My favourite plane: three makers tell

Every woodworker has their favourite tools, no matter how humble or elaborate they may be. Price doesn't generally come into the equation, and very often there's a story behind the attachment.

John Shaw (NZ) and David Fleming (USA) are well known woodworkers and educators who are flying into Australia this April to lead a 10-day course at Newstead Wood School. ‘Composing a Cabinet – A thoughtful approach’ will take a direct cue from Krenov’s seminal book A Cabinet Maker’s Notebook.

The workshop will be hosted at Lachlan Park’s Newstead Wood School located a two hour drive north of Melbourne. By way of introduction we asked these three long-time woodworkers to tell us about their favourite plane.

David Fleming

‘I made this plane about 20 years ago. It is a smoother, 270mm long x 65mm wide x 55mm high. The blade and cap iron were made by Ron Hock, 5mm thick x 45mm wide x 89mm long. The body of the plane is made of European walnut (Juglans regia), with the applied sole of 3mm thick Lignum vitae. The plane is only used for surfacing and finishing, always set very fine. The walnut is from a block given to me in 1986 by my friend and teacher, James Krenov, whom I always remember fondly whenever I pick the plane up to use it.’

John Shaw

‘About 40 years ago I was moved to build a longish plane after finding a nice straight offcut of afzelia, also known as doussie or Afzelia africana. It was knocking around the school workshop available to anyone who fancied it. The wood was renowned for exceptional stability so it seemed a good prospect.

‘I built the plane around a 38mm Hock O1 iron and added a 2.5mm bloodwood sole to improve wearability. It's been on or near my bench ever since, ready to produce perfect results shooting edges and bringing veneers together. Simple, capable and beautiful, I still look forward to picking it up today.’

Lachlan Park

‘I was first introduced to wooden planes in 2009 by John Shaw, whilst studying at The Centre for Fine Woodworking in Nelson, New Zealand. And later on my love for these simple and soulful tools was further ignited by David Fleming at his workshop in Phoenix, Arizona.

‘Back at my bench in Australia, I have been drawn to making and using wooden planes ever since. One such a plane which is always close to hand is this small block plane – made from red box which was gifted by a local farmer along with a slice of hawthorn for a sole plate which I salvaged during my time working for a local arborist. The plane measures 150mm long x 65mm high x 44mm wide and is fitted with 25mm O1 Hock Iron.'

Images courtesy Lachlan Park

Learn more about John Shaw and David Fleming's workshop at Newstead Wood School here