Australian Planes made by HNT Gordon

Australian Planes

Why Australian Planes? Just another marketing gag, you might think. But if you look at the details and the quality, both in materials and workmanship, of these planes, you will understand why we carry them. They are amazing.

The first time I was able to take a plane from HNT Gordon into my hand, I was very impressed by the general excellence of the workmanship. The body is elegant, fits well into the hand, and is finely finished. The hand grips are inspired by traditional Chinese planes. They can be removed if they interfere with the work. Each hand grip is fitted specially to its plane, and so cannot be used with others. The planes can be pushed or pulled as need be, combining the advantages of Western and Japanese planes. All of the woods used are very hard, and so are ideal materials for the sole of a plane.

The blades are very thick. For instance, the smoothing plane’s blade is 6 mm. So the tendency of a plane to jump and clatter on difficult materials, like knotty wood, is reduced or eliminated. The blades can be ordered in two materials: carbon steel at between 62-64 on the Rockwell hardness scale, or HSS (high speed steel), that is 18% tungsten, with a Rockwell hardness of 62. Carbon steel is easier to sharpen and will take a better edge, but HSS steel makes a tougher blade.

Another distinctive feature of planes by HNT Gordon is that not even the smoothing planes have chip breakers. Our Middle European understanding is that this is not workable, and that a finely fitted chip breaker less than 1 mm from the cutting edge is a must for tear-out free planing. HNT Gordon avoids this problem simply but effectively: the blade has a high cutting angle of 60 degrees (A German smoothing plane blade is set at about 49 or 50 degrees) and the blade mouth is very narrow. Have a look at all of the Australian planes in one picture, in order to have an idea of the size of the planes in comparison to each other.

Click pictures for enlargements!

Smoothing Planes

This plane is for final smoothing of any timber surface which has been dressed by a planer, thicknesser or Jack Plane. Used correctly this plane will smooth any difficult timber surface leaving little or no sanding. Alternate use as a cabinet scraper simply by reversing the blade. A cabinet makers work horse. Comes with brass rub plated mouth. Handle is removable on taper, allows plane to be pushed or pulled.

Body: 210 mm long 67 mm wide 38 mm high
Blade Width: 50 mm
Weight: 900 g
Cutting Angle: 60 °

Wood	Blade	Order nr.	Price
Gidgee	Carbon steel	306052	€ 179.00
Ebony	H.S.S. Steel	306055	€ 225.00
Gidgee	H.S.S. Steel	306056	€ 225.00

Pictures left:
Top: Ebony
Bottom: Gidgee

A 55 Smoothing Plane

Handle: Tote and Knob.
Blade holdings: Brass abutments with screw lever cap.
Adjustment: Fine thread screw with lateral movement (10th turn gives meaningful change in depth).
Mouth: Brass rub plate.
Body: 250 mm long 67 mm wide 38 mm high
Blade width: 50 mm
Weight: 1200 g
Cutting angle: 55 °

Wood	Blade	Order nr.	Price
Gidgee	H.S.S. Steel	306053	€ 319.00

A 55 Trying Plane

The Trying Plane is for jointing long boards and flattening large surfaces. Used correctly this plane will smooth any difficult timber surface leaving little or no sanding. Alternate use as a cabinet scraper simply by reversing the blade. Blade adjustment

Body: 460 mm long 67 mm wide 41 mm high
Blade Width: 50 mm
Blade holdings:
Brass abutments with screw lever cap
Adjustment:
Fine thread screw with lateral movement
Handle: Tote and knob
Weight: 2100 g
Cutting Angle: 55° for planing
85° for scraping

Wood	Blade	Order nr.	Price
Gidgee	H.S.S. Steel	306062	€ 349.00

Trying Plane

The Trying Plane is for smoothing of any long timber surface or for jointing. Works very well when used on a shooting board. Especially good on cranky grain. Alternate use as a cabinet scraper by reversing the blade. Comes with brass rub plated mouth. Handle is removable on taper, allows plane to be pushed or pulled. Picture: ironwood plane.

Body: 460 mm long 67 mm wide 41 mm high
Blade Width: 50 mm
Weight: 1800 g
Cutting Angle: 60 °

Wood	Blade	Order nr.	Price
Ironwood	H.S.S. steel	306061	€ 229.00

Shoulder Planes

A Shoulder Plane is used for cleaning up the shoulders of tenons across the grain or a rebate with the grain. You can reverse the blade for use as a scraper on cranky grain. This plane comes with full brass sole.

Body: 178 mm long 19 mm wide 60 mm high
Weight: 600 g
Cutting Angle: 60 °, when blade reversed for scraping 90 °.
Blade thickness: 3/16 in. (4.76 mm)

Wood	Blade	Blade width	Order nr.	Price
Gidgee	Carbon steel	19 mm	306067	€ 140.00

Block Plane

General purpose planing or trimming of any small pieces of timber, particularly hardwood end grain. Alternate use as a cabinet scraper for cranky grain. Easily used in one hand.

Body: 175 mm long 74 mm wide 38 mm high
Weight: 800 g
Cutting Angle: 55 °, when blade reversed for scraping 85 °.
Blade Width: 1-1/2 in. (38.1 mm)
Blade thickness: 1/8 in. (3.18 mm)

Wood	Blade	Order nr.	Price
Ironwood	Carbon steel	306080	€ 105.00
Gidgee	Carbon steel	306082	€ 130.00

Pictures left:
Top: Ironwood
Bottom: Gidgee

Jack Plane

General purpose planing of any timber - for all jobs between the Jointer Plane and the Smoothing Plane. Alternate use as a cabinet scraper for cranky grain.

Body: 250 mm long 67 mm wide 38 mm high
Weight: 1200 g
Cutting Angle: 55°, when blade reversed for scraping 85°.
Blade Width: 50 mm
Blade thickness: 4 mm

Wood	Blade	Order nr.	Price
Gidgee	Carbon steel	306077	€ 157.00

New Aussie Jack Plane

Dressing rough sawn boards to the point where a trying plane can take over. Alternate use as a cabinet scraper for cranky grain.
Body: 300 mm long 67 mm wide 38 mm high
Weight: 1500 g
Handle: Tote and handle
Cutting Angle: 55 °, when blade reversed for scraping 85 °.
Blade Width: 50 mm
Blade thickness: 4 mm

Wood	Blade	Order nr.	Price
Ironwood	Carbon steel	306078	€ 159.00

Also check our blade adjusting hammers