Popular Post wtnhighlander Posted April 1, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 Tomorrow marking the completion of yet another journey around the sun, the wife and son treated me to a visit to a new local (relatively speaking. Still a 1.5 hr drive) woodworking supply store. If you happen to be on the West site of Memphis, TN, be sure to drop in and say hi to these nice folks. http://www.thewoodworkshopinc.com The have a nice, if small, selection of lumber, although priced toward the higher end. Tools seem competitive, though. I walked away with these new toys, which I am anxious to try out. Yay, family! 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 I have that marking gauge. Very nice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 Nice! Congrats always nice to see new ww stores. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSouthWoodCraft Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 Happy Birthday@wtnhighlander. The family definitely knew what you wanted this year. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted April 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 Nice! Congrats always nice to see new ww stores. Apparently the have been there for 16 years. Just not easy to find! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Happy Birthday my friend. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Happy Birthday bud and congrats on the new toys! Great family indeed! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Happy Birthday ! Let us know how you like the plane after you get it tuned up ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Congrats! I hope that's the AFD gauge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 That some nice tools there. Happy Birthday Ross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wtnhighlander Posted April 2, 2017 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Didn't require anything more than a light honing. I know I sort of bash@Eric. for going on about "it's an expensive hobby, quality tools make it worth doing, etc..." , but I have to agree, a high-quality tool makes a big difference. There is no comparison between this Sweetheart and my vintage Stanley / Stanly clones. Certainly no comparison to the HF boat anchor I was using as a smoother. I compared this to a Woodriver #4 at the store. Build quality seems very much the same, but the design of the Sweetheat's frog, adjustment mechanism, and tote fit my hand so much better. Every other plane I own is a knuckle-buster. This one has plenty of room, and I can still turn the advancement knob without moving my hand off the tote. The 1/8" thick blade and re-designed chip breaker are awesome. The integral frog is awesome. I planed this: Into this: In a matter of minutes, using only this plane. Knot, reversing grain, and all, no chatter, and no tracks that I could feel. I tried cutting from about 1/32 deep, to, as RichardA says, shavings so thin they only had one side I stand by my assertion that one can do good work with inferior tools, so long as you understand the restrictions they impose, and you have patience. But, if you can obtain the better stuff, it sure makes life sweeter! 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pondhockey Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Wow. And what a nice birthday present. I don't know which I envy more. But that is REALLY nice work on the figured wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pondhockey Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 It sounds like you have planes from different eras: earlier planes with thinner steel and, at least now, the more recent vintage with thicker steel. When you feel inspired, please comment on your experience with the differences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wtnhighlander Posted April 2, 2017 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 @pondhockey, let me first say that I don't have a large collection of hand planes. I own a Stanley #7 and an unknown knockoff #5(?)C, both inherited from my gandfather, and probably 1950s to 1960s vintage. I also have a small Stanley block plane, and a couple of the Windsor Design #33 "planes" that HF sells for $10. The #7 is in the best condition, so let's compare that. The old #7, although considerably longer, is little, if any, heavier that the Sweetheart #4. The casting is thinner. The blade is way thinner. But most annoying to me is that the tote is crammed right against the back end of the blade. I supposed that is to allow for adjustments of the advance screw and lateral lever while maintaining grip. Doesn't work for me, I can't get my fingers in and out of the tight space well enough. The iron seems to be good steel, but thin enough that it can chatter pretty easily. Adjusting the frog to close up the mouth is a pain. However, once the required fettling is complete, it cuts quite well. As a general construction carpenter, grandpa mostly used it to adjust doors. I mostly use it to re-flatten my workbench. I have power tools for most other milling. The Sweetheart is an entirely different creature. The casting is heavy, and feels more solid. In part because the frog and body are cast as a single piece. The blade advance screw is now integrated into the lateral lever, rather than behind the frog. There is a lateral adjustment locking screw behind the frog, but it angles such that there is plenty of clearance. The lever cap has no lever, but a locking screw in its place. The lever cap seems to be aluminum, or some other light-weight alloy. The blade and chip breaker are entirely different. Where the iron & breaker on the old #7 are thin enough for me to flex by hand, the equivalent parts on the Sweetheart are a full 1/8" thick. The breaker is also beveled on the business end, so when installed, the pair resembles a couple of chisels, back to back. The iron is A2, factory ground at 25*. Looking at the bevel, it appears to be a two-step grind, although the change is so subtle, I may be mistaken. I didn't have to sharpen the bevel, but I did lap the back on a fine oil stone, followed by stopping the back and bevel. The feel and handling of the Sweetheart is great, compared to what I had before. The tote is straighter, maybe a shade longer than the vintage planes. The unit just feels solid and substantial. The cutting edgeis ground very square to the sides. With the lateral lever centered, it left no percepatble tracks. It plowed through a gnarly piece of walnut scrap with ease. Tried it on some white oak with similar results. Considering it was priced within $10 of the Woodriver #4, I'm glad I chose the Sweetheart. Disclaimer - I've never touched a Vertas or LN plane. They may be as far above the Sweetheart as it is above the HF, for all I know. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClassAct Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 HBTY and congrats on your new tools! Looks like they're doing you a treat, and there's nothing finer than a tool that's a joy to use. Hooray for new tools! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmotjr Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Did you get the accessory pack for that marking gauge? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 HBD, Ross. Next time drive a little further and come see me at the yard...I'll make it worth your trip. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Happy Birthday Ross. Good haul. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted April 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 HBD, Ross. Next time drive a little further and come see me at the yard...I'll make it worth your trip. Junior has been asking to visit the Museum of Transportation again, maybe we'll make up there before too long! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pondhockey Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 23 hours ago, wtnhighlander said: @pondhockey, let me first say that I don't have a large collection of hand planes. I own a Stanley #7 and an unknown knockoff #5(?)C, both inherited from my gandfather, and probably 1950s to 1960s vintage. I also have a small Stanley block plane, and a couple of the Windsor Design #33 "planes" that HF sells for $10. The #7 is in the best condition, so let's compare that. ... Highlander, what a great review; many thanks. I've caught the (controversy? Difference of opinion?) over the older thinner steel and lighter planes vs the newer thicker steel and heavier planes. At this point I'm convinced that I should save up a few nickels and try one of the newer planes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wtnhighlander Posted April 4, 2017 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 Enjoyed using this new plane so much, I made a video! Please ignore the amature hour nature of it. I am, after all, an amature! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted April 4, 2017 Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 Nice video review Ross. Great narrative. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pondhockey Posted April 4, 2017 Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 Cosign. Nice job on the video. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibboykin Posted April 24, 2017 Report Share Posted April 24, 2017 I stopped into that shop just about two weeks ago on one of my many trips hauling my Dad's tools from Mississippi back to Kentucky. They are 2.5 hours for me from the house, but it was a nice shop and I like the aspect of looking a salesman in the eye and getting my hands on the tool....call me old fashion. Did you browse through their wood assortment in the back room. NICE!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted April 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2017 I stopped into that shop just about two weeks ago on one of my many trips hauling my Dad's tools from Mississippi back to Kentucky. They are 2.5 hours for me from the house, but it was a nice shop and I like the aspect of looking a salesman in the eye and getting my hands on the tool....call me old fashion. Did you browse through their wood assortment in the back room. NICE!!! I did spend a while admiring the lumber they had on hand. Nice variety, but it seemed a bit pricey for me. Maybe if I was actually selling the stuff I make, it wouldn't seem so bad. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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