21st Century Archives - Handplane Central

DID YOU KNOW…

Stanley Tools made over 180 different models of handplanes in its heyday – many of which sold in the tens of millions. Many of them are common and found in most workshops across the world, while some are very rare indeed. If you need to find out some quick information about the collector value, manufacturing dates, sizes and features, then check out the “Stats Sheets” section for basic info on the entire range of Stanley handplanes.

Building A Shepherd Smoother

While in business, the Shepherd Tool Company sold some 1000 kits and 450 finished infill planes of various descriptions, including smoothers, jointers, chariot planes and shoulder planes. The kits proved to be an affordable way for many woodworkers and beginner plane makers to embark on…

Sauer + Steiner Toolworks

While there have been a few dedicated makers of infill planes over the past 60 years there has been somewhat of a resurgence in the “lost art” of infill planemaking within the last decade or so. One of the best makers carving a niche for…

Interview With Plane Maker Steve Knight

Knight Toolworks smoothing plane with adjustable mouth, made from cocobolo, oak and ebony. If one were to do a quick check of the various hand tool forums that abound on the net, one thing would soon become evident – the planes made by Knight Toolworks…

Interview With Plane Maker Malcolm Macpherson

To the novice, planemaking may appear to be full of secrets, hidden pitfalls and mystique. Some feel that it’s in a realm similar to violin making or gilding, practiced only by a few select “masters” who have learned the ways and guard these secrets closely….

Interview With Plane Maker Philip Marcou

Many woodworkers are aware of the more well known contemporary planemakers such as Tom Lie-Nielsen, John Economaki and Karl Holtey – but what about the makers who are just starting out? Will some of these be added to the list of household names (amongst woodworkers)…

MuJingFang Rabbet Plane

This ebony rabbet plane from MuJingFang might be considered by some to be a little rough in places but, coming in under $30, you can forgive a little crudeness here and there. Michael Brereton tries it out. The body of this particular plane measured 6-1/4…

MuJingFang Palm Smoothing Plane

At under $20 the MuJingFang palm smoothing plane is certainly an affordable hand tool for most woodworkers, but Michael Brereton asks “Is it any good?” Made of rosewood and measuring in at 5-1/8″ long by 1-9/16″ wide this little plane is handy for smaller trimming…

Stanley 1902 Catalog

The scans below are from the Stanley Rule And Level Company catalog of January 1902 As always there were a few changes to the list and a few more hand planes added, which. I’ve included in the introductory piece below. NOTE: For the purposes of…

C. R. Miller Planes – Pamphlets

These advertising pamphlets are from the Australian maker of dovetailed infill planes, C. R. Miller Planes. The first is from around 1996 and features original “old style engraved” illustrations of some of C. R. Miller’s range on one side, with a background on the maker…

Chester Toolworks – Hand Plane Adjustment Hammers

Chester Toolworks make a range of attractive and functional hammers designed specifically to help adjust and set the irons in woodworking planes. While primarily intended for those preferring all-wood or Japanese style planes rather than Stanleys or other iron makers, these hammers not only look…

Knight Toolworks – Good Solid Hand Planes!

Steve Knight of Knight Toolworks has been making, modifying and perfecting his woodworking planes for almost five years. Like many contemporary makers he started out by improving on the planes he was already using before launching into building his own from scratch, This is a…

Stanley #72 Chamfer Plane

Classic Plane Review The Stanley Rule & Level Company introduced Its #72 Chamfer Plane in 1885, and continued to manufacture it until 1938. While it was by no means one of Stanley’s “big sellers”, it is reasonable to assume that it must have sold in…