Saturday, June 17, 2006

Temptation

Decided to deliberately think about something other than The Chair today - with luck that'll lead to a moment of total clarity and I'll know exactly what I'm doing.

It's never worked yet, but there's always a first time...

Went car boot sale-ing instead, and in a moment of madness went and bought the UK Stanley #50, NIB (New In Box, non-galootish folks) combi plane that's been tormenting me for the last month. No, it wasn't a bargain, but hey, I haven't got one. I had one, but I sold it and then kinda wondered why. Now I'm kinda wondering why I bought this one. Oh well, it's a known fact that combination planes are the one area of collecting I'll readily admit to, so I shouldn't be surprised I suppose...

The new Rutlands catalogue came this morning (another Autumn/Back To School whinge deleted here) and they've come out in further rashes of planes. Indian Anants (including some of the more unusual, might-it-be-worth-a-risk models. And a combi plane. Argh!!!!), Mujingfang Hong Kong and Taiwanese style planes, Chinese and even European woodies. My plane-testing self is itching to go mad and order a selection, but I must Be Good. I've already popped off an email to Rutlands to enquire whether the HK planes really are bedded at 45°, 'cos it doesn't look like it and all the info elsewhere on the 'net is to the contrary. Just w'ndrin', don'tcha know. Just w'ndrin'.

I know, I know. I'm just a plain plane-lovin' fool. I'm not proud.

5 comments:

  1. Crikey-those beech woodies got me twitching!! Quite a bargain at those prices. Jointer for £33??
    Must be strong....must be strong.......;)
    Phil

    ReplyDelete
  2. Aww go on, Phil, you know you want to.

    And then you can tell me if they're any good... ;~)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kind of interesting the Anant A39 is modeled after the Stanley #39 series. Is even marked A39 1/2 for the 1/2" cutter. Looks like a skewed cutter in the pic. Though the advertising copy says it is a rabbet plane, it has two nickers--making it a 1/2" dado plane. Not much can be wrong with the bugger. Cheap!

    The A78 is a decent plane btw. Fettled by a class attendee in short order.

    The 20" jointer--or a try plane--looks nice, excepting the handle. Easy to replace. If it was made from stable wood, heck of a buy.

    Take care, Mike
    #50-less

    ReplyDelete
  4. MIke, I'm an idiot; I should have thought to ask you what your experience had been. The A39 caught my eye too - very, very tempting to give it a try. If it's any good at all it'll be too bad they don't do a 3/4" one!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I suspect they may well make the 3/4" and Rutlands not stock it. Worth an inquiry? And if Anant doesn't make a 3/4", if they sell the 1/2" well enough they will.

    Rutlands ought to change the copy. Marketing as a dado may increase sales and have fewer frustrated customers who try to use it for rabbets!

    I have both a 39 1/2 and a 39 7/8. I had a 39 1/4 before it got lifted. They do work well, but a little uncomfy for the forward hand if one is doing several dadoes.

    Take care, Mike

    ReplyDelete

Owing to vast quantities of spam this blog is getting, I'm afraid only registered users can post. All comments are moderated before publication, so there may be some delay. My apologies.