Thread: Wife Needs Xmas Ideas - What's a tool you don't use often but really glad you got it.

Originally Posted by BobL

Good decision - I'm a sucker for dogs - especially pups.

He's a beaut. I happened to look on gumtree and scrolled past him. The price was $1200. I thought, no way he's still available but asked the wife to look and see what she thought... We decided to phone and low and behold the gal hadn't taken any phone calls till mine. There was over 40 messages on her phone before I called... I happened to be the only one she answered... So we went to look at him and that was it. We're transitioning him now. I go and visit and take him for walks and drives every day until he is completely comfortable with me. And then at that point he'll come and live with us.

A marking knife and Starrett or Mitutoyo combination square. Both are essential for better accuracy.

My wife still has not forgiven me for the Rupes Orbital Sander that she got for Christmas in 1984.

Originally Posted by Alkahestic

Well, considering how many tools you already have, I'd like to nominate myself as first in line to be adopted.

If you're considering planes with handlebars, perhaps a HNT Gordon smoother? Or perhaps the moving fillister if you need to impress the pants off everyone that sees it.

I received a HNT moving fillister for an early Xmas present. Absolutely stunning and blew my mind when I realised what I was holding.

Originally Posted by delbs

I received a HNT moving fillister for an early Xmas present. Absolutely stunning and blew my mind when I realised what I was holding.

Thanks for the photos, Delbs, absolutely gorgeous!

I think everyone should have just one tool of this quality. It illustrates:

• how good design can be,
• how functional a tool can be,
• absolute excellence of craftsmanship,
• something to aspire to.
• design + functionality + engineering + aesthetics.

Ticks all the boxes.

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Thanks for the photos, Delbs, absolutely gorgeous!

I think everyone should have just one tool of this quality. It illustrates:

• how good design can be,
• how functional a tool can be,
• absolute excellence of craftsmanship,
• something to aspire to.
• design + functionality + engineering + aesthetics.

Ticks all the boxes.

Well said. I’m in awe of its design and timber selection - Caviuna. I have a small number of Stanley planes I have been restoring but with the supply chain problems for fine tools globally and shipping I started to collect HNT and I’ve found them just to be an absolute joy to use.

You list is spot on, the collection I have is something that will stay with me long term. With each addition I am in awe of their craftsmanship /asthmatics each time. Stunning

Glad you told us what the wood is - at first glance I thought it was Macassar ebony - it looks similar but it's not as fine-grained. Yet another newie to me - I had to look it up. Has HNT's gidgee supply been knobbled by the drought, or is he just expanding his range?

It's hard to resist the attraction of nice wood & brass, isn't it?
Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

Glad you told us what the wood is - at first glance I thought it was Macassar ebony - it looks similar but it's not as fine-grained. Yet another newie to me - I had to look it up. Has HNT's gidgee supply been knobbled by the drought, or is he just expanding his range?

It's hard to resist the attraction of nice wood & brass, isn't it?
Cheers,

I had never heard of it either and have been pretty mesmerised by it since. He offered a few Timbers apparently so I assume an expansion, selection with the attached screenshot. They all look fantastic would be a hard decision to make.

I still intend on making my own nice infill and brass plane with your kit Ian once I’m back in a workshop

IMG_0114.jpg

Originally Posted by delbs

.....I still intend on making my own nice infill and brass plane ..... once I’m back in a workshop

I'd forgotten you have those bits. Well, you really don't need a lot of room or a fancy workshop to assemble a plane, it's all be done with hand tools round here. I'm not sure I have the stamina to build a full-sized panel plane that way any more, which may explain the distinct downward trend in my shed these last couple of years:
Sizes.jpg Gauge sizes.jpg

I should be able to set up shop & make doll-house furniture in the dunny when they bundle me off to the nursing home.....

Cheers

Originally Posted by IanW

I'd forgotten you have those bits. Well, you really don't need a lot of room or a fancy workshop to assemble a plane, it's all be done with hand tools round here. I'm not sure I have the stamina to build a full-sized panel plane that way any more, which may explain the distinct downward trend in my shed these last couple of years:
Sizes.jpg Gauge sizes.jpg

I should be able to set up shop & make doll-house furniture in the dunny when they bundle me off to the nursing home.....

Cheers

Yep still all packaged up away from the sea breeze up at the moment in storage until i buy my own place with some form of a garage. might be able to get my small metal vice being held by triton jaws on the back deck to keep me filing away

haha now that would be a compact setup.

* static wheel balancer
* belt grinder (OK, I use that all the time - but after having my daughter request a knife like bob ross uses to cut in mountains and remembering a kit of 6 putty knives from harbor freight that are spring stainless, I realized i could just grind one on a tool that would do it cool and safe....so, spent $800, saved $10. That's a good trade, right?)
* nicholson super shear or just about any good quality file - sometimes they're forgotten but to cut in small contours instead of just sanding the life out of them, files are just dandy

Originally Posted by IanW

Glad you told us what the wood is - at first glance I thought it was Macassar ebony - it looks similar but it's not as fine-grained. Yet another newie to me - I had to look it up. Has HNT's gidgee supply been knobbled by the drought, or is he just expanding his range?

Ian

Terry has always had a number of planes available in timbers other than Gidgee (in the early days Ironwood was the go to material, but he rarely uses it now) and they are quite a diverse range. They can be found on his site under the "Specialty Planes."

Specialty Planes & Vices – HNT Gordon & Co. Classic Planemakers Australia

They do come at a price: That is, extra price. delbs' Caviuna is a new one and I too have never heard of it before.


Regards
Paul