Monday 29 February 2016

Oliver Sparks Plane on its way


It's been a while since I ordered this plane from Oliver and this is the first image. I haven't got my hands on it yet but it looks stunning! More to follow.

Thursday 25 February 2016

Tools on E Bay This Week


I have plenty for sale this week and here are the highlights starting with a fine and rare Norris No 3
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151981334270?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A very nice Norris pre war A5 with original blade.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151981380140?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A very nice Stanley No 95.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151981435125?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A fancy slitting gauge by Ward and Payne.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151981384133?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A nice slitting gauge by Buck.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151982413790?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


 A Sargent 407 (No 2 size)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151981407320?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A heart and shield Scottish smoother requiring some TLC.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151981865371?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A Gordon curved sole spoke shave, new.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151981844552?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Tuesday 23 February 2016

Is it Worth Going on Holiday?!!


I've just had a six day break in Tenerife with the family, although I spent a lot of that time on the computer corresponding and processing orders. When I got back I had 43 orders to pack and post! (most to the US but others as far away as Tasmania, Hong Kong and New Zealand).
Something has to change...... and it will.
I'm currently in negotiations with dealers world wide, watch this space.

Sunday 21 February 2016

Wonderful Spice Box.


Dick from the US sent me these pictures of his wonderful Pennsylvania spice box. It has over 100 hand cut dovetails. A lovely thing.


Thursday 18 February 2016

First Time Customer Dovetails With the Guide


It's always nice to hear back from customers about their dovetails. The first is from Tim in Oklahoma USA using a 1:4 angle. These are his words
I've been practising every night since Feb 1 cutting dovetails without the guide.
Tonight I got my guide in the mail. The quality of my work has jumped exponentially. I also love the Japanese saw. I pull a lot better than I push. Again thank you for inventing this tool. Woodworking is all I think about day and night (as you can tell from my lengthy email) but now I feel like I can quit worrying about it so much. Thanks!


This one is from Jay in Mississippi USA using the 1:5 angle guide and again his comments below
Using them is just as effortless as you show in your videos. This is my first dovetail cut with your 1:5 guide. No glue, just gentle planing on each face and a light chamfer on the inside of the pins. You have a quality product and I recommend it to anyone wanting to take a lot of guesswork out of dovetails. Thanks again.

Tuesday 16 February 2016

Planes on E Bay This Week.


I've got plenty on this week and here are some of the highlights.
A small mitre plane by Bill Carter.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151977758711?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A Geoff Entwistle chariot plane
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151982434760?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A Stanley No 2
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151976385108?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A mitre plane by Arthington Manchester
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151976378225?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A new flat soled spoke shave by HNT Gordon.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151981849057?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


Sunday 14 February 2016

Nice Box From Australia


Stuart from Queensland sent me these pictures of his latest project. It's a curved lid box with a pivot hinge lid made from plans in Peter Lloyds excellent book.


The wood is rock maple and the lid I believe is red mallee burr (or burl!)


Australian burrs are rock hard so that took some work getting the curve on both sides of the lid, but well worth the effort.


Thursday 11 February 2016

Superb Hand crafted Walking Sticks


A customer, Dafydd Davies, from Ceredigion in west Wales sent me these photos of some of his amazing creations.
He was a trained cabinet maker back in the 1980's, making walking sticks on the side, but these have slowly taken over. For the past five years he has specialised in one off bespoke shepherds crooks and walking sticks. The one below is my favourite.


He has never had to advertise with all his work coming by word of mouth. He doesn't even have a website! If anyone is interested in his sticks he can be contacted dafyddsticks@btinternet.com



Below is a video of him being interviewed in his workshop, it's fascinating but you may want to lower the sound unless you speak Welsh!

Friday 5 February 2016

This Sundays E Bay Offerings.



An early Spiers panel plane.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151966033692?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A Norris shoulder plane.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151966027170?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A Knew Concepts coping saw.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151966019922?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A Millers Falls 'Buck Rogers' plane.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151968548847?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A rare steel soled gunmetal plane by H Slater.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151967955767?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


An early Mathieson smoother
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151967568669?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


An unused Entwistle A6.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151966074471?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A Philly planes coffin smoother in partridge wood with a Holtey blade.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151966066955?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A Spiers shoulder plane
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151966048776?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


And lastly a fine Spiers smoother
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151966041351?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Wednesday 3 February 2016

You want to hear the Hot Rod?!!


Well here's a car built by Bob in the US with 1,350 BHP and shipped all the way to Australia where it has gone on to be the fastest 'normally aspirated car' at 205 mph in the 1/4 mile. Enjoy with the volume on max!

Tuesday 2 February 2016

Customer Dovetails and Hot Rod!


Bob from the US sent me these pictures of the second box he made (for his wife).
He is now only partially sighted and my tools have been very helpful.
The last project he completed before his eyes deteriorated was this beast. Shame we can't hear it as well!