Hi Folks,
I haven't seen anyone here talk about these, and as I just picked one up,
thought I send out a little mini-review.
(usual disclaimer, I'm not affiliated with Hock Tools in any way, other
than as a customer).
Anyhoo, just picked up a new Hock iron, and chip breaker for my #7 plane.
(available from www.hocktools.com, or www.woodcraft.com). The iron is the
standard, not A2 blade. Both were purchased at the Tigard, OR Woodcraft
store. (nice people in there ...)
Short story: the chip breaker works, and works well. It's a hefty chunk of
steel -- quoted as 3mm thick. I didn't bother to measure it. It was obvious
that the backside had already been lapped flat (or at least polished in
some fashion) -- there was a nice 'swath' of shiny brite metal in the
'contact area' of the breaker. I didn't do any work on this, just used it
directly out of its package.
The iron itself took very little time to flatten. It would've taken a lot
less time, if I'd realised sooner that I'd started out on 800 grit paper,
instead of the 220 I'd intended. (Stupid me!).
Once the iron was flat, I did the SS thing, and got it nice and sharp.
Installed both in the plane. Bingo! Nice curlies, and zero indication of
clogging at the iron/breaker interface.
I'm happy with both. I haven't tried any other after-market irons or chip-
breakers, so I don't how these compare against any others, but these are
definitely a step (or two or three) above standard-issue Stanley.
Hope this is of some use ....
Regards,
JT
John Thomas wrote:
> Anyhoo, just picked up a new Hock iron, and chip breaker for my #7 plane.
I received a Hock chip breaker for a #8 today.
> Short story: the chip breaker works, and works well. It's a hefty chunk of
> steel -- quoted as 3mm thick. I didn't bother to measure it.
Yep, before I unwrapped it I thought Ron Hock might have goofed and sent the
breaker and an iron. It was just the breaker as ordered. Sweet!
> It was obvious
> that the backside had already been lapped flat (or at least polished in
> some fashion) -- there was a nice 'swath' of shiny brite metal in the
> 'contact area' of the breaker. I didn't do any work on this, just used it
> directly out of its package.
The breaker I received was ground flat but not polished. I had to knock the
burr off the edge.
> I'm happy with both. I haven't tried any other after-market irons or chip-
> breakers, so I don't how these compare against any others, but these are
> definitely a step (or two or three) above standard-issue Stanley.
I haven't tried a Hock iron yet, but I agree. Breaker for a #8 aren't all that
common. Ron doesn't list them on his web site or in his literature. When I
email Ron he said he could provide one. I believe it was a "one off" item.
Thanks Ron.
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA