I really don’t want technology to replace the hand plane. Nothing feels better than a fine tuned, razor sharp hand plane. This one in particular is a custom handmade creation by Mr. Anthony Murkar. He is a wonderful person and a very talented woodworker.

This hand plane fits in the palm of my hand. It’s made from ebony I think the Macassar variety. Anthony has detailed instructions on how to make this kind of plane- the high angle smoother. It’s construction is very solid and sturdy and is polished to a high sheen. The twist capstone keeps the custom Hock Iron in place. The iron is of outstanding quality and is quite thick itself. The craftsmanship makes this a tough piece to use. I just want to look at it like a piece of art.

I received this handplane a few months ago and haven’t been able to put it through its paces until now. I have an offcut of some figured walnut that’s about to undergo some finish tests. Instead of starting out with low grits of sandpaper I pulled out this little plane and gave it a shot. The initial picture is just the adjustments. It takes me a little while to find the right amount of blade to expose. Once I found the sweet spot I dragged it across the walnut and it made wafer thin shavings very easily. These pictures will speak for themselves.

I highly recommend this plane and I do believe that I’ll try to have him make another for me in the future. I imagine if love to have one with a longer front and back for my big hands. It’s a joy to use and if you’re like me, a good tool is probably your best friend when making a guitar.

Anthony has his own blog filled with great tips tricks and tutorials. It’s called Home Grown Lutherie.