New 'Premium' handplanes from Stanley

[Mr Ed]

Just spotted this interesting entry in Chris Schwartz's blog;

http://www.woodworking-magazine.com/blog/

Generally it appears Stanley are trying to get a slice of the LN/ LV action, but depending on price and quality they may be worth a look.

I expect they'll be out in the US first - anyone know any more?

Cheers, Ed.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Interesting, but I'd be surprised if a large organisation like Stanley will be as responsive to users needs in the way that Clifton/LV/LN are :-k

With Clifton/LV/LN, users can talk to the people who are running the firms and designing their tools - can't see that happening with Stanley............

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Mr Ed]

I suspect you're right Paul.

There is a definite visual similarity to the Veritas products don't you think? Just to copy them in that way would be missing the point as you say, Rob Lees approach to product development, testing with real people and participating in forums like this one is part of the secret of the LV success, not just the spec and appearance of the products.

That said, they might be really good products - until we see some tests we don't know...

Ed

 

[Paul Chapman]

For me, Ed, the difference is the attitude towards the customer. With Clifton I can go to any show and chat to Mike Hudson (or phone him); with LV I have only to PM or email Rob Lee or speak to Martin Brown of BriMarc - what wonderful people They go out of their way to ensure customer satisfaction and to listen to what you have to say. And they send their tools to real woodworkers to test and are happy for us to post our findings on forums and blogs.

With Stanley it's not like that - you get treated as if you are an silly person. I've tried talking to their people at shows; I've tried 'phoning them. It's like talking to the wall ](*,)

Sorry to rant, but Clifton/LV/LN have set the standard and, in my experience, Stanley are so far off it they will probably never catch up.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[woodbloke]

Having just had a look at the Ed's link the proposed new planes do indeed look like straight Veritas clones, shoulder plane looks different though. I suppose it'll be quite interesting to compare them when they do arrive here...I wonder if they'll get reviewed :wink: in the mags... - Rob

 

[Philly]

Hmm...interesting. Also I believe Anant are going to bring out a premium range, too.
Wonder how they are going to look in the flesh. And when they will be bringing out a "Bedrock" line....... :wink: :lol:
Philly

 

[woodbloke]

Hmm...interesting. Also I believe Anant are going to bring out a premium range, too.
Philly

...and I wonder how much fettling they'll need - Rob

 

[tnimble]

Interesting to see if Stanley can make up for the huge drop in quality and their somewhat ruined name.

The CS article reads that the rep from Stanley states teams from stanley have gone to woodworking stores to get custmer feedback. (or was it to copy the LV designs? They do look somewhat very much alike. The shoulder plane does make me think of the BCT shoulder plane)

Time will tell if this will turn up in the history books as "After their downfall in the 1970ties Stanley Tool Works returned from the darkside around the 2010s"

 

[bugbear]

Hmm...interesting. Also I believe Anant are going to bring out a premium range, too.
Philly

...and I wonder how much fettling they'll need - Rob

Don't laugh too loud - it wasn't so very long ago that the British Motor Bike industry was laughing at the pathetic design and QC of Japanese bikes...

BugBear

 

[Harbo]

There's always danger when a big company with lots of money gets interested in a niche (premium) market.
Make a reasonable product initially and undercut the others, corner the market then go back to producing rubbish?
Lets hope they play fair and give everybody a chance - we do not want to see the demise of small companies like LV, LN, Clifton etc. who have rescued the quality tool industry?

Rod

 

[Hatherton_wood]

I'm rather surprised this has taken so long. You only have to look at the Axminster catalogue for example to see how Stanley have been pushed out. Yet the LV/LN/Clifton planes are never found at the diy stores - you can't find a decent block plane or bull nose yet they are needed. Stanley could make considerable sales in this area with a higher quality product and something new.

 

[MIGNAL]

I could be wrong but I always thought the Veritas Low Angles looked like the Stanley 62.

 

[tnimble]

I could be wrong but I always thought the Veritas Low Angles looked like the Stanley 62.

Not really, the kind of blade adjustment and cap iron fastener is found on many planes including a couple historic stanley's. Being a low angle plane the general look of being elongated would always be about the same. The blade depth adjuster of the Stnley hooks in a few cut grooves on the back of the blade. The LV does grab into drilled holes. The Stanley slotted design has a huge wear problem. The adjustable mounth is completely different as is the side profile of the cast body. Also LV has set screws that provides better blade alignment than the stanley 62. The knob and handle are a bit different (also depending on the production date of the stanley 62) And of couse the blade thickness is much different.

 

[Jeff Gorman]

This looks as though they are adopting an adaptation of the Norris type adjuster.

A pity, since the Bailey pattern is much more efficient and convenient to use.

 

[bugbear]

This looks as though they are adopting an adaptation of the Norris type adjuster.

A pity, since the Bailey pattern is much more efficient and convenient to use.

I'm guessing Rob Lee will be along shortly to defend that adjuster.

Ooh - a thought - does the adjuster thread pitch in LV planes vary with bedding angle, so that the turn/depth ratio is constant?

BugBear

 

[Joel Moskowitz]

This looks as though they are adopting an adaptation of the Norris type adjuster.

A pity, since the Bailey pattern is much more efficient and convenient to use.

While I would agree that the bailey adjuster blows most other adjusters out of the water even if Stanley does use a different mechanism I don't think they can be accused of copying the "Norris Adjuster"

Because the Norris Adjuster is an adaptation of the
Stanley No 12 Victor “Pocket Plane" which predates the norris by a lot.

So if anything Stanley is copying itself.

 

[Chris Knight]

I am very surprised that the numbers of folk who buy LN, Veritas etc are of any interest to Stanley. I suspect there are also other factors at work here. For example, their reputation has probably suffered across the board as their products got worse and the competition got better. These premium products might be an attempt to move the perception of the company as whole upmarket again so that they can justify higher prices on all their product lines

 

[Jeff Gorman]

the Norris Adjuster is an adaptation of the
Stanley No 12 Victor “Pocket Plane" which predates the norris by a lot.

Thanks! Very interesting!

This led me to http://www.woodworking-magazine.com/blo ... sters.aspx

 

[bugbear]

I am very surprised that the numbers of folk who buy LN, Veritas etc are of any interest to Stanley. I suspect there are also other factors at work here. For example, their reputation has probably suffered across the board as their products got worse and the competition got better. These premium products might be an attempt to move the perception of the company as whole upmarket again so that they can justify higher prices on all their product lines

Yes - many companies have "flagship" products which are more about brand promotion than being directly profitable.

BugBear

 

[kenneth cooke]

Just spotted this interesting entry in Chris Schwartz's blog;

http://www.woodworking-magazine.com/blog/

Generally it appears Stanley are trying to get a slice of the LN/ LV action, but depending on price and quality they may be worth a look.

I expect they'll be out in the US first - anyone know any more?

Cheers, Ed.

I don't think Stanley have produced a good hand plane since the legendary Bedrock Planes at the start of the 20th Century and looking at the pictures on the link that situation has not changed. I wouldn't be without my 604C Bedrock Plane but apart from a very good old Record No7 with a Ray Iles Iron all my other bench planes are, I am sorry to say, from Maine USA