View Full Version : Christopher laarman finger planes
james condino
Dec-28-2007, 1:04am
After a search of many years, I recently got a set of Christopher Laarman's incredible finger planes and wanted to show off a couple of images. He only made them in very limited numbers and hasn't made any since about 1997.The blade sizes are: 3/4" round bottom, 1/2" round bottom, 3/8" round and flat bottom.
They are nicer in person than anything I have ever seen.
j.
www.condino.com
james condino
Dec-28-2007, 1:05am
Here is another view. All of the blades are made by Hock- great steel.
james condino
Dec-28-2007, 1:07am
One more.
j.
www.condino.com
Keith Newell
Dec-28-2007, 2:28am
Wow I would really like some of those also. I gather they are not available now unless previous buyers want to sell?
Keith
sunburst
Dec-28-2007, 6:49am
Tool drool...
james condino
Dec-28-2007, 8:49am
Keith:
I first saw these and met Christopher at the 1996 Healdsburg Guitar Festival. They were beautiful and way out of my price range. Christopher tried a go at making them regularly, but was not able to make it commercially viable. They have been "out of print" since about 1997.
I recognized them as a great tool for a long time, but it wasn't until I moved a few doors down from classical guitar builder Jeff Elliott that I started obsessing about them. Every time I would stop by for a visit, he would have them out and sing praise. A couple of other Portland luthiers that I knew also had a set. I think he only made less than 100 sets. I started searching all over the place for a set a few years ago- placing wanted ads in a few magazines and came across an available set of four last month. I was only able to afford one of them at the time.
Get this: my wife found out about it, saw the first one and was amazed, and then managed to hack into my email, find out and contact the seller and bought the rest for a Christmas present. THAT is a great luthier's wife! If you stop by Asheville, come by the shop and take a good look,try them out, but be warned, you'll want a set!!!
j.
www.condino.com
Frank Ford
Dec-28-2007, 9:02am
They are/were the best! Real pieces of art. I believe I first saw them at the 1996 Healdsburg Guitar Festival, and bought one then. Later I wished I'd gotten the full set so I called Christopher who told me he'd quit making them, but had a couple of castings left, so he sold me the last of them - just enough to fill out my set. He said he was disappointed that most of his tools went to collectors who displayed them rather than people who used them as planes, so he went back to his jewelry making endeavors.
Here's me using mine, around 1997:
http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Guitar/Structural/1887Restore/1887Views/188721.jpg
Particularly now that I have arthritis, the adjustable palm-pusher handle is just the thing.
billhay4
Dec-28-2007, 9:38am
What gorgeous tools!
Bill
sunburst
Dec-28-2007, 12:58pm
James, you've got a lot of nerve posting that story in the builder's section. Someone's liable to try to steal her from you!
You're a lucky man!
You can say that again... lucky to have the planes and such a thoughtful wife!
pd
Oh no, not (TAS) Tool Aquisition Syndrome. While MAS will weaken you, TAS can kill you.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
GD Armstrong
Dec-28-2007, 9:40pm
I've got two of them, 3/8 & 1/2 with the palm extension, still kicking myself for not getting the other sizes. He used to sell them at the Marylhurst show in Lake Oswego, OR.
Michael Lewis
Dec-28-2007, 11:36pm
Those planes are just way too pretty for work. I have previously admired them from afar for their design work, but never really considered them for use in my shop. I figured they were so pretty that they probably didn't work so well.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
james condino
Dec-29-2007, 12:17am
Michael:
I've heard folks say the same thing about my mandolins!
After putting a nice edge on the blades and giving them a good workout over the last few days, I'll offer that they work great. Frank's comment about the handles taking the strain off your hands is very true. The handles are also adjustable for about 3/4" in length so you can fit them to your own hand size. The real test is to come back in a couple of years and see how they #held up over the long haul. If they don't fly, you'll see them in the classified ads in six months....
j.
www.condino.com
GD Armstrong
Dec-29-2007, 1:07pm
They've been used steadily in my shop since I got them (95,96 ?)and are still going strong. Had a bit of trouble with the throats choking up on spruce at first but got that straightened out.
dirty harry
Dec-29-2007, 1:20pm
OH STEW MAC< ARE YOU OUT THERE AND READING THIS?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif??
WOULD BE A HOT SELLER!
mandolooter
Dec-30-2007, 7:22am
Don't ya just love a pretty tool! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
John Bertotti
Dec-30-2007, 9:00am
I can't imagine Stew Mac would carry something so costly. Many people drool but most a can't afford them. That is an assumption but I think it close to the mark.
sunburst
Dec-30-2007, 9:19am
I agree, John. If the maker had to quit selling them because there wasn't enough of a market, why would we expect Stewmac or whomever to do any better?
I don't know what the price was when they were available, but as for me and probably others builders, as much as I admire those tools, I suspect I could never justify buying them.
james condino
Dec-30-2007, 10:05am
If I didn't have a couple of good friends rubbing their set in my face for several years, I would have similar feelings. Some guys lust after fancy cars or beautiful women; for nerdy luthiers it is obscure little tools. These were a pretty insignificant price compared to MAS or Loar fever (and a lot easier on the family than the hot woman down the street!).
If Stew Mac can sell a Hacklinger guage for $400, they could #sell these all day long. When Chris was selling these new, you could buy several for the price of a set of Waverly tuners.
The adjustable handle makes a huge difference. I used to always modify my Ibex by adding a handle, and I was never very satisfied with the way the LMI D'Angelico planes fit. Here are a couple of images that show the modification next to several other planes for size reference. The one with the koa handle has a 3/4" blade.
j.
www.condino.com
sunburst
Dec-30-2007, 10:12am
Yeah, haven't been able to pull the trigger on a Hacklinger either.
james condino
Dec-30-2007, 10:13am
Here is another shot of the plane disassembled. The basic idea is that I cut about a 1/4" slot in the back of the plane and then the center beam runs clear through. Everything is superglued on. They generally hold together well for several years and then a few more drops of superglue keep them going again. It is a nice use for some of those small scraps of beautiful woods and you can make the fit perfect for your own hand.
As a mandolin builder, I can work around the stress on my hands due to regular use of these planes. I also build upright basses- that is an entirely different story for how much stress your hands take. While I've used grinders and Lancelots and other such, I find that I consistantly get the best arches by carving them by hand, so I'm always looking for improvements.
j.
www.condino.com
John Bertotti
Dec-30-2007, 5:26pm
I wonder just how much it would cost to get a foundry to run a few if you had a good hard wood carving? Just thinking out loud.
Michael Lewis
Dec-30-2007, 11:44pm
Foundry? I would think these would be a good project for a CNC wizard. Maybe not with all the fancy decoration, just a functional shape and surface. Bill James, are you listening?
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
Bill James
Dec-31-2007, 6:29am
"Bill James, are you listening?"
Ohhhh Michael! When I saw the opening post with the images of these planes my wheels were turning a hundred miles an hour!
But...I must focus on the dozens of other projects I have on the front, back, and side burners. My stove is full!
John Bertotti
Dec-31-2007, 8:26am
Now that is disappointing.
Michael Lewis
Dec-31-2007, 11:30pm
Bill, you are going to have to stay up late at night to get this done! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
At least this would be making some real progress, most folks that stay up late at night are just figuring out smart remarks to say! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
When will they be available?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif Huh huh? nudge nudge, wink wink!!!
Michael Lewis
Dec-31-2007, 11:33pm
Maybe not, John.
John Bertotti
Jan-01-2008, 7:07pm
I'm in the process of building a house. I have a good 8 to 10 months of weekend and after hours work ahead of me. Once I'm done and I once again have a shop, something I have been without for two years now, I will be making a couple hard wood blanks and seeing what I can come up with. I imagine Bill will have a nice set out by then. My thoughts were to have some good guts for them made with decorative sides and leave the sole material be wood. I like wood based planes and it is easier to replace and resurface when needed. Does this thought make sense? A finger plane body that you could slip different wood soles on with whatever shape you want. I have to think on this more.
mandomick
Jan-01-2008, 7:59pm
I'm not a builder but I'd snatch up a set of these in a heartbeat. Beautiful work.