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Exclusive Video: Inside the Hunt for Affordable Planes (Patreon)

Published:
2019-07-11 17:03:21
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Friends: 

The plot thickens as I scour the world for affordable tools. Here's a quick (okay, not so quick) update on what I've found and why it's interesting. Really. 

--Rex

Files

Previews only

Patron Exclusive: The Hunt for Affordable Planes

Just for Patrons.

Comments

Jim Williams
>>24637156

Also, look at Tool USA for some really cheap planes. The pictures don't look bad, but I have bveen fooled before.

Tim Mayes

Interesting. Looking forward to your follow-up.

Frans van Ballegooijen

I am very curious. Also I wonder how many times the original price was turned over on these planes...

Richard Hengst

I bought a Grizzly Smoothing plane on Sale (one size larger than yours) and once tuned it up (Thanks to YouTube) I find it to be a good plane. I can't afford the high end ones at all, so I'm happy with Grizzly as a beginner. Thanks for the video. looking forward to the follow up.

WhatMeWorry

I'll make a SWAG and say Shobha Industries.

Rex Krueger
>>24644365

I'm pretty sure that's who it is. They're pretty much the only player in India and they seem like a quality outfit.

Rex Krueger
>>24639291

I am in no way qualified to give advice on this plane, but for $23, it's hard to go wrong.

Rex Krueger
>>24637156

That one is the Big Horn under another name. Fascinating how many companies are selling these.

Drew Nelson

Cool! Thanks for doing this Rex. I'm eager to hear more.

Chris Thornborrow

Just did a search for grizzly on UK amazon - nothing. Shobha too. Rex and patreons would you have a look amazon in uk and see if you think any of the planes there are the same as this grizzly.

Rex Krueger
>>24657937

The Faithful, the Spear and Jackson and the Draper all look like good Indian-made planes. More like the Big Horn than the Grizzly, but very nice. I like the SandJ in particular, expecially for the price. Do you have to pay VAT on top of that price, or is that included?

Mark L

Hey Rex, a very interesting post. I've just come across a couple garage sale planes that I believe to have been manufactured in India. They're from Groz Tools. One is a block plane that's probably best suited for use as a trotline weight. The other is a #5 that might turn out to be a serviceable foreplane. Based on your video and preceding comments, I'm now wondering if Groz might under the Shobha umbrella. I look forward to upcoming videos.

Eduardo

I knew India makes gramophones and people fake them as Victor Gramophones, with the dog label and everything, but planes?

Chris Thornborrow
>>24657937

I just ordered the Spear and Jackson. Its an extra 6 uk pounds to deliver to Poland. Once I get it I'll take it apart and photograph it and we can see what we can see. You are right this is genuinely exciting in a geeky kinda way.

Elias Brewer

Are they identical enough that you could swap the lever cap from the Big Horn to the grizzly? It seemed that the screw cap was the only downside to the Grizzly.

WhatMeWorry
>>24644365

Several years ago I was looking into less expensive planes. I was actually trying to find info on the Anant planes when I found a review by The Indian DIY & Woodworker (The Story of my Journey as a Woodworker in India) in 2013. He has even toured the Shobha (Soba) factory. I never bought one but he has an interesting blog and, coincidentally, has a current article about the Soba #4 Bedrock plane.

Rex Krueger
>>24675642

I did not know that about gramaphones. Fascinating. But these planes are not fakes; they're the real deal.

Rex Krueger
>>24670057

Yes, Groz is Indian, but I don't know if they're Sobha-made, as they have a bad reputation. The #5 you have should be a good fore plane if nothing else.

Rex Krueger
>>24644365

I already read this guy's blog! He's a major source of information for me. I may even reach out.

Rex Krueger
>>24657937

OOOO! That is exciting. I'll need a shot of the back of the lever-cap and the frog-bed along with whatever else looks interesting. Can't wait!

Eduardo
>>24675642

I understood you said that some companies are dishonestly selling those planes as some other brand. That is what I meant. I saw those Indian gramophones about 15 years ago and where not fakes also. I was told that many people in India don't have access to electricity, so they use gramophones. (The same thing happens here in Brasil, but people use battery radios instead.) The gramophones were made in a blank box, with no brand, and other people faked the labels.

Mark L
>>24670057

Fooling around with the planes has pretty much confirmed that their reputation is well earned. Oh well. What was I going to do with that seven dollars anyway? Memo to self: Even if it’s at garage sale price, Ask Siri for her assessment before plunking down my nickels and dimes.

David Bumpus

Very cool, thank you for looking into these Rex! The grizzly version sounds awesome.

Rex Krueger
>>24723136

I'm really impressed by the Grizzly plane. It still needs tuning, but man, for under $50? Crazy.

Duncan

Thanks Rex! I love videos like this one. I had no idea about tools made in India. I am excited to find out what else you learn.

A1BASE

First, I love what you did with that red Telecaster - and I hate Telecasters. Bringing that grain out was a great choice. You used drywall mud for it?? Second for ultra hardwoods I once saw a piece of graffiti written in Latin in a men’s bathroom that sums up my relationship with a particular ultra-hardwood. It simply said: ‘Odi et amo. Excrucior.’, which I think translates as ‘I love her and I hate her. I am wracked...’ Wenge. Fuck Wenge. It’s beautiful, but not only does it splinter like a bastard, those splinters then infect the cuts they cause, it chews up your tools like nothing else (seriously) and the grain filling is absurd.... but man. It looks good.

Rex Krueger
>>24742880

Hate telecasters?!? Buddy, I'll meet you outside. Just kidding. I'm glad you like it. I did use drywall mud. It's a totally good filler. I love it. I've never used Wenge, but the way people talk about it, I can't say I'm in any hurry. It does look great, though!

Matthew First

Wenger Is awful..... nothing but disdain for that wood... and yes it does look great.

Matthew First

I meant wenge.... silly auto correct

Chris Thornborrow

oops thats a genuine post from me, not spam. I found a source for Soba 14" plane at a reasonable price (42 pounds sterling). As I cant seem to post a link here, try a search for soba quality woodworking tools on google and it should be first on list.

A1BASE
>>24772253

The nice thing about it is that it’s really dimensionally stable so it’s great for those applications. I wonder if it would make good video of you experiencing a new wood? Figuring out live how it works (and critically what not to do with it!), try turning it and maybe making something small at the end?

Ethan Chitty

Curious if anyone’s tried out any of the other Grizzly series (looks like they’re up to a full line now)? I can’t imagine they’d be using different manufacturers for this, but then again, Tay Tools’ low angle sticks out in my mind as an example of a line that does some things well and flops on others.

Rex Krueger
>>29570986

The other ones all look like the same design; just different sizes. I think they're all equally good. The low-angle jack is a totally different design and they just haven't figured out the details yet. I think they'll get there.