Good morning to All,
Yesterday I received a new Woodcraft catalog and, to my surprise, they are featuring a new line of hand planes. The “WoodRiver” line of hand planes looks interesting. Have any Knotheads had an opportunity to check them out?
Bob, Tupper Lake, NY
Replies
Bob,
I work at a Woodcraft, and I got the same magazine you did, and I wondered the same thing. But the store has not received the planes yet, so I can't tell. I will check them out when they arrive.
The Woodcraft magazine can really be considered an advertisement. Everything in it is for sale, and the articles are on how to use the stuff that they have for sale. So it is not entirely unbiased.
Please read the ads for the Wood River planes carefully. They say that their planes are better than the Stanleys. To my way of thinking, that is not saying much. They also say that the soles are flat and squares to the sides, intimating that they are like the LNs and LVs. I will believe that when I see it. I doubt it will be true. Most soles could use a little work. I have not come across a plane iron that did not need to have the back flattened, including my LNs. I would believe that the Wood River irons will require the backs to be flattened.
My basic take on all tools is that FOR THE MOST PART, you get what you pay for. People looking for bargains are on a fools errand. It is hard to go wrong with LN or LV. I don't think anyone is going to beat them for a third or a fourth the cost.
I hope I am wrong, and that I am a cynic.
Wanna bet?
Have fun.
I am a firm believer in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. Why shouldn't I believe that the LN/LV quality can be made for a third the cost? However I would also guess that the quality of the Wood Rivers will not be worse than the current Stanleys or Kunzs. I would also guess that the sun will rise again tomorrow and it will be more yellow than purple.
Come to think of it, I was not surprised to see that the Ads for the Wood River planes said good things about them. I will be convinced when I see Rob Lee and Tom Lie Nielsen agree with the Wood River ads. :-) Actually, I don't put much stock in any comments on tools by people who are associated with the tool company they are discussing. Like you, I can't wait to hear what the Knotheads have to say when they have used the new planes.
Have fun.
Mel
PS I really like Woodcraft. I recommend all retired folks who do woodworking get a part time job at Woodcraft. The benefits are hard to beat. I hope no one takes my message to be anti-Woodcraft.
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
I for one gave up going to my far away Woodcraft store.. I would get some Ad in the mail for what I wanted.. I would drive out there the next day and 'Out of stock'? No more of it at that price..
Did they have only one or two? No, I do not hate Woodcraft.. Just that I drive the speed limits?
>I am a firm believer in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. Why shouldn't I believe that the LN/LV quality can be made for a third the cost? . . . sun . . . degree of purple.Mel I don't think I have been a good influence on you. : ( Some times I am just kidding.PS: Oh yah and I meant to add
>Woodcraft magazine
I have never bought one and I agree with " one big ad" but I have been toying with the idea of subscribing because they have had a few good articles/interviews in the past. The staff of WC would tend to stuff a back issue into my paw as I was leaving the store.
Probably just felt sorry for me.Looking through my files I find torn out articles from WCM filed away.I have stopped driving to the crazy part of town so don't get out to WC store much. I do the online dance still. Thing is I have about all I need so don't go drool at the LN case anymore. They tended to frown on the hours in a day I spent doing that anyway.
Edited 1/25/2009 2:49 pm by roc
"I don't think anyone is going to beat them for a third or a fourth the cost."
My guess is they beat the cost by making them off shore in India or China. The reality is that part of the cost is borne by low paid labor. I'll stick with my LNs.
Shopteacher,
"I'll stick with my LNs."You betcha. You are not the only one.
Thanks,
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
MelWe'll be waiting for your review of the Wood River Planes. Here's the link to the Woodcraft page for them.http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=21170I've often figured that I'll need a part time job when I retire to help out, and Woodcraft seems to be the ticket. I wonder how much of my paycheck I'll bring home... :) Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
Tom,I retired for the first time back in '02. I worked for Lee Valley for about 4 months. It was a great place to work, the people there cared about doing a good job. It was like working in a candy store and I did indeed leave a good chunk of my paycheck behind! A good opportunity came along and I moved on but I still remember fondly picking up the goodies I had ordered at the end of work on Friday!Ron
Tom,
"I've often figured that I'll need a part time job when I retire to help out, and Woodcraft seems to be the ticket. I wonder how much of my paycheck I'll bring home... :)"No one who works at Woodcraft takes money home.
I think of the store as something like a Cathedral.
I go there to pray and to leave offerings.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
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