Popular Woodworking 2006-08 № 156, страница 56

Holtey A13:

Perfect to the Nth Degree

I actually never thought I'd get to use one of these planes. In fact, this plane almost didn't make it here in time after getting tangled up in U.S. Customs for a breathtaking bit after its trip from Holtey's shop in Sutherland, England.

Holtey was one of the early pioneers of the modern infill makers. And his reputation, quality of work and prices all reflect the fact that most people see him as the top of the heap.

The Holtey A13 is based on a classic pattern of English plane made by the venerable Norris company. And it's one of Holtey's signature planes (his other, the No. 98, will be discussed shortly). Once you hold one of the tools you understand a bit of the Holtey

See the two steel pins in Holtey's A13? The iron is bedded against these and a steel plate at the throat - not the wood. Most unusual and interesting.

mystique. The man is a perfectionist. No matter how closely you examine his tools, you cannot find cosmetic flaws. They are finished both inside and out to the highest degree. Here is just

Karl Holtey's A13 (in the background) and his new 11 -S both proved to be form idable planes when put to work.

KARL HOLTEY A13

Sole length: 9" Weight: 6 lbs. 2 oz. Pitch of iron: 50° Mouth opening: About V64" Iron:S53 steel, .183" thick, 2V4" w. Contact: holteyplanes.com

or (UK) 01549 402500

KARL HOLTEY 11-S HIGH-ANGLE SMOOTHER

Sole length: 6V2"

Weight 2 lbs. 5 oz.

Pitch of iron: 60°

Mouth opening: About V32"

Iron: S53 steel, .168" thick, 1V2" w.

one example: Where some makers (both historic and new) will leave the bed of the plane with a few file marks (which you'll almost never see because the bed is covered by the iron), Holtey does not.

In fact, the bed of the tool is where we got our first surprise. Holtey secures his irons to the body in a way that's unlike any other infill toolmaker I know. In other infills the iron rests directly on the wooden infill below it. Sometimes there is a steel plate down by the mouth that offers support as well, but mostly it's the wood that's in charge. Some enthusiasts say it's this wooden bed that makes the tools special.

But Holtey's A13 mocks that assertion. His irons don't even touch the wooden infill. Instead, the iron rests on a steel plate by the mouth and two raised steel pins embedded in the tool's bed. What's the advantage? In my experience it made the cut much easier to adjust. Even with the tool's lever cap cinched down super-tight, the iron could still be adjusted with little effort - or risk. Many old Norris infill planes have adjusters that were stripped out by people who tightened down the lever cap too much and then adjusted the iron.

The Holtey A13 is surprisingly comfortable to use and has a wicked-heavy presence on the wood. What I didn't like about it was it was uncomfortable to hold the tool upside down when sighting down the sole - a common operation when trying to center the blade in the mouth of the tool. The tool's front bun is hard to grasp in this position.

That's a quibble, really. I think I was looking for something - anything - to disappoint me on this tool. Not much cropped up. It's as close to perfection as you can get. If I had an extra $6,600 I'd love to own one.

Holtey 11-S: A High-angle Solution

This new model from Holtey isn't based on an old plane - it's one of his original designs. When I first saw it I thought it looked as comfortable to use as a brick. And on that point, I was mostly wrong. The 11-S is easy to cradle with your hands and to control, thanks to its diminutive size. After a lengthy planing session my right hand began to rub on the back edge of the blade, which was annoying, but not awful.

The high cutting angle (called the "pitch") of the tool made it a remarkable smoothing plane. There was nothing in our shop that it couldn't handle with ease - and I rooted deep into our scrap pile. Unlike Holtey's A13, the iron is bedded directly on the wooden infill and the lever cap is removable; it hooks around a pin that passes through the sidewalls of the plane. This feature makes it easy to remove and install the iron.

The only disappointment with this tool is one shared by many of Holtey's tools, and that's the particular alloy of steel used in the plane's cutter. The alloy, called S53, wears astonishingly well. But I found it difficult to sharpen. Some of my stone s wouldn't touch it, and I had to resort to diamond stones to get a keen edge. Even then, I wasn't confident I had gotten the best edge. This is a personal opinion, but I prefer steel that is easy to sharpen, especially with smoothing planes.

Compared to other Holtey planes, the 11-S is a bargain: about $1,500 with the way the dollar is trading. This is a sweet little tool that cries out to be used. I hope it doesn't sit on a collector's shelf.

Holtey No. 98: A Design That Changed the Rules

The No. 98 (about $2,900) is another of Holtey's original designs

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Popular Woodworking August 2006