Thread: A Block Plane dilemma

As someone picked up - the Bed is not parallel to the Sole (the Blade seats on the Bed)
Don't file the Throat Plate - it should be 90 degrees
Don't change the Blade from 90 degrees to a skew
Either:
1. True the Sole to the Bed, or
2. True the Bed to the Sole
The second is easiest with a good Warding File - note that some filing skill is required to maintain flatness of the Bed
Also note that WoodRiver planes are only sold by Woodcraft USA stores and their distributors - they have high QA standards.
(I am a Woodcraft distributor in Australia)
This plane is not a WoodRiver so should not be referred as one.

Jim Davey
Jim Davey Planes & Sharpening - Home

Originally Posted by JimDavey

Also note that WoodRiver planes are only sold by Woodcraft USA stores and their distributors - they have high QA standards.
(I am a Woodcraft distributor in Australia)
This plane is not a WoodRiver so should not be referred as one.

Jim,

I think I'm missing something here, in post 28 the cap is clearly marked Woodriver. I don't think there's been a suggestion this is a QA problem endemic to the brand at any point.


Nick

Sorry but I am unable to view these, an able to see others but not these. Would you mind email me a copy to: [email protected] - thankyou, Jim

Jim, if you go to your settings page, then click General Settings (lower right), then scroll down halfway to Thread Display Options and tick Show Images, you should be able to see the pics.

But I have to ask....if you can't see the images, then how can you say it's not a Wood River plane??

I very much doubt that they are WR knockoffs - they'd have had to reproduce the whole range including the specialised planes, and that would seem unlikely. If someone wants to do knockoffs then they are only going to do the ones that sell best, according to my logic anyway.

What would that make them if they were knockoffs? Copies of Wood River which are copies of Lie Nielsen which are copies of Stanleys.....or something?

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Jim, if you go to your settings page, then click General Settings (lower right), then scroll down halfway to Thread Display Options and tick Show Images, you should be able to see the pics.

But I have to ask....if you can't see the images, then how can you say it's not a Wood River plane??

I very much doubt that they are WR knockoffs - they'd have had to reproduce the whole range including the specialised planes, and that would seem unlikely. If someone wants to do knockoffs then they are only going to do the ones that sell best, according to my logic anyway.

What would that make them if they were knockoffs? Copies of Wood River which are copies of Lie Nielsen which are copies of Stanleys.....or something?

FWIW at least some Woodriver planes are most definately manufactured in China or at least have been since at least 2009. As said previously this is not to say they still don't have to pass a strict QA process. I admit I have no idea as to the chanels of distribution or licensed distributors (apart from Jim Davey) or through whom FF purchased his direct from China.

Correct -
WoodRiver Planes are made in China
Made for Woodcraft USA (WoodRiver is one of their house names)
Woodcraft have very strict standards
They don't sell Seconds

Jim Davey
Australian Woodcraft Distributor

I don't think anyone is suggesting that Woodcraft sells seconds (I'm not anyway). This came direct from the manufacturer in China. Whether or not he's supposed to be selling them direct, I don't know. I suspect that he may only be selling the seconds direct, but again, no idea.

Whatever is going on, it's no big deal because you have to be able to read Chinese (and Google translate only does a small part of the required job), but more importantly you have to know that the website even exists.

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

I don't think anyone is suggesting that Woodcraft sells seconds (I'm not anyway). This came direct from the manufacturer in China. Whether or not he's supposed to be selling them direct, I don't know. I suspect that he may only be selling the seconds direct, but again, no idea.

Whatever is going on, it's no big deal because you have to be able to read Chinese (and Google translate only does a small part of the required job), but more importantly you have to know that the website even exists.

Sorry Brett, but I have to disagree with you

You started this thread with

I have a Woodriver Block Plane, which for the cost of it, is a beauty (the surface it leaves is immaculate).
However, there is a problem with the mouth ...

I (and I suspect most other readers) read your initial post as applying to a plane purchased through Woodcraft in the US or another authorised agent.
Although I'm sure it was not your intent, your post left me with a negative impression of Woodcraft's QA.

IMO it's a bit late in the thread to acknowledge that your "Woodriver" block plane is probably a factory second.




On another lighter note,
If a grey market import is something purchased in the item's home market and brought to Australia independently of the local distributior, what term should apply to items purchased from the contracted manufacturer and brought to Australia independently of both the local distributor and the owner of the trade mark.

To be fair Fency at post 4 said this:

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Nope. $43 direct from China (inc freight). Hardly a big hit.

I took that to suggest it was a parallel import

Originally Posted by ian

Sorry Brett, but I have to disagree with you

You started this thread with I (and I suspect most other readers) read your initial post as applying to a plane purchased through Woodcraft in the US or another authorised agent.
Although I'm sure it was not your intent, your post left me with a negative impression of Woodcraft's QA.

IMO it's a bit late in the thread to acknowledge that your "Woodriver" block plane is probably a factory second.

Nah, I've got to disagree with your disagreement Ian .

Post #4, in response to Pac Man asking if it could be returned (and 84 minutes after the OP):
"Nope. $43 direct from China (inc freight). Hardly a big hit."

Then, post #43, on April 18th:
"I reckon that the fella in China sent out working seconds actually. Apparently he offered a 10% discount without being asked - that's deeply suspicious, esp from China!"

So.....pretty clear from the getgo that it wasn't from Woodcraft or a distributor, methinks. Also, at that stage (and call me naive if you like) I hadn't worked out that Wood River was a Woodcraft brand. During subsequent research, where I read all sorts of less than complimentary things about Woodcraft commissioning these copies planes, it became quite clear what the story was.

Furthermore, when I was considering purchasing this one, I happened to have seen a Woodriver at the Sydney show - it was on the stand of a company that I just know is not a Woodcraft distributor. Thus, I figured that they were sold by retailers generally.

I mean, hey man, I'm just quoting the brand that's on the plane. Dat's all.

For those who think that Woodcraft may have been aggrieved I suggest that you read this thread on talkFestool. You may have a different opinion after reading it. Personally, I find it hard to see how Woodcraft would be able to claim the high moral ground if they are concerned about these planes being sold directly out of China. That would bring pots and kettles to mind.

A small quote from it:
"Just as a quick recap, Woodcraft brought out the WoodRiver planes which looked very closely identical to the Lie-Nielsen planes of which they are also a distributor. Tom Begnal, an Associate Editor for Fine Woodworking magazine, did a very thorough comparison and found that down to the smallest components they were copies of the Lie-Nielsen planes. Not copies of the Stanley Bedrock or Bailey but Lie-Nielsen."

I have no doubt that there has been some emailing this afternoon, although sans pictures.

In my previous post here I said it was "during subsequent research ....yadda" Having looked at the talkFestool thread again it has reminded me that I happened to see a new post in this thread that coincided during my "Block Plane Dilemma", and it contains a link to the first thread link above, which I read with some interest.

Hi, can you measure the Block Plane please.
Is it about:
160mm long
45mm wide with
40mm wide blade
???
Thank you,
Jim

Ah, why is that?

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Ah, why is that?

Ah a question answering a question.

Maybe if you had answered the question you would find the answer to your problem