Bob Cleek Posted March 1, 2021 Share #1 Posted March 1, 2021 (edited) Bridge City Tools, the Tiffany's of tool companies, has a new tool that's perfect for spar-tapering, although it's actually designed for making chopsticks! https://bridgecitytools.com/products/csmv1-chopstick-master?variant=31915440046193 It's on sale right now, marked down from $339.00 $269.00! Such a deal! They're serious. I don't think this is an April Fool's joke. They do have a now-more-affordable modelmaker's plane with a clever and supposedly accurate thicknessing feature that's reduced from $169.00 to $98.00. I might be tempted to step up from my trusty old Stanley #100. https://bridgecitytools.com/products/hp-8-mini-block-plane Edited March 1, 2021 by Bob Cleek thibaultron, mtaylor, Canute and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Pellett Posted March 1, 2021 Share #2 Posted March 1, 2021 Gee Bob, I don't know. I think that I prefer the $699 pencil making kit. 😆 Bob Cleek, EricWilliamMarshall, mtaylor and 3 others 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cleek Posted March 1, 2021 Author Share #3 Posted March 1, 2021 (edited) I thought that was cool, too, but I probably would get more use out of a spar-tapering kit than a pencil-making kit. (Every so often, I visit Bridge City Tool's website, just for grins. It's hard to believe, but they've been in business for quite a while, so I guess people do buy their stuff. They don't seem to have much of a steady line of tools. Instead, they feature specific tools which seem to disappear after they stock is sold out, never to return. Maybe they are catering to the collector's market, or something.) Edited March 1, 2021 by Bob Cleek Canute, mtaylor and thibaultron 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nirvana Posted March 1, 2021 Share #4 Posted March 1, 2021 Beautiful tools, but I saw they are made in China. Wonder how the planes are versus Lee Valley micro planes? thibaultron and mtaylor 2 Quote Please, visit our Facebook page! Respectfully Per aka Dr. Per@Therapy for Shipaholics Finished: T37, BB Marie Jeanne - located on a shelf in Sweden, 18th Century Longboat, Winchelsea Capstan Current: America by Constructo, Solö Ruff, USS Syren by MS, Bluenose by MS Viking funeral: Harley almost a Harvey Nautical Research Guild Member - 'Taint a hobby if you gotta hurry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cleek Posted March 1, 2021 Author Share #5 Posted March 1, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, Nirvana said: Beautiful tools, but I saw they are made in China. Wonder how the planes are versus Lee Valley micro planes? I don't think that their CNC manufacturing equipment can tell the difference between China and any place else, which leads me to wonder why they would suffer the indignity of a "Made in China" label when they probably could have made them just about anywhere for probably close to the same cost. They'd have looked a lot classier if they said, "Made in Switzerland." Bridge City Tools isn't competing in the same market as Harbor Freight, for Pete's sake! The Bridge City plane above is much more sophisticated in design than the wooden Lee Valley miniature planes. It has a 1" blade, or so. The Veritas metal miniature planes in Lee Valley's collection of "minature tools," while nicely made and very "cute," and they do work like the full-siize prototypes, they are, IMHO, of very limited value for useful work. They are more "collectible miniatures," as were once very popular, but, come on, how often does one have call for a shoulder plane with a quarter-inch blade? *************************** Thread drift trivia: It's widely known that Walt Disney was an avid live steam railroad modeler, but not so widely known that he was also an avid hands-on modeler of all things himself and built one of the largest private collections of miniatures in the US, if not the world. Many of these were 1" or 1.5" to the foot tools, firearms, and the like. His idea for Disneyland, which he once called a "full-size miniature village," grew out of his hobby interest in miniatures. If anybody gets the chance, check out the Disney Family Museum at the Presidio in San Francisco, CA. A large selection of his miniature collection is on display there. The miniature tools are quite amazing. https://www.waltdisney.org/blog/miniature-worlds-walt Edited March 1, 2021 by Bob Cleek Canute, Gregory, thibaultron and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wefalck Posted March 1, 2021 Share #6 Posted March 1, 2021 Having all those nice photographs, videos and animations actually allow you to copy such tools for your own purposes - of course, if you have the right machinery and skills. I think the Chinese are in a transition, as the Japanese were in the 1970s and the Germans in the 1880s, away from entering the markets in industrialised countries by catering for the cheap end towards making quality products. 'Made in Japan' or 'Made in Germany' once was meant to serve as a stigma and warning and now has turned into a mark of quality. The same will happen with 'Made in China' eventually. Moab, RichardG, Canute and 5 others 8 Quote wefalck panta rhei - Everything is in flux Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardG Posted March 1, 2021 Share #7 Posted March 1, 2021 5 hours ago, Bob Cleek said: They do have a now-more-affordable modelmaker's plane with a clever and supposedly accurate thicknessing feature that's reduced from $169.00 to $98.00. I might be tempted to step up from my trusty old Stanley #100. https://bridgecitytools.com/products/hp-8-mini-block-plane I got the plane for precisely this reason. It's original price was too much but it was $89 when I ordered it. I'd seen it recommended and thought the price was reasonable for a quality plane. I have only had time to briefly try it (I received it 2 weeks ago). It is very sharp out of the box and more importantly the blade adjustment is very precise. I have yet to try the thicknessing part. I will need to make a jig first since I'll need the wood at an angle. Canute, Bob Cleek, mtaylor and 1 other 4 Quote Richard Current Build: Early 19th Century US Revenue Cutter (Artesania Latina "Dallas" - messed about) Completed Build: Yakatabune - Japanese - Woody Joe mini Member: Nautical Research Guild & Midwest Model Shipwrights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack12477 Posted March 1, 2021 Share #8 Posted March 1, 2021 Lee Valley Tools is also offering it through their website RichardG, mtaylor, Canute and 1 other 4 Quote Jack "No one is as smart as all of us" - Is ón cheann a thagann an cheird The craft comes from the head --------------------------------------------- Current build: US Constellation Non-ship builds: USCG UH-65A Dolphin M16 Multi-gun motor carriage diorama M4A3 Sherman Tanks dioramas 1936-1939 Mercedes Benz 540K 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II JSDF Light Armor Vehicle Figures: The Last Bridge: Raider Reaper Edge of Universe: Ianis The Last Bridge: Vadim with cart Completed build log(s): 18th Century Longboat , Marie Jeanne, Willie L Bennett 1888 50 ft Gaff-rigged Ice Yacht Scratch Build The Sullivans (DD 537) Liberty Ship SS John W Brown USS England (DE 635), Artesania Latina Titanic Lifeboat Gallery: Swift , Armed Virginia Sloop, Santisima Trinidad Captain's Launch , 18th Century Longboat , Marie Jeanne Other: Rhinebeck Aerodrome Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardG Posted March 2, 2021 Share #9 Posted March 2, 2021 37 minutes ago, Jack12477 said: Lee Valley Tools is also offering it through their website I will take that as a vote of confidence 😀 thibaultron, mtaylor and Canute 3 Quote Richard Current Build: Early 19th Century US Revenue Cutter (Artesania Latina "Dallas" - messed about) Completed Build: Yakatabune - Japanese - Woody Joe mini Member: Nautical Research Guild & Midwest Model Shipwrights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack12477 Posted March 2, 2021 Share #10 Posted March 2, 2021 20 minutes ago, RichardG said: I will take that as a vote of confidence 😀 But Bridge City is offering it right now for $98 versus Lee Valley at $130. mtaylor, Canute and thibaultron 3 Quote Jack "No one is as smart as all of us" - Is ón cheann a thagann an cheird The craft comes from the head --------------------------------------------- Current build: US Constellation Non-ship builds: USCG UH-65A Dolphin M16 Multi-gun motor carriage diorama M4A3 Sherman Tanks dioramas 1936-1939 Mercedes Benz 540K 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II JSDF Light Armor Vehicle Figures: The Last Bridge: Raider Reaper Edge of Universe: Ianis The Last Bridge: Vadim with cart Completed build log(s): 18th Century Longboat , Marie Jeanne, Willie L Bennett 1888 50 ft Gaff-rigged Ice Yacht Scratch Build The Sullivans (DD 537) Liberty Ship SS John W Brown USS England (DE 635), Artesania Latina Titanic Lifeboat Gallery: Swift , Armed Virginia Sloop, Santisima Trinidad Captain's Launch , 18th Century Longboat , Marie Jeanne Other: Rhinebeck Aerodrome Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardG Posted March 2, 2021 Share #11 Posted March 2, 2021 25 minutes ago, Jack12477 said: But Bridge City is offering it right now for $98 versus Lee Valley at $130. And if you want to spend even more money, Bridge City have an anniversary stainless steel/Titanium alloy version for $299. In a choice of 3 colors! mtaylor, Canute and thibaultron 3 Quote Richard Current Build: Early 19th Century US Revenue Cutter (Artesania Latina "Dallas" - messed about) Completed Build: Yakatabune - Japanese - Woody Joe mini Member: Nautical Research Guild & Midwest Model Shipwrights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cleek Posted March 2, 2021 Author Share #12 Posted March 2, 2021 Lee Valley describes Bridge City's tools as "aspirational." I'd say that's quite accurate. thibaultron, Canute, RichardG and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thibaultron Posted March 2, 2021 Share #13 Posted March 2, 2021 The move from China is already happening. Many manufactures are moving to India, and other SW Asian countries. Canute and mtaylor 2 Quote Ron Thibault Shipjack Carrie Price from Pyro kit, with upgraded detailing and history. Going From A 2D Drawing To A 3D Printed Part Tutorial Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted March 2, 2021 Share #14 Posted March 2, 2021 16 hours ago, RichardG said: I got the plane for precisely this reason. I was interested at $98, but $16 shipping seems unreasonable.. I might have pulled the trigger for $10. mtaylor, thibaultron and Canute 3 Quote Luck is just another word for good preparation. —MICHAEL ROSE Current builds: Rattlesnake (Scratch From MS Plans On Hold: HMS Resolution ( AKA Ferrett ) In the Gallery: Yacht Mary, Gretel, French Cannon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuntherMT Posted March 3, 2021 Share #15 Posted March 3, 2021 On 3/2/2021 at 8:41 AM, Gregory said: I was interested at $98, but $16 shipping seems unreasonable.. I might have pulled the trigger for $10. Guess you live too far away! It's showing $11 shipping for me. 😁 mtaylor, thibaultron and Canute 3 Quote Brian Mystery project coming soon! Current build - Medway Longboat Complete - Armed Virginia Sloop Complete - Carmen (First Build) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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