Thread: Where is this on the drool spectrum? Gordonzola

I went and visited this set of tools and cabinet at Sturt on Saturday. And it is indeed beautiful. But they had signs on it saying not to touch! And all I wanted to do was pick the tools up and feel them in my hands...

I dropped in on Colen Clenton on the weekend and grilled him about the 'Collaboration'. Well I asked him a couple of questions anyway.
All tools were made from a single piece of ebony. The piece of ebony was always going to be a matched set of tools.
It was purchased with that in mind.
Once the tools were made something was needed to display and showcase the set. Neither Terry nor Colen were confident that their cabinet making skills would do the set justice so they asked Phoebe to make the cabinet.
Making tools is their business and these have been made to sell. Plane and simple.(sorry about that) All tools are users and made to the same exceptional standards and quality as all of Terry's and Colen's tools.
In my opinion, they were made to work wood and I think that's what they should do. I don't, but if I had $60k spare I would buy them and use them.
I don't think they will mind if I say that there has already been some interest expressed in purchasing them.
They wanted to include some additional tools but there just wasn't enough ebony.

Originally Posted by rob streeper

...
I've been thinking about purchasing a full set of Terry's planes, given that $AU is down so much they are a fantastic bargain.

Originally Posted by NCArcher

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I don't think they will mind if I say that there has already been some interest expressed in purchasing them.
They wanted to include some additional tools but there just wasn't enough ebony.

Rob it's only 43,746 USD (+ or - a smidge)
better get in quick as someone's interested

If you get it I'll look after it for you - thus saving you the cartage across the ditch ...

Originally Posted by NCArcher

Plane and simple.(sorry about that)

So you should be.

I sometimes wonder where Terry might go if he ever decides to expand his range of tools. By this I don't mean adding another style of plane such as his moving filister (free plug Terry). I mean, suppose he started to make chisels or other related cutting implements. After all it is not a huge directional leap from plane blades to chisel blades.

He clearly has the woodworking skills, although I recall the totes on his A55 series planes are turned up for him by Ross Burgess.

Then I imagine Rob Streeper would have to go out and get another (third?) job to afford the "Collection Mk2," as clearly self-restraint would fail dismally in the face of a matched set of planes, marking tools and chisels.

Just me imagining what could be . I suspect the main problem would be the government banning the production of chisels in Australia to prevent people being trampled in the rush : A flow on from "stopping the boats" so people with no prospect of a reasonable life won't be drowned at sea . (Do not reply to that here. It is not a subject for digression .)

Oh and his website has more pictures:

http://www.hntgordon.com.au/plane-se...oration-1.html

Regards
Paul

Must have been a pretty decent piece of ebony!

Originally Posted by hiroller

Must have been a pretty decent piece of ebony!

It occurs it may not have been cheap either.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

So you should be.

I sometimes wonder where Terry might go if he ever decides to expand his range of tools. By this I don't mean adding another style of plane such as his moving filister (free plug Terry). I mean, suppose he started to make chisels or other related cutting implements. After all it is not a huge directional leap from plane blades to chisel blades.

He clearly has the woodworking skills, although I recall the totes on his A55 series planes are turned up for him by Ross Burgess.

Then I imagine Rob Streeper would have to go out and get another (third?) job to afford the "Collection Mk2," as clearly self-restraint would fail dismally in the face of a matched set of planes, marking tools and chisels.

Just me imagining what could be . I suspect the main problem would be the government banning the production of chisels in Australia to prevent people being trampled in the rush : A flow on from "stopping the boats" so people with no prospect of a reasonable life won't be drowned at sea . (Do not reply to that here. It is not a subject for digression .)

Oh and his website has more pictures:

http://www.hntgordon.com.au/plane-se...oration-1.html

Regards
Paul

Fourth.

P.S. MkII should ideally include some other tools by Aussies like saws, chisels, mallets and marking tools...

P.P.S And while they're at it add on one of those exotic hardwood workbenches such as that recently described by Ian and Luke.

I would love to have this set, all from the one log. Alas, it will never be.
I do have a similar set from the one log and Terry and Colen have been kind enough to find similar ebony each time they have added tools to their range.
A number of you have indicated they should include Aussie chisels and layout tools. I have the big ebony set made by Trent and a full set of Vesper Tools too. About 8 years ago Terry kindly supplied Chris and Trent with matching ebony for most of the tools and Trent added a bit more to finish off the set. For me, they are user tools that I try to restore to pristine condition once every year or so.
I'm waiting for the next few tools from Terry to arrive and then the planning begins for a tool box to house all the ebony tools in one case.
I have floated the idea with both Pheobe Everhill and also Anton Gerner but will probably build it myself. Time will tell.

I am looking forward to seeing this set in the flesh soon. That is unless it is sold prior. I know of a couple of people that have expressed an interest.
Functional Art. Yes.
Over the Top. Yes.
Great PR and free advertising...that is the whole point of this. Every few years expect something new to regenerate the interest.

By the way, they are great user tools and I love having the right tool for the job on hand. They are very functional and represent great value. Many plane makers charge way more for their tools.

Originally Posted by DSEL74

I think if someone buys it it will be a collector, who is the fella with the cabinet full of Harold Saxon Chisels? It would go well next to that.

So although this set will not be matched up to Trent's first big ebony set the chisels sit next to Terry and Colen's first big ebony set set from 9 years ago.

I have a dream...........
Tool lust, like all lust, is a very personal thing often just to be shared between consenting adults.
So, it doesn't surprise me at all that this thread should cause so much comment between non-consenting adults. I know Terry, Colen and Phoebe and have supported them by buying tools for many years and by attending an excellent fine woodwork course at Sturt, so with that knowledge AND confessing to my private lusts, here is my personal take on it;
IF I won Lotto and before I did anything else, I would drive to Terry and/or Colen and put down my money!
I would USE the tools. (let's not forget that Mr Studley's opus was his WORKING tools!)
I would rewrite my will (and household insurance!) to include the cabinet and tools stating that if no-one in the family can use them, I will leave them to the Powerhouse Museum with a condition that they be displayed as "potentially the greatest piece of Australian functional art"
I would, after finally telling my family of the Lotto win, approach Trent, Chris and one of the Tasmanian knife makers, to make a full set of their tools in matching timbers.
I would commission Phoebe to either include the tools in the existing cabinet OR make a matching one to include the overflow (Phoebe of the Overflow?)
I would give away the tools replaced by the cabinets to some deserving forumite/s
....and then I could die happy!

Just my two bobs worth....

fletty

Alan

A beautiful philosophy. I like particularly that they will be users. Good luck with the Lotto .

Regards
Paul

An unused tool is a sad thing.

Originally Posted by rob streeper

An unused tool is a sad thing.

hear hear