I didn't need to really tune anything as far as I know (having never done this before). Obviously, I don't have any particularly reliable insight, since my woodworking future foretelling is limited by the opacity of my wooden (not crystal) ball. The local WC no longer has much in the way of inventory, as a result. You have to determine which is best for you. Brand: Wood River, Modified Item: No Mn65 high-carbon steel blade Veritas Block Planes are beautifully engineered tools with an option of O1 or PMV-11 blades. 1 Bench Plane, Veritas No 4 Smoothing Plane with PMV-11 Blade. Also missing from your analysis is the effect of Internet purchasing. McDonald's did well by franchising, as did many others. Have fun. But if you find yourself shooting a lot of your projects a dedicated Shooting Board Plane could be the way to go. Losing LN an LV was not good, because their tools were a "Draw" to the "fine woodworkers". I'm mixed. I guess the future ofWoodriver planes go on the list of "wait and see items. 1 Bench Plane. Close - but not equal - to the fit and finish of my LV BU smoother. I wish them the best. Ok, i did get them some information, they (the woodriver planes) went offline and back on because of changes to the insides of the casting to their own design. If you look at the latest few Rockler catalogs, you will see that they look more like Van Dykes than anything else. I can get very good cherry for $5 a board foot, so I'm cheating myself out of material that's nice to work with for little different, and the shop where I can get good wood is a true full service shop, always at that price. Try one. If you don't own any hand planes yet, get a #4, a #5 and a #60 1/2 - leave the #6 for until after you already have a #5 and a #7 or 8. They loved the planes. They come in a cardboard box instead of the wood box that the first two generation planes came in. That should pretty much cover it. I haven't gone in there in quite some time for two reasons: 1) there's really nothing in there for me, consumables being the only thing that i use regularly, and I can get them cheaper anywhere else, the hand tools are long gone, and I've got no interest in buying another router at 1 1/2 times what it costs elsewhere, nor interest in any of the millions of poorly made chinese measuring tools for the same cost as a used starrett tool. Based on the response from the local WC franchise, it appears that a large percentage of folks use local stores to look at and handle tools, then purchase online at the best price they can find. 62 Low Angle Jack Plane, WoodRiver 40 Degree Replacement Blade for No.

That puts them close to the highway, where the contracttors drive up and down with their "Will build for food" signs on their trucks. Click for full details. There is NO conparison to the Bailey design ANANTS (I have three - including a #3 Kamal. From High Carbon Steels to Powdered metal, where molten metals are atomisedinto small particles, which cool and harden into a powder this is then heated under pressure to create the alloy. (just looked to see if the borg stuff was still there). Routers and Lifts, back Business demographics probably vary widely by area, and which other sources are available. A new Lie Nielsen #6 costs about $375 or so. I just don't see the young folk getting into woodwork. The Woodcraft site lists the planes as version 3, Check this link to the Woodcraft website. When i first started, I got a table saw and a router table, jointer, planer, etclike every publication was implying a hobby woodworker should have then. They need them NOW. Working closely with our own manufacturer, weve continued to make improvements in machining, finish and functionality which we feel have yielded hand planes that are meant to be used and offer an extraordinary value. Get instant access to over 100 digital plans available only to UNLIMITED members. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2021170/WoodRiver-V3-Bench-Planes.aspx, Editor's Letter: Technology and the future of woodworking. Version 2 is what was being cleared out of inventory (which is what the original post was about). I'd recommend these to anyone starting out and I'm sure they'll get better as I get better at using them too. There is a significant weight to the WoodRiver that lends itself well to refining, smoothing, jointing and shooting. Woodcraft Customer Service - "#4 and #6 No Longer Available". But my gamble with them paid off.

Must be a coincidence.

Homeowners don't know enough about the differences between tool to be willing to pay the big extra bucks for the good stuff. :-). You can order now for shipping on 7/7/10 and get the current listed price. Very curious to hear 'the official reason' why they are discontinuing. At no time did I find any issue causing a problem and the WoodRiver felt very tight and crisp. 2) People are putting "hands on" in brick and mortar stores and they buying on-line. Start your 14-day FREE trial - and get building. Also, the "lot of disposable income" part doesn't apply to all of us here - at least not me. Our range of Clifton and Veritas Block Planes are beautifully engineered tools with an option of O1 or PMV-11 blades. David - why not check your Woodcraft contact(s)? The size of the adjustment wheel allows one finger to advance or retract the cutting iron while in use allowing very precise setting to be achieved easily. My guess (yes guess) is that they still have inventory of the #3 and #5 and when they're gone they're gone. I work for the franchisee of the Woodcraft store in Springfield, VA, but I have NO inside info as to what directions the company is taking. Although my wooden planes do not have serrations the screw head is deeper allowing more grip. Before purchasing, be sure that you understand the lingo and history so some yahoo doesn't saddle you with a hybrid - they can in many cases be made to work perfectly, but they're valueless for resale. I have one Lowes store about a half-mile away, anoter within five miles, and two Home Despots in different directions at about that distance. Having an interest in woodwork is not a guarantee that you are a great retail businessperson. Otherwise it seems shortly your $100+ will only get you a replacement blade and chipbreaker. All of this stuff is imported and probably has a high markup and profit margin. All pretty much junk.) They don't say what the new prices will be but they will increase. If you like it, sell your Bailey #3 with its original blade - and get back - what? Routing, back Table Saw Systems, back As were the #4 and #6 earlier. Thanks for your response. Saws, back I have no inside info. Maybe Woodcraft misses Lie-Nielsen and are trying to make amends. ;-), I do wonder why there aren't any Woodcraft stores in the UK, though. But there are relatively few of these High End Hobbyists, and certainly not enough to keep Woodcraft and Rockler going. 24mm x 50mm. Too bad. Your analysis/predictions seem reasonable, Mel. The #5 is now gone. I heard no mention of Cosman. However, I'm not crazy about that particular combo you linked to. Just a final note. I wish this option were there for me when I started work in the late 1990s. There remain available many old Bailey (and BedRock) planes in various conditions. I am looking at the second and the third generation #6 WoodRiver planes side by side. Edge jointing was easily done, tearout was tamed and end grain was shot. I don't much about that the franchising business at all. Throughout I will be contrasting it with what I normally use. Veritas Spokeshave Curved Base has been designed for smooth, effective, chatter-free shaping of chair spindles, panel edges, paddles and tool handles. The direct-drive rise and fall mechanism works via a metric screw and gives endless years of accurate and reliable IINCRA Mast-R-Lift II with our AUKTools2400W Fixed Base Router. UK WoodRiver planes have high carbon water hardened steel that is quite sublime and hones very readily to a very sharp edge. Normal amount watching. Cosman won't want to cannabalize sales of those very high margin Pinnacle irons:>). They go to the Lie Nielsen shows. Just out of curiosity, i was going through the google links to quangsheng planes, and there is a blog entry that basically says straight out that they were developed with the help of woodcraft. I was sent the versatile 5 that can perform a wide range of bench plane tasks found in the workshop. Products are discontinued for all kinds of reasons. Weve made numerous changes to the castings that result in better feedback and a solid feel to the user. If you don't like it - once they are gone - you will likely be easily able to get your money back on an eBayresale. I wouldn't doubt Woodcraft moves there too. If you are considering a pair for your #3, Why? I wouldn't want to be a franchisee who bought just before the economic recession. Anyway, as you can see, you have made me think more broadly. Woodworker's Supply is right off I-25, in the heart of the industrial area. One would think that a large green WC sign would get a lot of foot traffic there. I was fortunate to get a complete set - #6 thru #3- not one is defective. The range of bench planes we sell include Clifton - the pinnacle of British engineering with some of the finest O1 steel blades on the market; Canadian brand Veritas who excel at the specialist and low angle bevel-up planes with their PMV11 steel, and WoodRiver - probably the best value-for-money planes on the market today which offer exceptional performance at an affordable price for woodworkers and furniture makers. Caesar diviided Gaul up into three parts. Work Holding, back Remember it is a Bedrock design. Anyone know after all the fuss if the Woodriver planes are being discontinued? Many woodworkers are comfortable using their bench plane with their shooting board. I do have the same thoughts as you, though, that I don't know how a place is going to make money in the days of drop shipping, selling high cost, low margin and low turnover tools, except in special cases where you're the sole source, like the pfeil tools. I am not sure that WC asks you to take a course in how to manage a retail store before they sell you the franchise. Woodworker's Supply still carries a decent array of machines, although their selection of hand tools leans toward the import side. I haven't had any contact with anyone from WC since this post was brought up, and am hesitant to just shoot off an email to find out the whole story and burn up my "question asking capital" on something I don't have any regard for.

That is not a fair comparison, but it is a fact. Stanley, as we have seen, does not. I am in at the Woodcraft store right now. I did get a complete set of Woodriverswhen they were 20% off and free shipping. I don't generally need more router bits or TS blades. So -' kill the planes, sell more high margin blades'. So, it has been on a downward spiral for a while, and is up for sale. The position of the tote is right on the money with no stretching of the finger to reach the adjustment wheel. Used - Small dent in handleBlade needs sharpening Check out our range of Jack Planes from Veritas and Clifton. I don't believe the markup is there for them to make a decent profit, and thus stay in business.

Used - Small dent in handleBlade needs sharpening, WoodRiver 25 Degree Replacement Blade for No. The versatility of the jack plane has led to it being the most common bench plane. To do that, they go to Home Depot and get a Gallon of Stripper for $25, and a pack of #4 steel wool for a few bucks, and a can of Minwax finish for $10. Looks like I was wrong about the WooDriver planes morphing into a Rob Cosmo signature line. One of the most pleasing aspects of the tool for me is the cutting Iron. That is good for business.

Look at their workbench vises. Making money on router bits is not an easy gig. Don't you hate it when that happens? Looks like I'll be picking up some Woodriver's tomorrow then, thanks! They have only one line of cheap planes. At Woodcraft, it isn't hard to notice that the high end hand tools are just about gone. The downside to WC's franchise system is that local stores depend on local sales to fund inventory. In essence, they would have to go into direct competition with Tom LN and Rob L in the entrepreneurial tool business. Press J to jump to the feed. Keep posting. 34+ items sold. Workshop Equipment, back The first thing I noticed is that the rear tote is too small for my hand, which is not very big. I really hope woodcraft doesn't go that direction. I didn't comment on the Roclkler approach of owning the stores and WC going the franchise route. 62 Low Angle Jack Plane. An old Stanley migh cost about $65, so let's say this comes to about $165. I'd love to do my part to keep them in business, but they have to have inventory for me to do that. Just as they seemed to have had a genuine interest in keeping LN, even after they were dropped. I wonder if there was some scuttle about it interfering with the stanley line of planes, since it's the same size as the sw #4, and probably just as well made and finished. Pretty good for the money, but they're definitely not on par with the really high end stuff. You can always be wrong about anything, but I'd be really surprised by that. If you don't get the Rockler catalog, you should. The low friction, hard-wearing phenolic laminated surface and balancer are JessEm Mast-R-Lift II with ourwith AUKTools2400W Fixed Base Router. The catalog is getting bigger and bigger, but in the direction of Van Dykes, not in the direction you would expect a tool store to take.

They carry Cosman's $250 saw and his $100 replacement sets for plane blades and chip breakers. We have created these special content collections organized to give you a deep dive into a range of topics that matter. Sharpening and Grinding, back Mitre Gauges and Sleds, back It actually costs me less to order and ship consumables like sandpaper, etc, which is shocking. If you have been thinking of trying one or both - better order ASAP. It does involve head to head competition with the Big Box stores, and I am not sure that is winnable. However if you use your plane in a looser way for working at odd angles, shaping or for any volume of stock preparation from the rough you might prefer to add a lighter vintage plane to the list. Mine did not need any tuning. Rockler has been making fundamental changes. There are also two new block planes (at least I think they are new). trend toward lower cost higher margin goods to pay the bills. The McD's menu changes very slowly. 0% negative feedback. Receive the latest updates about our products and promotions. Designed much like a tube sock with a drawstring closure, the sacks keep dust and dirt off Our AUKTools Scratch Stock Blades are made from alloy sprung steel, ideal for hand filing and honing in readiness for producing small mouldings and scratching out grooves for inlays. Thanks guys for the comments. Maybe the #6 didn't sell well because of the beating it takes on Leach's page. That's the scoop I got from the woodcraft store in southern California.

Thank you for doing that. The Veritas Shooting Board Plane is specifically designed for this job with either a right hand or left hand version available. The big difference between Rockler and Woodcraft back then was that Rockler had a much bigger line of hardware - hinges, door knobs, pulls, etc etc etc. However, I didn't manage to run by them on WC's site, and never would've gotten them if I hadn't seen them on one of the global business sites first. There is nothing more satisfying for a woodworker than the sound and finish that a really good qualityplanecan produce. Requires minimal Tune-up prior to use By the end I was getting the hang of it pretty well. I believe that the future of these stores is in finding items that they can sell for less than other stores can sell them. If you buy one(s) - who knows. Hign end hobbyists tend to be older guys with a lot of disposable income, and they like "nice stuff". Look on the web for how cheaply they sell for. Most of the reviews of the first and second generation Wood River planes were GREAT. Such an opportunity presented itself via Peter Seftons Wood Workers Workshop. I would guess that WC did well in the initial years they did that. While I spend money at WC and Rockler, I also buy from Woodworker's Supply (http://woodworker.com/), as well as dealing directly with LN, LV and others. I wouldn't doubt that the WC caalog will look like the Rockler catalog in a while. Weighing in at a stout 7-3/4 lbs, this plane's additional heft makes it easier for you to shave difficult stock without breaking a sweat. The V3 series needs surprisingly little tuning up out of the box - just sharpen the blade and go, pretty much. Modeled after the Bedrocks, Stanley Tool's very best line, WoodRiver planes feature the same heavy castings (7-3/4 lbs) and fully machined frogs, Lightly finished Bubinga handles provide comfort and control, Tools require minimal tune-up prior to use, Soles and sides are machined flat and square within tightly held tolerances, This forum post is now archived.