Replies

1. 
   CharlieStanford | Apr 07, 2007 02:47pm | #1

   Those look solid and the pricing not really that bad. 

1. 
   chuckh | Apr 07, 2007 05:50pm | #3

   TPFKA,

   Two things that impressed me with Ron's planes are the craftsmanship -even though I've only see them through photographs- and the heft of the material he uses.  He especially likes a thick sole that establishes a solid blade bed as well as adding mass.  The wood infill acts to absorb any vibration.  As I understand it those are the advantages of the infills, mass and the dampening feature.   

   -Chuck

    

2. 
   Steve50 | Apr 07, 2007 05:17pm | #2

   Thanks for posting this Chuck.  I didn't even know Ron had his site established yet.  About 3 weeks ago, Ron paid my workshop a visit while visiting his uncle and brought his 650-50 and larger smoother planes.  I got to know Ron and his wife Julie and it seemed as after a couple of hours we had known each other for 20 years.  They are super nice folks.  We will definitely pay Ron a visit on our next trip to Georgia.

   Having handled and used the Brese planes, I offer the following observations:

   1. The craftsmanship is exquisite.  They perform as good as they look.  Ron indicated he was still tweaking on the large smoother but you couldn't tell it by its performance.
   2. Both planes put a smooth surface with no tearout on a piece of walnut with switchback grain and across a knot.
   3. The mass of the planes and irons prevent any chatter.
   4. I really liked the feel of the planes in my hands.

   At the end of the visit, I placed a deposit down on Serial Number 1 of the model 650-50 plane.

   Steve

1. 
   chuckh | Apr 07, 2007 06:17pm | #4

   Steve,

   So your the guy who got #1.  Good for you.  Ron said he had sold a couple planes but I had no idea to whom.  I was asking Ron about his ideas for promotion and he felt his best advertising would come from getting his planes in the hands of people who know what their doing (like you) and hoping they would give endorsement.  I'm sure he'll appreciate your post. 

   Regards,

   -Chuck

    

1. 
   Ronaway | Apr 20, 2007 03:49am | #5

   Here are pics of the visit with Steve in Arkansas. Steve has a shop that would make a lot of full time professionals envious. A lot of industrial level tools that one just would not expect in a home shop. Geez it was paradise! Steve and his wife Donna are super folks (and Donna is quite a talented quilter) It was memorable visit. Quite a lot of fun to meet some of the talented people behind these user names. I almost forgot, Steve is in the light blue shirt, I'm the other guy.RonIf you're too open minded your brains will fall out.Edited 4/19/2007 9:59 pm ET by Ronaway

   Edited 4/19/2007 9:59 pm ET by Ronaway

   
1. 
   blewcrowe | Apr 20, 2007 06:43pm | #6

   I am so spoiled by using planes with screw depth adjustments, I don't know if I'd get the hang of setting these. What's the technique?

1. 
   Ronaway | Apr 20, 2007 07:03pm | #7

   It is really easy and one can become quite adept at this in a short period of time. I tighten the lever cap with the iron pulled up a bit from bottom. While holding the plane with my finger tips across the mouth I start taping the top of the iron until I feel the edge of the iron protrude thru the mouth just slightly. It is evident when you feel the iron if it is not parallel to the mouth so you just tap the sides to align it, and then set the depth with a couple of light taps.You find that when you get an infill set the way you like it, you tend to leave it until honing is required again. The adjuster becomes sort of a mute point. Not having to excavate the bed of the infill for the adjuster gives the iron solid footing so to speak. The only advantage to an adjuster on this type of plane is the ability to retract the blade if you get it set too deep.I have been using and offering what I call a tinking hammer (that's the noise that is made while taping the iron) but I've found that a hand held brass block is easier and more convenient to store, so I will be making some of those in the near future.Unlike a wooden bodied plane I don't suggest hitting the body of a metal infill plane to adjust the iron. Ron BreseIf you're too open minded your brains will fall out.

2. 
   blewcrowe | Apr 20, 2007 07:52pm | #9

   Ah. And this blade will hold its position as one planes without creeping?

3. 
   Ronaway | Apr 20, 2007 09:51pm | #10

   Blewcrowe the shape of the holding edge of lever caps is such that they allow forward progression but resist progression in the reverse. So even in a plane with an adjuster there is typically enough wear on the threads of the adjuster that the adjuster itself would not prevent reverse movement in the iron. Once the iron becomes dubbed to a point where the pressure would cause movement back up the bed, you need to be sharpening that iron anyway. I'm of the opinion that most of the slack worn into the threads of adjusters occurs when one tries to back the iron up against the natural resistance of the lever cap. Of course an over tightened lever cap can cause this to occur in either direction.RonIf you're too open minded your brains will fall out.

2. 
   chuckh | Apr 20, 2007 07:49pm | #8

   Wow that is a great looking shop.  Two lathes, awesome dust collection system and even with all the equipment it appears he still has plenty of open floor space - nice.

   Maybe Steve will see this and let us know where his workbench came from, or if it's a homebrew.

   It looks like you two were enjoying yourselves.  Interesting that surrounded by all that great looking hardware, you and Steve are ogling tools that the Romans used.  

   Thanks for the photos.

   -Chuck

    

1. 
   Steve50 | Apr 21, 2007 01:42am | #11

   Thanks for the compliments Chuck.  My shop was a bit of a mess during Ron's visit due to being in the middle of a project.  A Pembroke style table to be used as a unity candle table for my daughters wedding.  The planes are resting on the soon to be top which was having the rule joints fitted.

   The workbench is a Diefenbach made in Germany.  I struggled with the economics of building my own workbench.  At the time, with the cost of quality hardware and hard maple it was about the same price to buy the Diefenbach.  Since I had several furniture projects in the queue, I opted to just buy the bench.

   Steve

2. 
   chuckh | Apr 22, 2007 08:01am | #12

   Hi Steve,

   Thanks for the feedback.  I checked out their website, man they make some nice benches.  I have a small Sjoberg that serves me well in my little shop, but the vises leave a lot to be desired.  That's what caught my eye on your bench.

   My two favorite things: hand planes and workbenches - it's an illness, I know.

   -Chuck

    

3. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Apr 22, 2007 02:07pm | #13

   Chuck,

   Think of it as another sense that others may not enjoy!  Once they do, they're smitten!  Buying quality tools and enjoying their use is what it's all about, IMHO.

   Regards,

   Bob @ Kidderville Acres

    

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

   Edited 4/22/2007 7:08 am ET by KiddervilleAcres

4. 
   chuckh | Apr 23, 2007 05:56am | #14

   Bob,

   I like your explanation better.  I think it was my wife who first referred to my interest as an illness.  She can't understand how I am always looking at those "planey things."

   -Chuck