Thread: Downsizing and moving to hand tools..... :) Wisdom needed!!!

Agreed!

My imagination runs away with me too much. Everything must fit into a standard blanket chest....

I'll be selling a ton of things soon enough.

Attached is my perceived list of things so far.... minus the bench....

Most will need to be second hand, so Gumtree and eBay have now searches saved. Lets see what turns up.

LeeValley seem to have a bit of trouble with stock levels. Almost everything is OOS!

In addition to my "haves" or keeps I've added my dremel and LMI plunger, Pfiel carving chisels....

Screenshot_2019-09-18 Lee Valley Tools - Shopping Cart(1).png

Originally Posted by derekcohen

...... There is a part of me that actually looks forward to downsizing one day. ....

Ditto, but another part argues the toss every time I decide to get rid of something! I have several quite decent tools that are just not part of my regular repertoire and get very little use. As recently as last week I pulled a couple out & decided it was time they found good homes where they'd be properly appreciated. Then I hesitated.....

Originally Posted by derekcohen

..... how many times have we heard Ian say, "This is my last plane/saw/gauge!". ...

Ummm, once or twice?

Cheers,

Originally Posted by woodPixel

Attached is my perceived list of things so far.... minus the bench....
LeeValley seem to have a bit of trouble with stock levels. Almost everything is OOS!

Screenshot_2019-09-18 Lee Valley Tools - Shopping Cart(1).png

looking at that list and trying for a "minimum" kit ...

I'd add 2 x rip saws -- one about 4 tpi for cutting 4 x 2 or thicker stuff, the other (say 7 tpi) for stuff around 1" thick. Saws can be Japanese or western style.
I'd also add a panel saw for quickly cross cutting stuff -- this saw could readily be a cheapie from Bunnings.

Why do you need any toothed plane blades? They are a pretty specialised item, mostly used to quickly flatten boards with lots of wild grain.

think long and hard about the need for a Norris style slow adjuster -- is it a need? or did it just make its way into your cart?

a full set of metric blades for the plough plane? Do you really need a full set of metric blades? Ideally the blades will team with your chisels, so if they (the chisels) are imperial, your plow plane blades should also be imperial.
Also, at the scale of a typical box, you will rarely, if ever, need to tongue and groove anything thicker than what can be done using a 1/8" or 1/4" tongue.
And not forget, if you are working at the scale of a typical box -- and not using tongue and groove blades -- you won't need the conversion kit.

also, do you really need a full set of metric blades for your router plane? Perhaps start with the standard blade and add a single spear point blade.

I have the opposite problem, a mate is moving house and needs to relocate all his fathers and some grandfathers hand tools, (most still wrapped in oil cloth ) his suggestion, you have the power tools, I have the hand tools.
Only downside I dont have the room, but dang it I'll be making some room.

Originally Posted by woodPixel

Screenshot_2019-09-18 Lee Valley Tools - Shopping Cart(1).png

The Veritas router plane and plow plane are absolute delights to use. My only other 2c would be echoing Ian's sentiment about the slow Norris adjuster. The normal Veritas adjusters are pretty precise as it is. That said, I much prefer the Bailey plane style depth adjustment.

I'd add 2 x rip saws -- one about 4 tpi for cutting 4 x 2 or thicker stuff, the other (say 7 tpi) for stuff around 1" thick. Saws can be Japanese or western style.
I'd also add a panel saw for quickly cross cutting stuff -- this saw could readily be a cheapie from Bunnings.

Last night I checked over my Japanese saws. I've a few dozukis, katabas and a beastly ryoba. All of them with spare blades.

Why do you need any toothed plane blades? They are a pretty specialised item, mostly used to quickly flatten boards with lots of wild grain.

I'll only have sporadic access to a bandsaw. A friend, Trav, may be able to help, plus I can also go down to the Kambah woodcraft guild. It would be a good excuse

think long and hard about the need for a Norris style slow adjuster -- is it a need? or did it just make its way into your cart?

Thought they might make a positive difference. My experience with the existing veritas low angle smoother is that its an excellent plane. My experience with the Stanley planes is they are a complete bastard to get right.... like my Japanese planes. I gave up on them. They were All To Hard to adjust.

a full set of metric blades for the plough plane? Do you really need a full set of metric blades? Ideally the blades will team with your chisels, so if they (the chisels) are imperial, your plow plane blades should also be imperial.

There was no reason for Metric other than the maths is easier It is all arbitrary anyway. My chisels are Japanese and they are metric. Ive a few others that are old and faithful, but to be honest Ive never measured them.

Also, at the scale of a typical box, you will rarely, if ever, need to tongue and groove anything thicker than what can be done using a 1/8" or 1/4" tongue.

VERY good point!

And not forget, if you are working at the scale of a typical box -- and not using tongue and groove blades -- you won't need the conversion kit.

I was confused as to exactly what this "conversion kit" was. I popped it in the cart as a reminder to look it up.

Also, do you really need a full set of metric blades for your router plane? Perhaps start with the standard blade and add a single spear point blade.

Good point. hahha! I'll do this.

Thank you all for the good advice. It is all being written down in my workbook, bullet point style, so I can refer to it.

Originally Posted by woodPixel

if you are working at the scale of a typical box -- and not using tongue and groove blades -- you won't need the conversion kit.

I was confused as to exactly what this "conversion kit" was. I popped it in the cart as a reminder to look it up.

quoting from the most recent Lee Valley Tools catalog ...
"For blades over 3/8" wide (i.e. blades 7/16" (11 mm) or wider) and all tongue blades, a wide-blade conversion kit is required."
and
"[the] conversion kit allows the plane to be used with our tongue-cutting blades as well as our wide blades. Designed to clamp and support both sides of the blade to prevent twisting in use..."

OK! I'm getting there. What an adventure!

Its great fun to "re do" everything from scratch.

@Poundy asked in another for-sale thread what I was thinking (it was about a moxon vice) and I thought to update my rambling and incoherent thoughts into a set of statements of ambition (!!!)


I'm doing either one of three plans. Still mixing the thoughts around....

1 -- Doing the "Japanese Thing". Using a heavy duty outdoor BBQ table I have. Its made of kwilla. Using a Japanese mini bench, my Parf hole-board and a bolt-on moxon vice.
2 -- Buying a heavy duty kitchen table and chopping it into the desired size. Making a DerekCohen and IanW inspired minibench
3 -- Buying a full wood 6 drawer dresser second hand off Gumtree and modifying this

I'm indecisive. I like the idea of building a bench from scratch, but space, and yet a heavy duty second hand something makes for an excellent base to start.

Derek and IanW's work thoroughly inspires me.

These links and threads are on top of my thoughts so far:

-- IanW... A wooden thread thread
-- DerekCohen... The Last Moxon Dovetail Vise
-- Rob Cosman ... YouTube
-- Every single Japanese woodworker! e.g. YouTube and Des King YouTube and Adrian Preda https://www.adrianpreda.com/
-- and literally every box maker out there

On tools, I've managed to grab some very interesting ones at some pretty fair prices.... all of them utterly unused. Crazy. Absolutely crazy... but it is what it is

-- Veritas Low Angle Jack Plane with A2 Blade
-- Veritas Skew rabbet plane
-- Veritas Cabinet scraper
-- Veritas Router plane, large
-- Veritas Concave Spokeshave


Thank you to everyone who has guided me in this adventure!

If you are following me, and happen to know of anyone selling these things, please do consider putting us in contact, I would as always be hugely appreciative!

-- Dovetail saw (3?)
-- Plow plane small for boxes
-- #6 Fore Plane (?? probably dont need yet)
-- Spokeshave - flat
-- Bullnose Shoulder Plane
-- Block plane

I'll be selling the majority of my large machinery! So plenty of specials here soon!!!

Cheers!

For the plough plane keep an eye out for a Record or Marples 043. These are beaut little planes that theoretically can cut up to about 7/16” wide grooves but are usually only used in the 1/8”-5/16” range.

These are easily identified by having TWO fence rods, there was an earlier, slightly smaller version with only one rod but it wasn’t real good. Typically, Aussie brands like Sharmanco and Carter copied the rubbish version... poorly. Avoid them like the scabrous dogs they are.

Luban/Wood River/Quenshin now make a modern version with a larger handle and a kerfing saw blade, worth checking out.

I would add to that a Stanley 79 side rebate plane for widening the grooves a hair or two as required.

I like the Record #044 and #043 (I have this one), but would stick with the Veritas Small Plow since it is more versatile than the Record versions. There is a wider range of blades, of better quality, and which can include beading and tongue-and-groove. It stands alone with regards ergonomics. The only better plough is the Veritas Combination Plane, which is more expensive (but, of course, offers much more as well).

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

The only better plough is the Veritas Combination Plane, which is more expensive...

That THING has 14 knobs!

FOURTEEN!!!!!

I love it!!!!!

14 knobs.jpg


edit - yeah! I love it!

Samona (S Korea) straight spoke shaves were $16.00 each. Very good steel in the blades.
I set one heavy and one fine for the ridges, saves adjustments. Top dollar doesn't cut any better.
Very poorly cast and assembled but those puzzles were easily worked over.
They "sing" in the wood which is a pleasant sound pulling more than a mile in birch.

What a beast. Seems to do everything. An impressive tool.

I wrote to Veritas and enquired about the blades. They wrote back with the two brochures attached.

I'll include them here for others to enjoy.

Combination Plane Brochure (Canada).pdf

75620-veritas-combination-plane-c-01-e.pdf

Nice thread! I've often dreamed of just putting a few hand tools in a big old bus, leave my workshop and business behind then travel around Australia trying to make some sort of living until I drop dead or can't use a hand plane any more.