News

The good news for hand tool enthusiasts is that there are two new additions to the Axminster Rider range: the No. 62 Low Angle Jack and the No. 5½ Jack Plane.

The No. 62 Low Angle Jack is possibly the most versatile and easy-to-set-up plane available. The chunky 5mm thick blade sits directly on the 12° milled plane bed which is held in place with the cap iron. This makes it far easier and quicker to set up as you don't have to contend with all those moving parts, like the frog assembly and chip breaker. The mouth is easily adjustable both forwards and backwards, keeping timber tear to a minimum.
 
The plane comes with two blades, but the more blades you have honed at different angles the more versatile this plane becomes. Axminster recommend a blade honed at 25° for end grain work, one at 33° for smoothing and one at 38° for wavy grained timber.

The sole is 350mm (14") long with a 50mm (2") wide, 5mm thick blade. The sole of the plane is flat and accurate to ± 0.04mm (0.0016"), weight 2.24kg (4lbs 15oz).

If you are to have just one plane in your woodworking collection, you should make sure it's the Axminster Rider No. 62 Low Angle Jack Plane.

Price: from £105.02

The No. 5½ sits half way between the No. 5 and No. 6. When compared with the No. 5, its longer length and wider blade make it a good choice for flattening boards and truing panels. The extra mass gives it more heft, a great help when doing the initial surface preparation on a board. At the same time, being slightly lighter and shorter than its larger No. 6 cousin, it is more manageable and yet equally as good for fore-plane work.

The sole is 375mm (14-3/4") long with a 60mm (2-3/8") wide blade. The sole of the plane is flat and accurate to ± 0.04mm (0.0016"). With its perfect weight and balance giving you extra momentum through each cut, the No. 5½ is destined to be part of an already exceptional range.

Price: from £110.87

A spare blade and plane sock are included with both planes.

For a small extra cost, you can have your Rider plane engraved with a personal message or as a way of identifying your plane on site. The bench plane engraving service is available exclusively on new plane purchases.

Axminster Rider planes are well-made, affordable hand tools, squarely aimed at professional woodworkers, tradespeople, apprentices and keen hobby users. These tools are made with care and attention to fine detail, setting them apart from other run-of-the-mill tools.

Rider planes only require the bare minimum of initial preparation. The blade comes honed with a secondary bevel ready to take shavings. Axminster Rider planes represent a good standard of traditional, quality plane manufacture and great value.

For more information about Axminster Rider planes and the engraving service, visit axminster.co.uk or call 0800 371822.

Prices include vat and may be subject to change without notice.

Thanks to Axminster Tools and Machinery for the news.

For more details, see the Axminster Tools Website