The Pointless Plane I Just Bought | Bridge City Tools Mini Block Plane
The Pointless Plane I Just Bought | Bridge City Tools Mini Block Plane
Bridge City Tools Mini Block Plane
HP-8 Mini Block Plane
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbMtJOly6TpO5MQQnNwkCHg/join
—Tools I Suggest—
https://www.woodbywright.com/tool-suggestions
—Find Antique tools near you—
http://www.HandToolFinder.com
Top Patreon Supporters:
Tomás Kelly
DFM tool Works: https://dfmtoolworks.com/
Blair Svihra Jr
Aaron Fenn
Adam Nester
Bryan Fulmer
John Jugler
The Poor Man: https://thepoormansworkshop.com/
Alan Smith: http://www.flourishinggrace.org/listen/
Andrew Wilson
Travis Reese
Tom West
////Help this channel grow\\
https://www.woodbywright.com/support/
////You Can find me:\\
https://www.woodbywright.com/contact-me/
Intro music: Tim Sway http://timsway.net/
background music: Udo Stehle https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~0…
Instagram: @udostehle
Darn you James…
I hope you enjoy it, I truly do, but… Since Economaki sold to Harvey Industries, manufacturing has shifted and quality of manufacture and material has dropped. Afaik there were no sales before the company was handed off. I certainly never saw any, but take that with a grain of salt. The cheaper materials and manufacture is the only reason you got it at a sale. There has been a noticeable drop in quality, like noticeable to the unaided eye, just bad craftsmanship, and we know why…
I was planing a piece of oak from a firewood pile yesterday and I was afraid something wrong was with my plane. Apparently it wasn’t (=
When I went to furniture school 20 years ago, we all purchased Lie-Nielsen planes. For our “forever kit.” We also knew of the existence of Bridge City, but they only existed for “rich guys who want to show off,” or so it seemed. Back then, a BC block plane would set you back $700, and you may have to wait several months until they had enough orders to decide to make another batch.
During the early 2000’s BC started a bit of outsourcing. Peon me was able to purchase a trio of BC-branded Japanese saws. And a lovely 100mm tri-square, all of which I still use today.
So, yes, like you, when the internet attacked me with ads for a BC plane I could actually afford, I jumped at the chance. Then did a bit of research. Seems that John Economaki decided to retire. (Well played!) And he sold BCTW to the Harvey Tools Group, in China. HTG is using their efficiency to make BCTW products more accessible, which, I guess, is great. But, most of the iconic products I once lusted for are forever gone.
But, I must say, I have no problem with the version of the BCTW Mini Block Plane I was suckered into buying.
Thanks, James, for all of your content!
You like it. You have the money. You buy it. It makes the world go around! Too cute!
Ive always wanted one too
I got one, already found a use for it. That ability to easily plane down to a specific thickness is why I got it. Quite handy. And yes, it is definitely a cutie.
I wish I had one of these little guys 30 years ago… Perfect for making Acoustic Guitar braces. Best money I have spent on a cute tool for ages!
I have Kumiko aspirations someday. I can certainly understand the appeal.
I’ll possibly never use it but I want one😀
Sometimes, we don’t need a particular item but we want it so badly it amounts to the same thing.
I have this little block plane and I love it.
These tools are usually priced out of my range, but mine was 50 percent off.
the bell of shame for you my friend..
Sounds like you’re gonna try Yosegi! It’s so beautiful, really excited to see your journey with it!
There’s always room for a new tool in my shop.
I’d like to order a gross of pencils AND a gross of chopsticks please 🤔😁
Perfect for Kimiko pieces. That’s why I’m getting one.
A Chinese turd in an American wrapper. It might be Bridge City Toolworks branded, but these are unfortunately chinese made and quality control is poor. I returned mine and won’t waste my time or money on their lower priced line again.
Kinda crazy that some kid playing video games and trolling people can make enough YouTube money to live comfortably for life, yet someone with genuine skill that educates people has to treat themselves to a hand plane…..SMH
LOL, I (now think I) need one… (to make toothpicks or so 🙂 )
Maybe Bessey makes expensive clamps to match the size 🙂
I got the same "hey this is half off" email. Did the same thing and feel the same way.
I use mine all the time, mostly for planing Kumiko strips to thickness for the lamps I make and it is excellent. Also for various components in the dolls houses I make. Very precise and very repeatable.
😎💥👍
I have from them the try square and the Joint Maker Pro complete package.
I only use the try square, wich is ok and at least it was back in the pre constant sales era, overpriced. The Joint Maker Pro I am selling. Not worth the money. For some time I almost bought a couple more things from them when I thought that the sales where a matter of once a year, but then I thought…. hmmmm still way overprice. I am glad I didn’t buy anything else.
¿Why wont you see Veritas or Lie Nielsen run these 50% off sales ever? Mainly because they are top quality all the time. Is it that now Bridge City Tool have cut to half the cost of manufacturing or is it more that they have been stealing from every single buyer all these years?
I think that the fact that some brands have to over engeneer things to justify the higher price is sad.
For me is Veritas, Lie Nielsen, Clifton, HNT Gordon a million times before getting one of these things. But of course, if they were to just copy paste the old classic plane desings from Stanley they would be just another chinesse company.
Bridge city planes are uncomfortable to use. Whether they look nice is simply a fashion statement and open to argument. There seems no mechanical advantage to the design. The balance and grip is wanting, making accuracy a chore rather than a pleasure. They are certainly not comfortable to use and there seems to be no advantage to the design other than to be ‘different’, and it seems to be that difference is the selling point. Compare it to a veritas block plane and you’ll soon see the difference in control and detail, weight, heft and results, not to mention the satisfaction in design and ease in gaining accuracy. It doesn’t have to be veritas: old style Stanley is good, as are the Japanese style of plane with the unbeatable blades they make. If veritas applied the Japanese blades to their planes, the market would be theirs.
That look fun 😀😀
I bought one for doing inlay work absolutely love it also great for end grain and champers only payed less then 100 for it well worth it imo
ROFLMAO That’s now my favourite video that you’ve ever posted!
"Do you need it? No!
Do I recommend it? No!
Do you want this? Yes!"
You betcha! LMAO
I just saw this. You, Sir, have a serious case of SOS….. That’s Shiny Object Syndrome. Take heart though. A lot of us suffer from this same affliction.
At half off I think we can forgive you your indulgence 🙂
And man, it is quite the looker ain’t it?! Enjoy!
I got one while it was on sale too. But what did it do better than any other similar tool? Passed the Wife Acceptance Factor (WAF), particularly because it is cute. I just compared it to my kit based Krenov style Hock block plane. Well, let’s just say it’s a different animal.
Ahh, soo…. if you have the money to spare… and want to sleep on couch for a month… go for it!
Other wise, buy it as a gift for your wife, and ask her if you can use/borrow it from time to time.
Think, man, think!🤔
She gets a shiny new tool to use at her new bench, and you get to borrow it occassionally. Win, win! (Oh, and she can’t get mad at you buying her a tool that costs more than yours. 😉).
I just got mine and I got it on sale also. This reminds me of when I was 20 and bought a keychain for my girlfriend. It was from Tiffany and it was the cheapest thing they had, but it came in a Tiffany box and she loved it.
Oh the old timers look so much better. Sorry but that thing looks too robot copish for me.
75 dollars isn’t terrible but I’m sure you could of built that out 0f wood we know how talented you are
I too, have no idea what I’m going to do with my little "Bridge City" plane, but it sure is cool!!!
yessss his looking wery cool great
BC has taken it’s production to China, I and will not spend money on products made there if I can avoid it. I refuse to finance China’s takeover of the world in return for some shiny gadgets.
I bought one of the factory second new Union XOAs a month ago or something, so I don’t think I can criticize anyone about any tool purchases for a while. I’m just really hoping Union can come back and be another great premium tool company. Plus…. it’s tiny! I may also have ordered one of the serialized X 4 1/4s… I have a problem.
This would be useful for making bamboo fly rods (if you made the taper jig to go with it)
Over priced, design over function. Crap.
hmm, fly rods?
I haven’t used mine. It’s too pretty
Took me to long to get to this video, but I’m glad I made it, think I might add some fences to my Hock block plane cause well it’s wood and easier to drill than metal
I too bought one because it was on sale. It works great…as a paperweight.
An honest review.
While we are confessing – I bought the same one !! 😳
A bit different choice of metals and finish and my granddaughter would add it to her steam punk regalia.
Welcome to the (dysfunctional) family! I too have that same mini block plane, which I bought mainly for doing kumiko patterns. This was actually the second of 3 Bridge City Tools I have bought over the years. I also have their over-the-top multi-function bevel and dovetail marking tool. But the biggest expenditure by far was one unique tool I had lusted after for many a year. The quintessential tool of quintessential tools… the Jointmaker Pro, which I later accessorized with the precision fence and the hold-downs. Funny how I spent that much money on to tool, but thought paying a couple hundred bucks for the stand was way too much. So I built one out of Baltic birch with a drawer and a couple doors. The only thing Bridge City lacks is a network of 12-step programs for those who have had a taste of the Kool-Aid.
The little plane looks lonely. Aren’t you going to get the sharpening jig to keep the plane company?