July 2011: WoodRiver #4
I've bought a few small bits & pieces from
Jim lately and been very happy with the service. However recently I decided to
upgrade to a top of the line #4 size smoother plane, to replace a old &
broken Stanley Bedrock. After looking at a number of choices, I chose a
Woodriver V3 #4, both for quality and value for money. After placing my order
on Jim's website, it was only a couple of days when it arrived on my
doorstep, and I couldn't wait to put it into action. There was a note in the
box saying that the plane had been given a few tweaks, making it ready to use,
right out of the box, and the blade has been honed on a 10,000* superfine water
stone. If anyone tells you a plane can't be used straight out of the box, just
refer them to Jim Davey. All I had to do was wind the blade out a touch, (it
was retracted to protect the razor fine edge,) and I was taking shavings off
hard English oak, so fine, they almost floated away. With over 90 planes in my
collection, the Woodriver #4 is one of the best planes I have ever used, and a
firm favorite. I also had the pleasure of meeting Jim at the 2011 Melbourne
wood show and found him not only to be an expert in his craft, but a extremely
pleasant fellow as well. The next time I need any tools, I know where I will be
getting them from again.
Brent Smith. Plane addict. Gippsland, Victoria.
June 2011: overheard at the TWWW Show in Sydney
WoodRiver Spokeshave demo, right out of the box without being honed - "WOW - I'll take one of those"
IBC Plane Blade - "Jim, I took the IBC Blade out of the packet last night - it is as good as you say they are"
March 2011
"I recall it as a typical chilly July Saturday morning the
day I travelled down to Jim Davey’s shed in 2006. The mission was to purchase
these sharpening aids called “diamond plates” which I read about in the
woodworking magazines. I came away that day with a diamond plate and a “Jim
Davey” fully fettled 1920’s Stanley #18 block plane which was frighteningly
sharp and (still) a pleasure to use. Five years later and I still have my diamond plate, a set of
Jim’s sharpening stones, attended over 7 of Jim's sharpening days, joined the
Shoalhaven Woodcraft Society and now own over 40 perfectly tuned hand planes and chisels that
I fettled myself under Jim's careful guidance and tuition.Jim changed my entire philosophy on woodwork; skill levels
are built around working with hand tools - not machines and the ultimate
satisfaction comes from using frighteningly sharp hand tools you maintain
yourself.Jim is pragmatic and one of the most knowledgeable people on
hand tools and sharpening you will ever meet and always happy to share his
knowledge to others.
Many Thanks Jim - you taught me the meaning of a new word …………“PSHHHT”." Robert Jolliffe, Corrimal NSW, Member Shoalhaven Woodcraft Society.
May 2010
"At the
recent Tool Sale in Sydney, organised by the NSW tool club TTTG I met up
with Jim Davey. Over the years Jim has turned into what I consider
Australia's best Plane Doctor. I
receive a lot of queries on the subject, in order of frequency:
replacement handles and knobs, how to sharpen cutters or where to get
better cutters, welding broken bodies and so on ... I'm happy to pass
all these questions to Jim."
Hans Brunner, Brisbane Qld
April 2010
"Over the years, Jim Davey has fettled about 15 Stanley and Stanley Bedrock
planes for me, and probably twice that number for my students. He does a
wonderful job, and like a true woodworker, he undercharges for it. Getting Jim
to fettle your plane, or buying one he has performed his magic on is, without
doubt, the most economical way to get a metal plane with top shelf performance.
And if you have never had the opportunity to use a fully fettled plane, then you
are REALLY in for a treat: there is no other woodworking experience like
it."
Robert Howard, Brisbane QLD
March 2010
"Jim sharpened, fettled and polished
up my Dad's old Stanley Bailey No. 4, which probably hadn't seen a piece of wood
in anger for over 30 years. Not only did it open up a new world of
"frighteningly sharp" planing to me, it gives me a warm sentimental glow every
time I use it. And now he's done my grandfather's No.4 with the corrugated sole
(made some time between
1898 and 1902) and it's so beautiful that so far I have only managed to put
it on the mantelpiece and admire it."
D.W., Leura NSW
May 2009, fully fettled Planes:
"Jim,
Just a quick email to say thank you for the new planes and
to tell you how
happy I am with them.
They arrived late Monday but I
didn't get to use them until last night -
and they are fantastic, just
beautiful to use.
Thank you so much, I will be in contact soon I'm sure
to order more."
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