vinfonet

How nice to know this is a common practice. Last year when my father in law died, I built a box for him and a matching one for my still living mother in law. I had a large plate engraved for the top for a very reasonable fee, inlaid a banding of crosses and reinforced the mitered edges with chevrons. As he was from Peru, I used Peruvian mahogany. The box is permanently sealed and is flanked with solid brass handles. A very nice way to give honor to the departed. My wife's family was so greatful for the gesture. Such a gift carries so much meaning for the family.

As a physcician, please do not refer to Steve Gass as a "Dr."
as he is an attorney, not a physician. It may be that he has a doctoral degree (He obviously has some type of technical background). Some might get the notion that he is a medical doctor from all the Dr. This and Dr. That.

We medical doctors are getting enough heat of our own these days without getting lawyers lumped in there with us!

JV

No surprise at all from the greatest Nanny State of all.

I do not think you should print this. Safety has to be above every other consideration when instructing others. Suggesting an operation that carries an increased safety risk exposes the publication to unavoidable liability. As a physician, I have learned it is never wise to advise a patient to do something when there is a safer, equally effective alternative. Disclaimers, cautions and warnings are not enough to dissuade personal injury attorneys who are always waiting in the wings. The decision to advocate a method unfortunately has to be based on business considerations. I would consider pulling this from the web site as well. Fine Woodworking as already raised the issue of safety itself, which could ultimately be self incriminating.

Well, this is too bad. Woodcraft is a good retailer with a large network. But I was disappointed when they decided to start producing less expensive knock-offs of the Lie-Nielson planes. The most important aspect of this is the effect on American jobs. Lie-Nielson is still small, but a very important example of quality American craftmanship, rarely seen these days. And then I wonder, how many woodworkers will try these pretty but poor quality planes and decide that
hand tools are not for them. Unless they can qet the quality up, they will not be able to compete with LN regardless. Those of us who can find a little time to do some woodworking these days have no interest in tweaking and tuning a poorly made tool constructed of inferior quality materials.