A kind and longtime friend recently sent me a bank cheque, along with a written instruction to buy something you need – or else, something you may not necessarily need, but definitely want.
Those who have been following this Boatshed commentary won’t be surprised to learn that I felt more inclined to the second half of the instruction – and as it happens, I had for some weeks been admiring a not really essential block plane at the online shop of Fine Tools Australia.
https://www.finetools.com.au/collections/all
Having persuaded my Credit Union to accept such an unfamiliar, and possibly criminal currency, I secured the diminutive Low-angle Block Plane, made by Qiangsheng Tools Co. China – and as you will see in the first photo (with the dollar coin), it is an adorable and handsome and irresistible woodworking tool.
I can’t understand how I have managed without it for so long.
Already it has proved useful for a range of unnecessary jobs, and I am certain there will be more. It can get into difficult corners; it can plane smoothly across the end-grain; it is a joy to hold and cherish.
And it has settled in comfortably with the little family of Boatshed Block Planes, which grow in number if not size….
Is there any better feeling from a tool than a highly honed block plane in the palm of your hand?
That is so lovely
The time of posting is about 11 hours earlier.
May it add the final touches to many a baroque lute to come.