Wood River opinions?

keakap · Post by **keakap** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 1:33 pm

As the Sept. winner of Fine Woodworking's giveaway, I'm now the lucky owner of some Wood River tools, from Woodcraft.
At first glance, then second, I am very favorably impressed with their out-of-the-box condition.
As a newcomer to the brand I'm curious to hear any other users' evaluations, good, bad, indifferent, and especially any feedback pertaining to prep, maintenance and usage, of the Wood River line.
[planes, scrapers, spokeshave]

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 2:36 pm

keakap wrote:As the Sept. winner of Fine Woodworking's giveaway, I'm now the lucky owner of some Wood River tools, from Woodcraft.
At first glance, then second, I am very favorably impressed with their out-of-the-box condition.
As a newcomer to the brand I'm curious to hear any other users' evaluations, good, bad, indifferent, and especially any feedback pertaining to prep, maintenance and usage, of the Wood River line.
[planes, scrapers, spokeshave]

Wood magazine did a mini review of the Woodriver planes and basically gave a very favorable review.

If my opinion has any value to you let me say I haven't used any of their tools yet. But I do intend to, in fact I'm playing with the idea to buy a complete set of planes and chisels.

I like their looks, their feel and of course their price compared to some of the way out prices people have on planes and chisels.

By the way congrats on your winning the giveaway. Always nice to know that a real person did get the prize.

jcraigie · Post by **jcraigie** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 3:06 pm

My opinion and it's worth what you paid for it

If they were free they can't be bad, enjoy your prize knowing they were FREE!:D

THOMRIDER · Post by **THOMRIDER** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 5:12 pm

I have the woodriver lathe chuck and am extremely happy with the quality to price I only gave $70.

john · Post by **john** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 5:09 pm

Congratulations!

As Jeff said, FREE must be good.

John

keakap · Post by **keakap** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 4:21 pm

Thanks everbody. Ed, I am green mit envy- a complete set of planes and chisels! Great googly moogly! And the more and closer I look at the WR's the more convinced you'll do good for yourself with 'em.

Funny, the "free" thing. I hadn't thought of it that way. (But now that I do it aint bad!) If the tools came out of the boxes and didn't feel right, look right and work right they would've gone in the Salvation Army bag without a second thought, "free" and all. Bad tools are worth less than nothing when one considers the trouble and possible safety hazards.

Anaway, the new tools took only a few minutes to polish and tune, they work well, and every unfinished surface in the house is smoother than ever now. Only trouble has been that my dogs refuse to come out from under the dining table when I'm in the room now. I don't know why. I think they look kinda good, like that...

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 4:56 pm

Congratulations, keakap! Happy to know of a winner! Ever since I looked at the ratings in "Fine Woodworking" I've been tempted to try one of their block planes.

keakap · Post by **keakap** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 12:33 pm

charlese wrote:Congratulations, keakap! Happy to know of a winner! Ever since I looked at the ratings in "Fine Woodworking" I've been tempted to try one of their block planes.

Thanks. Say, when you do try one, here's a tip. But it's a mistake I, a new plane neophyte, made that probably most people would not. In adjusting the throat I thought I had a problem with it not moving smoothly with slight pressure on the (lock) knob. Turns out I was doing it wrong, and letting gravity do the moving took care of the situation.
I think the "fit" tolerances are so close I was thoughtlessly expecting the movement to be perfect. (sorta like dialing in a bit-height adjustment of 1/64 on a router; c'mon, this is just a hand plane...)

I'm very happy with these tools, and would be if I'd paid for em.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 6:38 pm

Do WR block planes have side screws that are used to center the iron?