TESTED: Ironbark Tools low angle block plane
Review and photos: Damion Fauser
This plane from Queensland based Ironbark Tools is a new take on the traditional bevel-up infill block plane. Made with modern materials and processes, it is a lovely tool to hold and use with either one or two hands, making it capable of a wide range of tasks.
The main body of the tool is 303 stainless steel, chosen for its corrosion resistance and workability. The fixtures and fittings, such as the locking knob for the cap iron and the adjustment controls for the depth and lateral positioning, are brass.
The blade is M2 HSS, heat treated for ease of sharpening and edge retention. Whilst this heat treatment also helps to reduce the effort required to flatten the back of the blade, like all blades this one did require a little effort on the stones to make it suitably flat for first use. I fully expect this from all manufacturers however, so this is not a criticism. The blade has stepped shoulders like some shoulder plane blades, so some side-clamp honing guides may not be able to securely hold the blade for sharpening.
The tool comes with a very fine mouth setting and the mouth opening is fixed. The inset brass mouthpiece can be removed and filed to open the mouth if required, however this is not reversible unless purchasing a separate mouthpiece, so careful consideration is required.
A range of timber species are available for the infill and the cap iron, all of which create a striking contrast with the metallic elements. The sole is 135mm long and 37mm wide, with the blade being 30mm wide, making it small enough to do delicate work, yet capable of wider cuts where desired.
Cut geometry is defined by a 12° bed in the body. The blade comes ground at 25°, resulting in an out-of-the-box cut angle a very low 37°. For those that add a 3–5° microbevel, this will increase to a cut angle between 40–42°, which is very similar to other production bevel-up block planes on the market. This cut geometry is suitable for high-performance cuts in both long and end grain.
The cap iron has a pair of small brass lugs set into the sides, which smoothly and securely register the cap iron into the body via a set of milled grooves in the inner side faces of the body. Adjusting the depth of cut is easy and smooth – slightly loosen the brass cap iron lock wheel and turn the textured brass adjustment knob at the end of the threaded shaft.
Lateral adjustment is via a brass lever that is captured on the threaded shaft and registers to the underside of the blade via a domed endcap captive in a hole milled through the blade. I did find that because this lateral adjust mechanism is captive only on the threaded shaft, when turning the depth adjustment knob this made the lateral adjust lever move slightly side to side, so users may need to alternately check depth and lateral adjust settings until satisfied the tool is accurately set.
For the quality of manufacture and componentry, as well as cut performance, I would consider this tool to be good value for dedicated hand tool users.
Available from Ironbark Tools, see https://ironbarktools.com.au
Damion Fauser is a Brisbane designer maker who also teaches woodwork classes, see www.damionfauser.com