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“If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got. “
— Albert Einstein
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I have the coolest job in the world. How cool you ask?
You can tell by examining the bags under my eyes — which means I have not been sleeping. Get this — in the last two weeks I am averaging less than 4 hours per sleep/night. I don’t like it, and I can’t help it.
Our new HP-10 Foxtail Convertible Plane is the reason why. Frankly, I think this is one of the most exciting new tools ever, and the culmination and fermentation of 10 years of work. I believe it is a complete game-changer in functionality, ergonomics, economics and space requirements. I also know I am prone to speaking in absolutes, generalities and hyperbole. My answer? My name is John and I approved everything I said about the HP-10 Foxtail plane. And, I believe it tool — if not, why bother?
Tomorrow, you will receive the pre-order email on the HP-10, and it is important to understand how we are going to deal with all the capabilities of this tool — so now would be a good time to pay attention DSN.
The offer tomorrow will be for the HP-10 Foxtail Convertible Rabbet Plane. This will include everything you need to make rabbets including the unisex rabbet depth foot, and the universal 45/90 degree fence kit, scoring cutter and of course the body and iron. And this is just the beginning.
The next “Convertible” option will be the Foxtail Shoulder Plane kit. This will include front and rear soles, a lower attack angle iron for end grain and universal depth skids. Why universal depth skids? Because they will work on both the rabbet conversion, shoulder conversion and… yes the dovetail conversion down the road.
After the shoulder conversion, we will introduce the Foxtail Crown conversion kit, consisting of the soles and iron only. The fence you need is included in the rabbet kit.
In 2014, we will introduce the Foxtail Dovetail conversion kit, which will do sliding dovetails. Following that are some unique dado/groove soles and the tongue and groove kit. After that, I will post, on this totally and awesome blog, the other profiles I want for myself and allow you, the Drivel Starved Nation to vote on their order of introduction.
I also have a couple of suggestions. Let’s say you only want the HP-10 Foxtail shoulder plane kit, and that is fine. I suggest you order the Foxtail body only from the window opening tomorrow because we are only going to make bodies for this plane once a year. We will re-make profile kits when the interest hits our minimum mfg.number which is typically no less than 300 units. Also, we have some customers who like separate bodies for each profile, and if you are one of those, I suggest ordering the bodies in the window opening tomorrow. As always, if our timing and your timing is off, call us for layaway options because we are going to remain in the anti-inventory business for the foreseeable future, and more likely until I croak.
Lastly, everything we are introducing is backward compatible with the limited edition (50) Stainless steel Foxtail rabbet planes.
As mentioned earlier, we will continue to offer new profiles for the HP-6 and continue to make bodies. I love that little plane. The HP-10 Foxtail allows us to do profiles that are next to impossible with the HP-6. Make sense now?
Did I mention how excited I am about this plane? I may need to see a physician because part of me has been excited for more than 4 hours…now that is exciting!
— John
This is such a seriously cool plane, John. It’s like the HP-6v2 meets Foxtail in a mosh pit and nine months later…
You’re so very cruel, taunting with with the first few sole/profile options. Sliding dovetails, rabbets, shoulders AND crowns?!? Yow!
I’m very much looking forward to seeing how this plane feels. I’m assuming it’ll be lighter than, say, the HP-7, but with the same comfortable grip. The control offered by the shapely handle will surely help us straight-line-challenged planers to do a good job.
What a blast! No wonder you can’t sleep!
— Peter
John,
About that 4 hour problem; remember, Peter is a doctor, deals in the microscopic realm and will gladly help! I’m here all week (sadly,) don’t forget to tip your waitress.
So you’ve solved the dovetail sole on this plane? I may need a Dr in 3 hours and 55 minutes; that is exciting news.
-Rutager
if you have been excited for more than four hours, please use some discretion when waiving your tip. we don’t want you arrested before your work is complete.
Might the .625″ and .75″ dado sets mentioned for the HP-6 still in the offing for this year?
“Might the .625″ and .75″ dado sets mentioned for the HP-6 still in the offing for this year?”
Roger That!
-John
John, this really is a freaking awesome plane and I am so glad that we will now have something on the larger side of the HP-6 as well as the HP-6. What a great couple of attack planes these are and will be. Do you anticipate duplicating the number and types of profiles that are in the HP-6 and HP-6v2 series? Rutager, Peter and I have our 24 hour prior to the reveal guesses as to the price of the body as well as the average price for the profile. What do we win if our guess is the closest? 😮 😮 Fred
So, how wide will the soles be? I’m guessing different widths for the rabbet and others – it’s the crowning sole I’m wondering about mostly.
— Peter
Peter;
The one defining restriction of the HP-10 has nothing to do with the obviousness of the sole width, but of sole depth.
And then it gets more complicated. We believe the “low hanging fruit” of the profiles in progress justify the worthiness of the project–time will tell. But I want this tool, and for the moment, that suffices as justification for the arrogant bastard that I am. 🙂
John,
I for one, would be interested to know more about the limitations due to depth; I can’t really figure out why a problem would arise, unless the low angle causes a leverage effect?
Would a larger scale HP-6 give more options, or do other issues come into play with the steeper bevel down approach?
Best,
Rutager
John,
One more thing, I think Peter was wondering how wide of stock he could crown with the new tool. I know many of us would like to be able to crown maybe up to 8/4 stock; can it be done with a specially made fence on a narrow crown sole/iron?
Thanks,
Rutager
There are no iron issues. Depth is constrained because of the fence — it needs to slide under many of the soles.
No problem crowning dressed 8/4 stock (about 1.8″)– as you are Peter’s spokesman, please pacify his concern.
-John
Fred, your prize is, and always will be… A new entertainment center. Now get to work.
–John
John,
In that case you will be pleased to know that my guesses were far closer than the other two bozos. 😮
I know, stupid question, but do you have any idea as to when the dovetail kit may come out next year? Also, my question from the first post? How many kits, profiles, etc do you plan on bringing out for the HP-10?
Fred
Do you envision any of the HP-6v2 Sliding Dovetail components (guides?) being compatible with the HP-10 dovetail conversion? Are you planning a Megan Foxtail conversion?!?!?
Disregard the compatibility question – I just got the email info.
How are we supposed to ignore any post from “Zipdang”? Geez….
FYI, Megan Fox dumped me. Please don’t bring this up again. The guy she married is a chump!
-John
John,
Is there any compatibility with the SE Crowning Plane? (I hope, I hope.)
John
Yes and No.
The Crowning Plane was designed as a stand-alone plane. That said, it will accept the shoulder plane kit when we make them. It will not accept the rabbet kit because the body is not drilled for the depth stop. It will not work for the dovetail kit in 2014 because there is no way to adj. the iron.
The HP-10 has reconfigured guts to accommodate profiled irons. This means the cap that retains the blade is asymmetric and requires a longer slot in the body to clear the body.
–John
John: Any thought of an aluminumizing (I’d use aluminize, but that means something else) the skeletonized version of the HP-7 (the stainless one)?
The HP-10 is the perfect skeletonized HP-7 when we make the shoulder plane kit later this year.
-John
Hmm. I meant in terms of size (~.75″). Nevertheless, looking forward.
They are almost identical.
Thanks, John. I was thinking the shouldering width would be similar to the rabbet (1.125″). I just noticed the rabbet sole and iron look wider than the plane body. I’m already saving pennies to send to Oregon.
Dave–
You don’t need to save pennies… Just rush out and sue somebody–and win! (Just making myself laugh here)
–John
If you wanted laughs, you should have seen me in a courtroom!