it off. Turns out tools made from bicycle chain are pretty uncommon, who'd of thunk it.

 

[bobasaurus]

Was looking for a dedicated handworks thread, guess it s here

I was wandering around the show too. First time I ve been to any sort of woodworking event. Amana is a good place for it; the wife was entertained by the nearby shops as well.

I was hoping to see or hear something about the upcoming Veritas large plow and wasn t disappointed. They are calling it the combination plane and had it on hand. If you preordered there at the show, they included a nice case for the plane and a pair of blade boxes for free. Rob Lee himself showed me the plane and the case; he s super cool and approachable. I was told Handworks was the only time they are taking preorders. Planes are expected to ship in August. Of course I got on the preorder list.

They have a bunch more blades coming, but I don t think there were any molding type blades. Mainly wider straight blades, more reeding and beading type things IIRC. Also mainly in PM-V11. All the existing (right handed) small plow blades work plus stanley 45 (and/or 55?) blades. The plane (really the fence arms) are reversible for left/right handed. Lots of extra knobs for fine-tuned adjustments, like on the fence and depth stop.

I talked to Scott Meek a bit and tried out a couple of his planes. He s cool, and his planes are amazing. The sculpted feel is super nice, and the function just feels incredibly precise and and refined. I would have bought one if I hadn t preordered the combination plane. When you have one in your hands, it s hard to resist, no matter the price. Might buy one still.

Tons of people. BRK pointed out the line, it was 2-3x that long waiting for Roy Saturday morning. Normally I detest lines, but coming from CA and not knowing how it would play out, I got there early to make sure I d see him. Later I got books signed by Chris Schwarz, Nancy Hiller, and Roy Underhill. Chris was super busy, but I did get to chat with Nancy and Roy a little.

Trying to think of other highlights, but those were the big ones for me. Didn t win a door prize.

Since I m staying at my grandma s (old) house, I went hunting and found some old handtools that belonged to my grandpa and great grandpas. Drawknife, chisel, #3-size plane, and a transitional jack plane. Good haul for the trip as a whole. Might post some pictures when I m back in CA.

- galooticus

Andy, I also had lots of fun over there. I was sorely tempted by that veritas combo plane, wow it was nice. I talked to the designer Terry for a while about it, all the engineering is really well thought out. But the $400 base price only comes with one blade, and the sets are going to be super expensive. I do have some 45 and 55 blades that might work instead I guess. I still haven't used my 45 or 55 sadly, I need to try them out and see if it would be a worthwhile upgrade. Seems like the lack of a mouth and chipbreaker would make for some tricky situations with changing grain. I'm almost more tempted to get into wood bodied molding planes. J Wilding's were my favorite out of all I tried, and he's a great guy (I ate with him the first day, and he lives near me).

 

[TheFridge]

I had a lot of trouble with my 45. Never knew you use the straight irons and cut as much waste out as possible.

I still want a set of hollows and rounds. Yeah I'm restraining myself from buying a bunch of planemakers tools. If I get the floats and some irons then I kinda gotta build one asap. I don't really need that temptation right now so I'll settle for trying to build a saw.

 

[CL810]

Lucky for you Fridge, Christmas will be here very soon.

 

[TheFridge]

And birthday. When I just typed birthday, for some weird reason it autocorrected to urethra. I shoulda left it

Not that I can't splurge but I don't know if my shop can handle another project right now. Cuz if I get floats I'm gonna have to sharpen them. And if I sharpen them I'm gonna have to try them out. The. I'm gonna have to try them out making a plane. Then the viscous cycle will never stop.

 

[WayneC]

Handworks sounds awesome.

I've been on a router plane kick lately. I really like the Small LN and the Veritas Large Router plane. I will probably get the Medium Veritas since it shares cutters with the Large. I'm also thinking about getting on the Walkemore List for their router planes. Did anyone get to play with them?

 

[August]

My find

This should deliver a real blow

 

[WayneC]

Very nice.

 

[BigRedKnothead]

Enjoyed the Handworks talk. The accessibility to the well known tool makers is a lot of the fun. I've never been the type that gets all fanboy about any of those cats. I don't care if it's Roy or Schwarz. Anyone in the woodworking world is a big fish in a small pond. If they went to a convention of any other sort…nobody would know who they were. This reality makes it a little weird for them at woodworking shows too…I would think.

On that note, I might write a blog about my experiences with toolmakers and fine craftsman someday. Nearly all of them are painfully introverted. I am not. Woodworking is the only introverted thing I do. I am energized by time with lots of socialization. People like my wife, on the other hand, are drained and need to recover.

Anyway, last Hankworks I hung out with the LN guys and other big names. This time I spent the majority of time with people I genuinely consider my friends. No regrets. I didn't want it to end.

Plus I made a new friend. I will be ordering planes from Jeremiah Wilding in the the future. He had the best price and performance on hand made planes (hollows, rounds, molding, fillester). And your not gonna find a higher quality craftsman and human being. I added his name to the list.

 

[ColonelTravis]

Would love to make it to that thing.

I met Roy Underhill at his shop a couple years ago. Actually, the restaurant beside his shop. I was in line for paying the check and I turned around and said to myself: "holy $#!%, that's Roy Underhill standing behind me." What I said out loud was: "Thank you for your show, I've always enjoyed it." He flashed that Roy smile and said thanks.

The tool store above his place was closed for lunch. As I waited for it to re-open, I saw something that sounds dumb but I can't help it. I don't know what era he represents on the show. I always thought maybe 1900-1910. In the restaurant I don't think he was wearing suspenders but he still looked like a figure from a previous century, but it was really, REALLY weird seeing him plop himself in a minivan and drive off.

 

[terryR]

Must search Jeremiah Wilding…

Fridge, don't buy LN floats, get some Japanese versions like this. No need to sharpen ever, and they leave a great surface behind that is ready for filing.

https://www.japanwoodworker.com/products/iwasaki-8-extra-fine-side-float?via=58923197617070231a00002d%2C58923197617070231a000035

my apologies to LN.

 

[DLK]

Thanks Terry. The Iwasaki floats are on sale too at about $10 off. I ordered both an edge and side float.

 

[terryR]

Happy to enable, Don.

If you want to make planes, grab this little Japanese flush cut saw, too. Same site. Awesome tool!

In place of the LN type float, try a chisel ground flat on the tip. Yep, flat. Just point the chisel into the disc sander for a second for a 90 degree bevel, and use this tool as a push scraper with a handle. A great tool for scraping down in recesses, and cleaning up rasp work.

Just let me know if you guys want more plane_building tips. LOL!

 

[UpstateNYdude]

Just let me know if you guys want more plane_building tips. LOL!

- terryR

Thanks enabler now I have to go spend more money. lol

 

[terryR]

Honestly…the best way to get started IMO…

Just go to the shop and carve one out using what you have! Hacksaw. Sharp chisels. Any files and rasps. Unless you are abnormal, you'll make mistakes. No matter what fancy tools you use. It's hard to carve a mortise this shape without errors, but each time you can assess how to NOT repeat the error. Called the learning curve, and it applies hugely.

But, $5 worth of wood and some time to practice…

 

[DLK]

The Iwasaki files and rasps are 20% off at Japanwoodworker by the way, so I ordered the edge and side float.

Seemed to be ordered through woodcraft.

Then I get an e-mail saying they are back ordered and another giving me 15% off my next order.

Should I use it to get that little razor saw?

 

[Brit]

Yes

 

[builtinbkyn]

Must search Jeremiah Wilding…

Fridge, don t buy LN floats, get some Japanese versions like this. No need to sharpen ever, and they leave a great surface behind that is ready for filing.

https://www.japanwoodworker.com/products/iwasaki-8-extra-fine-side-float?via=58923197617070231a00002d%2C58923197617070231a000035

my apologies to LN.

- terryR

I went to Gramercy Tools last week looking for floats. They no longer carry them. Those floats on that Japanese Tools site, look interesting. I bought the Shinto saw rasps from Amazon. Much better prices, but everything else on that site looks pretty good.