Thread: Terry Gordon's New Planes

The radius plane looks really nice.

I think they will be great when they get here. I've been chatting to Terry about these for a while now. He also has some other joinery planes in the pipeline as can be confirmed by his website: Gidgee Joinery Planes
I'm hoping the dovetail planes will be 1:6, 1:7 and 1:8, time will tell.
I hope to have my set by the end of the year (Melbourne Show?). Terry put some stripy ebony aside for me over a year ago for this lot.
Looking forward to it.
All the best
Kevin

I am seriously leaning towards some of Terry's planes. I would like to give one or two a run though before I decide. I'd better go to the show.
If I spend an awful lot of money in the near future it's your fault SG. I clicked on your link and stumbled across this.
HNT GORDON AND COLEN CLENTON MATCHING EBONY SET
now what or who can I sell to raise funds for those.

That is a great set of tools with an interesting history. Another 30 odd tools from the same log have been added to the set over the years. Including the tools in my Avatar.
Start saving my friend, you will never regret it, especially if you actually use the things. Speak to Colen Clenton about that set when you are at the ww show. He will take great pride in telling you that they get used almost daily.
They are just tools after all and wasted if they are stored away or just looked at because they are pretty.
So...just do it.
I drooled over that set for a long time.

Originally Posted by NCArcher

I am seriously leaning towards some of Terry's planes. I would like to give one or two a run though before I decide. I'd better go to the show.
If I spend an awful lot of money in the near future it's your fault SG. I clicked on your link and stumbled across this.
HNT GORDON AND COLEN CLENTON MATCHING EBONY SET
now what or who can I sell to raise funds for those.

NC

In the last couple of years I have bought three of Terry Gordon's planes: A55 Smoother, Aussie Jack and a 1" Shoulder plane.

I have been very pleased with them. All are in gidgee and the first two were specialty planes being in ringed gidgee. They were purchased for a "landmark" birthday.

All of them feel good in the hand and work well. I am not so biased that I would say there aren't planes out there as good or even better, but they are defintely worth a look when you get the opportunity.

I like the concept of the timber plane in general, but particularly in gidgee being such a dense timber and australian to boot. Some of his other timbers are also eye catching.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Scribbly Gum

Terry has introduced three different dado planes and a radius plane to his line-up.
The dadoes appear to have retractable - by screw - nickers as well as built in depth stops.
He is also introducing an in bench tail vice.

I used the dado and radius planes and played with the bench vise prototype at the Sturt Hand Tool Extravaganza earlier this year. This resulted in the inevitable purchase of a dado plane (1/4") and it works beautifully. With the nickers lowered and in use, it cuts cleanly across grain with no tearout on the far side. The depth stop also works smoothly with very fine but positive adjustment. It takes pride of place in my 'new' plane cabinet ... until I buy another of Terry's little gems.
The tail vise and NEW BENCH VISE were on display at the same event and they are SILKY smooth. I came straight home to check out if I can fit one onto/into my bench.
I started counting my Terry Gordon family .....but stopped at an embarassing number unless I was overtaken by a need to confess!

fletty

Originally Posted by fletty

I used the dado and radius planes and played with the bench vise prototype at the Sturt Hand Tool Extravaganza earlier this year. This resulted in the inevitable purchase of a dado plane (1/4") and it works beautifully. With the nickers lowered and in use, it cuts cleanly across grain with no tearout on the far side. The depth stop also works smoothly with very fine but positive adjustment. It takes pride of place in my 'new' plane cabinet ... until I buy another of Terry's little gems.
The tail vise and NEW BENCH VISE were on display at the same event and they are SILKY smooth. I came straight home to check out if I can fit one onto/into my bench.
I started counting my Terry Gordon family .....but stopped at an embarassing number unless I was overtaken by a need to confess!

fletty

No such thing as an embarrassing number when it comes to Terry's planes. Supporting local tool makers is a privelege when the tools are as good as his.
Loud and Proud, Alan, Loud and Proud!

For those of you who couldn't get to the Sturt Show here are some pictures of prototype bench vices.Built from high grade Aluminium with the action controlled by a smooth acting dovetail to almost completely eliminate racking of the jaws.
The Acme driving screw is the same system as Terry's tail vise and fully enclosed so nothing can gum up the threads.
Just checked out your Blog (Scribbly Gum) and it is great.Hats off to anyone who can keep up a commentary as well as get the job done.

Thanks Michael for posting the pictures on the new Vice.

A front vice without a back jaw would be ideal for fitting into a new or existing bench without having to cut a slot or mortise the benchtop to get the back jaw aligned with the side of the bench.

I recently have to saw off the back jaw of an old vice I have to achieve the same.

Being aluminium, it'll be a whole lot lighter than the traditional cast iron vices, not to mention it won't rust as well.

Thanks for sharing.

Regards,

Gunn

Also keeps the workpiece flush to the face of the bench which is easier for using dogs in the legs for supporting longer jobs.

Originally Posted by Scribbly Gum

.....

Loud and Proud, Alan, Loud and Proud!

Like all of Terry Gordon's creations, the 1/4" dado plane is beautifully finished and fits comfortably in the hand. As it is designed to be able to cut across grain, it is fitted with nickers to cut the grain ahead of the blade.

Pic 1 shows the neat and clean cut of the nickers on a very ropey piece of Tas Oak/Victorian Ash in this case, with the plane blade removed

Pic 2 shows the cut nearly at full depth

Pic 3 the overall detail and ...

Pic 4, the working bits

In short, it works beautifully... and quickly. The skewed blade cuts very cleanly leaving a crisp edge, smooth sides and bottom (not unlike myself!). There is little break out on the far edge but for a real workpiece I would still back it up with a piece of scrap. So far I have cut across grain on Tas Oak, hoop pine and wenge and with the grain on hoop pine. For work along the grain I would probably stick with my plow/plough plane but only because the (probably) longer dado would be more comfortable with an upright handle.

In short ... another gem!

fletty

Thanks for sharing that Alan.
Terry's planes are awesome and this new one really looks the goods.
I am only speculating, but I have never seen a dado plane with an adjustable nicker that is screw mounted and controlled. Plenty of wedge adjusters out there and even the old friction adjusters.
I wonder if Terry's is the first.
His contribution to Australian woodworking deserves a mention in the Australia Day Honours list IMHO

Here here SG.
Lets get the ball rolling. There are some forms to fill in.

I'll be in touch.
SG