Australian Wood Review Issue #93

To exhibit or not to exhibit I hear a lot of debate from makers on the topic of taking part in exhibitions, mostly from professionals it has to be said. The negatives often surface first. Usually these revolve around that fact that it costs time and money to make and transport spec pieces for an uncertain financial return. So what might the benefits be? Challenging yourself to freely design and make what you want can give you the space to dream and to develop new skills. Putting yourself out there can highlight your work to future clients, and also attract feedback that might channel positively into your work. Being part of a group show can also be prestigious, and networking with co-exhibitors and organisers can engage you with a community and lead…

Rob Cosman makes a statement about his saws, by presenting them in a wooden, finger-jointed box. No common cardboard box here. The saw handle is made from a speckled, black, composite material, rather than the traditional wood. It is well shaped, and although it lacks the traditional sharp corner details of the best saws, it is very comfortable in the hand. At 491 grams (17.5 oz), it is over 50% heavier than the Lie-Nielsen. This is partially because the brass back is made from heavier stock, but its balance point suggests that a reasonable amount of the extra weight is in the composite material of the handle. The 9" (225mm) blade is secured in the brass back with a series of copper pins, so that it cannot work free and introduce a buckle…

HNT Gordon’s new moving fillister plane is designed to cut fast and accurate rebates. Available in a range of species, the one shown is made from bull oak. Out of the box this is an exquisite tool. With beautifully machined brass fittings and fixtures, a 4.75mm thick 01 tool steel blade hardened to RC 62-64 and an M2 HSS nicker blade, it’s clear no compromise has been made with regard to the quality of materials used. The brass sole will ensure a reduction in wear and therefore a longer working life. The depth stop, nicker, fence and blade are all fully adjustable and one feature that I really like is the ruler scale on the depth stop and fence to give maximum accuracy when setting up for a precise cut. The…

Blue Spruce has established an enviable reputation as a maker of premium quality tools since first entering the market more than 10 years ago. This system is their first attempt at producing a marking knife that has the ability to take interchangeable blades for varying woodworking tasks. The tool is beautifully presented in a custom suede wallet that includes three spear point blades of varying thicknesses, a joiner’s knife and a scratch awl. The blade holder is turned from a range of exotic timbers and includes a stainless steel ferrule with matching collets. All components of the system including the blades, collets and turned handle are faultless in both presentation and function. I found all blades honed and ready for use on removal from the packaging. So how is the system…

Using a bar gauge lets you directly transfer and compare dimensions without conversion to numbers, theoretically reducing the chance of transcription errors. You can use it to quickly test an assembly, like a drawer or box, for squareness by checking the diagonals are equal. I find them invaluable for this process. You can make up your own bar gauges or use this beautifully made Veritas unit which consists of two 6" steel rods fixed to aluminium clamp heads. The rods have threaded end holes that accept interchangeable brass tips or extension rods. Three styles of tips are included: ball tips for inside measurements (the rounded ends tend to bruise softwoods less), pointed tips for inside corner measurements, and mushroom-shaped tips to hook over edges for outside measurements. The range of extension is…

Made from high carbon steel, this mini plane takes the sharp edges off boards in seconds. You simply run it over the corner and the inbuilt cutters plane off the corner. The tool is around 60mm long and weighs just 62g. Despite its mini size it works well and I found it ideal for deedging things like shelves and cabinet corners. It does not replace a neatly hand planed bevel, but you can use it instead of sandpaper for quickly easing a stack of say bookshelf edges or similar. Running the tool over a sharpening stone will refresh the sharpness of the cutting edges. Review tool from Professional Woodwork Supplies, see www.woodworksupplies.com.au…