Have you been combing eBay in hopes of finding vintage sets or individual planes of the Hollows and Rounds variety? I’m happy to help get the word out that there is a new plane maker on the scene that may be able to help.

Matt Bickford Photo.

In recent times the desire for these planes has increased dramatically, and the availability of them is scarce. The plane makers who currently offer them have backlogs I’ve read that are over two years long.

Matt Bickford Photo.

Enter Matt Bickford. Matt was recently asked what his focus was on and he said:
“I’m focusing on molding planes: hollows/rounds, snipes bills, I make rabbets like that pictured too. Basically, I make those non-bench planes listed in Builders Dictionary published in the early 1700’s less the plow. I can certainly make specific profiles if you want something out of Chippendale’s Director.

Is there something specific for which you are looking? Please let me know.”

Matt Bickford

The photos tell the tale. Welcome Matt to toolmaking! If there is something specific in this line of tooling for which you are looking, please do let Matt know!

Contact Matt, Place your order.

Sorry it has been so long since I checked in! I have been kept really busy in the shop making shooting boards, and have not really had a great deal of free time to write. My Bad.

I have had a few folks step up and ask me to take the time to write more often, and they are right, I should. I have some great future articles in mind, so I will try to work on being here more frequently.

The reason why I am writing this post is a bit different, but I think it is timely.

~ Blue Spruce Toolworks Skew Chisels ~

Generally speaking, woodworkers are amongst some of the very nicest people I have had the opportunity to know and befriend in my life. They are creative and artistic, ingenuitive and engineer-like, eager to help, designers, full of dreams and imagination.

They are witty, unafraid to debate and keep each other informed of where they stand, usually with a ready smile on their face. Their willingness to help, and be generous is super heartwarming. I mean, how cool is that? While I am somewhat reclusive by nature, and tend to keep to myself personally, I have had contact with many of you by email, phone, and in woodworking forums. This isn’t lost on me.

The people behind making a great deal of the hand tools which are available to woodworkers these days are almost always woodworkers themselves, who are following dreams, and doing what they love. It is rewarding work I am learning — the friendships and acquaintances we make are wonderful. It is an awesome feeling, knowing that in some small way, a tool you make helps someone improve their craftsmanship, and assists them in accomplishing their dreams of woodworking.

Building something with your own hands is really amazing, isn’t it? I still remember that feeling, from all the way back when I was a little kid. It hasn’t changed.

I know that before I stepped into the ring with my shooting board designs, I too was an ardent supporter of the toolmakers, and still am. The logo banner of my website has a number of toolmakers tools represented in it. Several people including toolmakers have been advisors and mentors to me in helping me develop this site.

It is also awe inspiring how supportive they have all been of me, while I have worked to introduce my products this year. Many stepped up to welcome me, and offer support, help and advice. Another conspired to get me Schwarzed, they know who they are and how much that meant to me. Thanks my friend, and Thank you Christopher, your review was honest, and wonderful. You have all been great and overwhelmingly supportive, as have my customers, and readers.

To say it has been heart warming seems not nearly enough. Blessed is perhaps a better word. All these folks are truly are amongst the very best people. I have to thank them all, even if just for inspiration, even if we have never spoke.

From all reports I have received, The Woodworking In America Events this year have been wonderful. While attendance is thought to have been a little light, it is understandable, as the economy has been really tough on way too many.

Lie Nielsen has also had a number of Hand Tool Events this year, with a couple of them hosted by Jeff Miller in his Furniture Studio in Chicago, and by Popular Woodworking in Cincinnati, amongst other locations. Many other hand toolmakers were invited to attend as vendors by Lie-Nielsen, and my hat is off both to Thomas for being so supportive of his fellow toolmakers, and to see this kind of community support amongst woodworkers and tool collectors.

It is events like these that lift everyone up and help woodworking be one of the best things to be affiliated with around. It is a great time to be a woodworker!

On the down side, and with disappointment, I have learned that Dave Jeske, of Blue Spruce Toolworks: http://www.bluesprucetoolworks.com/ suffered a $300.00 loss due to theft at the WIA event in Valley Forge, VA, During the event held there over October 2 – 4. It is really unfortunate; as a loss of $300.00 is a big one for a small business, particularly in a tough economy like we currently have, and made worse that it was not noticed until the end of the event.

I have purchased tools from Dave, some Skew Chisels amongst others and I can tell you, his work is top drawer, as nice as any out there, and there are many fine toolmakers with nice work out there.

I know it is tough out there this year, but if we can, please remember Dave, and all the other Artisan Hand Tool Makers this year as you think about how much we have to be thankful for, and Christmas. Perhaps we can help Dave make up for his loss, and it is a great way to help support this fantastic hobby of woodworking.

If you are wondering who all is out there is in the hand tool making business, let me see if I can help you find them.

Our friend Gary Roberts, over at Toolmera, http://toolemera.com/ has created a great new website to help us all find the Hand Tool Makers of the world. His new website is: http://handtoolmakers.com/ an ad-free non-sales listing of who’s who in tool making and what they make. Please visit Gary’s new site to learn of many of the toolmakers out there, and visit their respective sites.

Additionally, if you are familiar with my site, I have a page here at Evenfall Woodworks that is devoted to many different woodworking links, outlining how to find many things, and you can click right here to be taken to it directly or use the top navigation on the site to get to it, just look for the “Links” button at the top of the page. If you scroll down through it a little ways, you’ll find a section of it is alphabetically dedicated to “Artisan Tool Manufacturers”. It has been here nearly as long as my site has, and sadly it needs some updating.

Still it is a good listing of links that when it was fresh, would take you directly to the front page of all the sites I have listed there. I am sure there are many listings missing that need to be included, as well as some other updating. I apologize. It is ever an unfinished work, and not meant to compete with Gary’s new site, but just be a resource to help woodworkers find what they want, whatever that may be.

If you see something that is in error, or someone who’s site is not listed as you feel they could be, please feel free to contact me or leave a comment here with any information you would like me to correct or consider adding, and I will try to get the page updated and improved with the most current information as early as I can, time permitting.

I am thankful for much this year. As we head into the holiday season, thank you for supporting Dave and all the toolmakers, and for your continued support!