Something about this tool awakens prurient interests…at least mine anyway–I feel just like I did approximately 50 years ago when a band of misguided 10 year olds found their first Playboy magazine at the local illegal dumping site…

We have been playing with the prototypes here for a couple of months and this tool is way cool.  Study the pic below because we have made a beneficial change to the 18″ blade we think you will really like.

Here’s what is different; the 18″ blade is unique and has some new functionality that will save you time. The bottom scale is in inches (32nd’s) and regardless of what hand you hold the square in, you can set the long leg to whatever distance you desire from the end of the blade.

The top scale features centering rules on each face, one metric and the other imperial.  I would not use the imperial centering rule for finding centers, I would  use this scale with straight leg aligned on 9″ (zero on the center scale) and as such, converts the square to a killer hook rule–reads from the leg out as opposed to the end of the blade in.

Opposite of the imperial centering scale is the metric (.5mm) centering scale which reads either left or right from the center. This is what I would use to find centers, i.e., 42.5 on the left and 42.5 on the right and you know center. This is way easier than reading 2-23/32″ on the right and 2-23/32″ on the left.

In addition, for those of you who are trying your best to wean yourself from the lunacy of imperial measurements, with the long leg set to 9″ on the lower scale, you can use the top scales to quickly convert between imperial and metric. This is cooler than you think.

We are also including in the kit a standard 12″ blade, all imperial because, hey this is America damit! (Not my view, but we need to pay rent here…)

Milled from solid stainless steel and graced with a black chrome web, this is the next tool in our Bridge City Essentials series. We will begin accepting pre-production orders as soon as we quantify our costs in a couple of days.

Now, I don’t have a tree-house anymore, but IF I DID, this tool would join Ms. June, 1963 as one of my most cherished belongings.

Your thoughts?

–John

As we continue to celebrate our 25th anniversary I am pleased to give you a peek into what is coming next.

Sometime in the next day or so, we will be announcing the pre-production run of the next Bridge City Essential–an updated version of our MG-4 Marking Gage and calling it the MG-5. Stainless steel, black chrome…OK, I will fess up–this black chrome is the coolest stuff–I am hooked.

Frankly, the world does not need another marking gage but this one is notable because it has two “business ends” one, a beveled cutter for straight work and a scribe pin for following curves. It is small, fits the hand great and the black chrome just feels oh so sexy.

We are working on pricing but the MG-5 will be well under $150 so it won’t break the bank…hell, what I am thinking, all the banks are broken! Don’t know how many we are going to make yet and don’t know if we will make it again (We are in the anti-inventory business) so give it a ponder.

Here’s a Sneak Peek of the prototype;

–John

Last year when we introduced the CT-14 Shoulder Plane, we made a couple out of solid stainless steel with no intention of ever producing a stainless version–the machining costs are astronomical.

I have hauled one around with me at several of the Lie-Nielson Hand Tool Events and it is definitely a head-turner–works great too. Recently we had a customer who wanted to buy the plane and it was explained it was not for sale.

“Name your price.”  he said. I have heard this before and it is hard to ignore.

We held our ground. Until last week.

In a staff meeting it was suggested that we make a very small run of these and include them as part of our 25th Anniversary celebration.  What is a small run? 50.

Each of these planes will be hand signed and serial numbered. Delivery will be in October, the price; $2500.

If this interests you, give us a call (1-800-253-3332). As of this writing there are 17 remaining. Phone orders only–serial number will be assigned at time of order.

If you are looking for a something that is truly unique, perhaps a great investment, this may be worth considering. There is nothing like it.

Did I mention I have developed a tool fetish for stainless steel?  This stuff is awesome!

–John

The video below shows our new surface cove kits (should be available next week). Auto orders have been shipped.

This profile is really interesting. Not only does it do what it is designed to do, which is create a surface profile wherever you choose, but when used in conjunction with the miter fence, it is also a small rabbet plane, and creates two unique molding profiles depending on when you stop cutting. (We included a stop motion clip to illustrates how this works.) This profile would make cool tambours and adds a rich detail to a myriad of projects. It also cannot be replicated with a router. Check your inbox next week for the introductory special.

We finished shooting video of our next “Silent Woodworking” invention and I think you will find this to be an amazing new tool. Hopefully we will have pricing done next week as well.

And, I just finished the design of Commemorative Tool #16!

I think I need a break…

John

In preparation for the upcoming Woodworking in America conference, I decided to make a display featuring all of the cuts possible with our HP-6v2 Mini-Multi plane. This turned out to be quite fun and, enlightening.

Every week my fondness for working without noise grows–this little display project was done in our front office on the workbench in our modest showroom.  I was so happy with my mess I deemed it noteworthy. See pic below.

While making the different cuts (about 60 two foot strips) it became apparent to me that these samples are a great way to play. I was goofing off, combining different moldings together and I felt like a kid playing with Lego pieces. It was really interesting and a great way to discover new, distinctive forms. When Michael and I get back from WIA, we are going to produce a video on this very activity.

Now for something completely different:

The Jointmaker Pro was recently named one of the best new products of 2008 by Popular Woodworking.

Everybody is working their tail off on the initial run and we will hopefully ship before the holidays.This is a big job!  We have about 20 units remaining in this run and then we will begin a wait list for run #2. We hope to sell the remaining units at the Woodworking in America Conference–we’ll see…

Commemorative Tool #15, will begin shipping within the next two weeks! Tomorrow I will have a first article for final inspection! This is exciting.

The NEW and IMPROVED CenterScribe will ship in the next week or so as well!

The original CenterScribe was one of the top 5 tools we ever produced. This one is much better! Holds a pencil in addition to the scribe, finds centers on dowel ends, rectangular or square stock and has ZERO backlash, and will cost less!

That’s all for now.

Oh wait! Did I mention that I am working on Commemorative Tool #16?

–John

The sole/iron kits we are introducing this week for the HP6v2 Mini Multi-Plane may be the most versatile in the family. The pictures below tell most of the story…

These options allow you to cut a half bead on an edge or a 3/4 bead on a corner. In addition, either will do a full bull nose on either 1/2″ or 3/8″ thick stock.

The results are razor crisp. This detail is used in moldings, box making, frames, drawer details and a host of other projects when a sudden urge to deviate from 90 degree corners comes upon you…

Here you can see a full 1/2 bead and a 3/4 bead. The 3/4 bead will be fully exposed once I cut the cheeks off.

This image shows how the bead is formed on adjacent faces. Using the fence is a must for this profile.

Here you can see half beads and bull nose cuts. This is a great addition to your shop if you make boxes or frames.

I don’t know about you, but I get excited to add form and texture to my designs, and I really get excited when it can be done without sanding!

The 3/4 bead is an awesome detail not easily replicable with a screaming router. This is the same piece of wood in the first image after the bead was completely liberated with a shoulder plane. It is a rich detail.

Here is the same miter joint from the opposite face. I don’t think we have an HP6v2 profile with as many different options from the same sole/iron kit as these two new face bead kits.

These have not been posted to our website as of this writing, but they are in stock and you should be able to order them before the end of this week.

–John

The best part of my job is when components of a new tool arrive for first article inspection–and in this case it is really a big deal because the parts on my desk today are for Commemorative Tool #15, our limited edition multi-square.

As mentioned earlier, I have developed a fetish for stainless steel. It is tough, durable and likely will not rust (all stainless steels will rust under the right conditions–as dumb as that sounds.)

Over the past couple of weeks we have been testing various bead-blasted finishes and have settled on a matte finish that feels just plain sexy. Below are a couple of pics of some parts–the t-bevel lock lever/pocket clip is really cool.

–John

PS: I have actually gone two days in a row without making Squiggle Wood. I think I need help.

The image above is a computer rendering of the CT-15 Multi-Square, it is five layout tools that fit in your apron pocket.

The finish and form of this cam lock/clip is really cool!

When this tool is completely assembled it is really going to be fun to use.

News from the Sticks and Stones Will Break Bones but Words are Worse department: We used Michael as a hand model because I was informed by my staff that my hands are not as photogenic as my knees or elbows.

Each year I get to pull out the stops and create a tool we pledge to never make again. The introduction is the highlight of our year and I am pleased to offer a sneak peek to those that follow this blog.

This year I had three choices for the 2007 Commemorative Tool and picked the one that interested me the most. In addition, I am going through a stainless steel phetish (that is a cross between phase and fetish–works for me since I made it up…) after a 25 year romance with brass. This tool sings in stainless steel.

What if you could carry all of your layout tools in the breast pocket of your apron?

The pics are self-explanatory. Prices and availability will be posted on our website sometime next week. (Under $300 and will be available by the holidays).

Guess I better start on the 2008 Commemorative Tool…

–John

PS: Let me know what you think!

This is the CT-15 Multi-Square and consists of a 90 degree Saddle Square, 8:1 Dovetail Square, 6:1 Dovetail Square and the tightest locking T-Bevel you have ever owned. Cam lock also serves as a pocket clip. I spent over a month working on the lines of this tool. The variable length chamfers are an elegant functional detail (pocket friendly) that not only invites use, but is food for the eyes.

We invented the Saddle Square years ago and this one is our best. Adjacent lines are perfect–used here for a tenon on 8/4 stock.

The layout of dovetails is fast and accurate with either of the two dovetail squares built into the CT-15 Multi-Square.

Using the CT-15 as a try square is easy. Notice how the saddle square can be used as a kick stand–this is cool.

The tightening mechanism for the t-bevel is field adjustable and rock solid.

The CT-15 is just over 4″ in length and approximately 1/2″ thick. It is milled from solid stainless steel and is made like a fine pocket knife. We are only going to make this version this once.

Copyright 2008, Fine Tools, LLC All Rights Reserved.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon playing with our Jointmaker Pro prototype. Here’s a short video of a couple of ideas I pursued–as you can see, the accuracy of this tool is incredible. We are all marveling that I can work in our office doing these things without disturbing anybody. It was one of the best days I have had in a long time!

Here’s a direct link to the YouTube video; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTVKQgOqZSo&fmt=18

Also, the Bridge City forum is now open. This is a moderated forum where you can ask woodworking questions or share information regarding our products. The location for entering the forum is at the bottom of our home page. Click on “Community Forum”.

Thanks to the British Weights and Measures Act of 1824, we Americans inherited a collection of units known as the Imperial system. Imperial units are unbelievably accurate and superior to the metric system in every way–and I can prove it with a singular question:

What is 17-17/32″ divided by three?

And you thought a six-star Sudoku puzzle was hard.

Fortunately, woodworkers are constantly dividing things in half, a much easier task than the gasket blowing problem above (5-27/32″ is the correct answer–took me a day and a half, or .15 payroll period to figure this out ). Try it yourself–dividing 17-17/32″ by two only took me four hours.

Approximately 520 payroll periods ago, we introduced the CS-1 Center Scribe, a cool tool to help Inch Land woodworkers find the center of things without time-consuming calculations. Inchlanders often struggle with the efficiency of Imperial measurements and our CS-1 Center Scribe quickly became one of our most sought after tools to this day.

About 104 payroll periods ago, improvements to the CS-1 came upon me. Fully charged for the redesign, the muse arrived unannounced bearing news of the VP-60 Adjustable Pitch Plane. Immediately thereafter, who should reappear with a radical new design for shoulder planes? And for the past year, I have been obsessed with the Jointmaker Pro–likely the most scrutinized new tool introduction I’ve known.

The image below is of our new, improved Center Scribe.

Briefly, here are the improvements;

• Zero backlash or slippage–no gears.
• Holds a pencil
• Finds centers on square, round or rectangular stock lightning-fast.
• Does not react with humidity
• Field adjustable if needed
• Smoother feel
• More precisely scribed centerlines (not pencil lines for obvious reasons), accurate to within .002″

To learn more, visit the CS-2 Center Scribe pre-production page. And if the CS-2 looks like something you can use, click the panel that states “Notify me when this item is back in stock.” By adding your name to this database we have a much better idea of our manufacturing quantities–you are not placing an order.

Thanks to a suggestion by a good engineering friend, this tool is crazy smooth and accurate. I hope you like it because… well, it’s a payroll thing.

-John