Maybe it's because of the state of the economy, but I think I've noticed a new trend in this section of the site. Some members have started to talk quite openly about the sort of tools that used not to be mentioned in polite company.
I've seen defence of the Stanley RB10!
I've seen positive descriptions of the Paramo Planemaster, and other oddities beloved only by their creators and the Design Council.
So, my supportive buddies, it's time to share with you my recent purchase from the big pit of temptation. I confess, dear brothers, that I have spent five of those funny 'Paypal' play money pounds to acquire this:
It's an East German cousin to the Planemaster, from the 1970s. According to its leaflet, it's the 'Universal-Hobel' which I think means that if you have one of these, you won't want anything else.
Here it is in its beech, hornbeam, plastic and tarnished steel loveliness:
The usp is that not only is it a smoother, it's also a rebate plane with that lovely European shavings-avoiding fence, but here there is no messing about with high-maintenance brass:
It also has the chunky continental nicker, which unlike the degenerate Stanley ones, will not get lost in the shavings.
But that's not all: with a twist of a screw or two, it becomes a fillister:
And for its last trick, it has a second blade, to make it into a scrub; this is the good side:
So what do you think? Is this the bees knees or what?
Please form an orderly queue if you see the light and would like me to swap this for your bulky collections of old-fashioned offerings from Clifton, Veritas, Lie-Nielsen and the like. I'll be sympathetic, I promise.
I've seen defence of the Stanley RB10!
I've seen positive descriptions of the Paramo Planemaster, and other oddities beloved only by their creators and the Design Council.
So, my supportive buddies, it's time to share with you my recent purchase from the big pit of temptation. I confess, dear brothers, that I have spent five of those funny 'Paypal' play money pounds to acquire this:
It's an East German cousin to the Planemaster, from the 1970s. According to its leaflet, it's the 'Universal-Hobel' which I think means that if you have one of these, you won't want anything else.
Here it is in its beech, hornbeam, plastic and tarnished steel loveliness:
The usp is that not only is it a smoother, it's also a rebate plane with that lovely European shavings-avoiding fence, but here there is no messing about with high-maintenance brass:
It also has the chunky continental nicker, which unlike the degenerate Stanley ones, will not get lost in the shavings.
But that's not all: with a twist of a screw or two, it becomes a fillister:
And for its last trick, it has a second blade, to make it into a scrub; this is the good side:
So what do you think? Is this the bees knees or what?
Please form an orderly queue if you see the light and would like me to swap this for your bulky collections of old-fashioned offerings from Clifton, Veritas, Lie-Nielsen and the like. I'll be sympathetic, I promise.
