Profiles 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.

The Howkins Plane

As anyone who has collected or used hand planes for a few years knows, the hand plane world is full of many oddities. Planes that probably should never have seen the light of day due to poor design, poor marketing or a combination of both…

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…

Recognition For Contemporary Planemaker

2006 Arkansas Living Treasure, Larry Williams On April 19, 2006, the Arkansas Arts Council announced its Living Treasure award for 2006 – the recipient, contemporary plane maker Larry Williams, from Clark & Williams. Williams, of Eureka Springs, was designated as the 2006 Arkansas Living Treasure…

The Watkinson Patent Plane

One of the curious oddities in Australian plane making over the last 80 years has been the designs and patents of Herbert Edward Watkinson in the 1930’s. At the time H.E. Watkinson was a cabinetmaker residing in Launceston, Tasmania who had developed a plane in…

Anderson Planes – Traditional Style Infill Planes

Anderson Planes is a one-man operation run by Wayne Anderson from a modest basement workshop in Elk River, MN. Each and every plane that has come out of the workshop over the years has been crafted by hand at almost every step of the way….

HNT Gordon Planes – Good Wood Down Under

After several years of development H.N.T Gordon and Co sold their first classic hand planes in 1995. Since then the business has concentrated on making a range of high quality hand crafted woodworking planes at an affordable price which have now sold to woodworkers and…

Henley Optical Company – Best English Mitre Plane

Thoroughbred: A Best English Mitre Plane from the Henley Optical Co. By Antony Talbot In a quiet Oxfordshire town comes exciting news of a venture that will delight all woodworkers. Once again planes, English planes made to the highest standards of quality workmanship and finish,…

Rali Planes – A New Generation Of Hand Plane?

It’s been about 10 years or so since Rali Planes burst on to the general woodworking scene. When they first appeared they were praised by home handymen and weekend do-it-yourselfers as the greatest thing since sliced bread due to their modern looks and innovative blade…

Remembering Thomas Norris & His Planes

I have been greatly interested to read over past months and years items referring to Norris tools, together with one of that firm’s logos reproduced. It is possible that a few reminiscences from one who knew Tom Norris well may be of interest to some…

Bridge City Tools – Innovation In High-End Hand Planes

Bridge City Tools have been around for quite a while now. The first Bridge City tool – a rosewood and brass try square – was produced in 1983 by John Economaki. Since then they’ve gone on to carve out a nice little niche market for…

Clark & Williams – New 18th Century Hand Planes

Clark & Williams approach to plane making is simple – make the best planes possible, using the best materials available, and adopting designs that have stood the test of time for a couple of centuries or so. After all the basic design for hand planes…

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…