Krenov plane.

[Gregg Feldstone]

Just found out today I have the chance to buy a new wooden plane made by James Krenov for $300 (shipping incl)
Haven't used wooden planes before but I am ready to buy this as both a collectors item and because I've heard it's a great plane. I'm not sure which model it is but I think he is only making one (model) now. Does anyone have a Krenov plane?
Likes, dislikes?

[george wilson]

Krenov planes,as far as I know,are glued up: the sides are glued to the center core that the blade rests in. I think this is an invitation for the pressure of the blade to put enough pressure on the wooden incline to cause the sole behind the blade to come a little loose,and get pushed down behind the blade,protruding below the sole's flat area.

Krenov uses a simple "Roman" cross pin to hold the wedge down,unless I haven't full knowledge of all of his planes. those I have seen were all that way. The Roman system works,and the plane will function.

Personally,I think they are very simplistic,and something anyone could make in a few hours since there is no mortise cutting,or any of the complex inner surfaces in the escapement of a more usual type of wooden plane.

I made a few of that style many years ago when I was young,and wanted a quick plane without much work.

Unless the cachet of the Krenov name adds to the intrinsic value of the plane,I can't see it as worth that much money.

That said,you could probably get your money back when you sell it,if its provenance can be proven.

This all sounds contradictory,I guess,but as an object,I don't see the value,but the fame of the maker probably makes its price. That sounds a lot like the value of some works of art,doesn't it?

I do not mean to run the plane down.I just think it is a very easy to make plane for $300.00. Its something a person might buy who reveres the maker.

[James Harrison]

You can get an excellent ECE wooden plane for that or less depending on which you get. They have an excellent reputation.

[Casey Gooding]

I have one he made for me from Mesquite. It's as fine a plane as I have ever used. Every bit the equal of any premium plane made today.
Also, it's the only thing he made that I will ever be able to afford.
I think it's worth every penny!!!

[Derek Cohen]

Hi Gregg

One does not buy a Krenov-made plane as if it was a Lie-Nielson or a Veritas. One buys it because it is made by James "Jim" Krenov. As a plane it is excellent, but it is still not "worth" $300 in competition with established plane makers.

I have one of JK's smoothers. I use it, because this is what he would do. I did not buy it as a financial investment - since I would not sell it. The investment is emotional - I enjoy having a token of The Man.

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolReviews/The%20James%20Krenov%20Smoother_html_34926643.jpg

I have a full review of this plane on my website (probably the only review of a JK plane ever!)

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolReviews/The%20James%20Krenov%20Smoother.html

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Mat Ashton]

You have to wonder at it's future collectability in that I get the impression his shop cranks these planes out in relatively high numbers. If I were looking for a collector I'd be looking for rarer alternatives. If all you want is a user plane you far better off making it yourself as you'll learn how to make them and you'll save at least half the cost.

[Alan Frazier]

I've heard of these going for $1200

[george wilson]

I didn't know they were THAT rough!!! I cannot see that that particular plane was made by gluing up.

[Zahid Naqvi]

George you have to keep in mind Krenov has very poor eye sight now. I remember reading somewhere that he depends on his sense of touch as much as his eyesight when making these planes. But I concur with Derek, you don't buy these planes because of their usability, it because who made them. Some people (not all) are also getting hand written notes from JK with their planes.

[george wilson]

His planes in the 70's were still left with chisel cuts on the ends. He probably thought they looked more "organic" that way.Derek said the same thing I did. It's who made it.

[Dusty Fuller]

but how about the bottom? Glassy-smooth curves are good to look at, but its the business end that counts. Not that I don't like glassy-smooth curves.

DF

[James Carmichael]

If you want a Krenov-style plane to use, just buy the iron & chipbreaker or complete kit from Ron Hock and make your own. Craftsman studio sells them at a slight discount. David Finck (author of the book on planemaking) sells the same style irons made of A2 steel.

I built a 2"-wide jack (may shorten to a smoother) using the Hock/Krenov iron/chipbreaker. This was my first shop-built plane and for the investment of $60 + sweat equity and 3/4 BF of purpleheart I already had on hand, now have a jack that cuts better than any of the old Baileys I've fooled with. It also makes Dereks' plane look quite well finished;)

After this experience, I bought the 1 3/4" iron for a jointer.

In my limited usage, switching from iron to woodies takes a little getting used to. The lighter weight requires more muscle from the user, IMO.

[george wilson]

Wooden planes slide easier,and do less damage if you drop them on your work,or crash into something while planing. I always liked working with them,and did so for many years.

Here's a tip: Take the iron out,clamp the plane down to a board,stop the bottom of the throat off with linseed oil based fresh,sticky window putty. Follow those instructions,or the oil will leak out. Then,fill up the plane's escapement with raw linseed oil. It may take several throats full,but the oil will penetrate through both ends of the plane,even long jointers. Then,remove the putty and wipe the plane down. You will have added permanent lubrication to the plane,plus added mass. Old timers used to do this. Of course,wait several days for the oil to dry before use.

[Steve Pirrelli]

I love my Krenov plane. I just feels right in the hand and has become my favorite smoother.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/swanz-guy/100_2357.jpg?t=1236383399

[David Keller NC]

As simple as these planes seem, they're not as easy to make as just cross-cutting and gluing up some stock. The nuances that need to be paid attention to are detailed in Flinck's Making and Mastering Wooden Planes.

$300 is actually a fairly good deal. From what I understood, Krenov wasn't making more of these, they were just his shop tools he was selling off because he could no longer work with them. So long as you've got some provenance, these planes will be worth quite a bit more than $300 10 years down the road.

If you want to use a Krenov-type plane but don't want the burden of protecting an investment in the shop, you should check out Steve Knight's planes. They're not exactly the Krenov design (he uses a wedge instead of a cross-pin, which in my opinion is a superior design), but they're extremely good, no-frills performers.

[Mike Henderson]

$300 is actually a fairly good deal. From what I understood, Krenov wasn't making more of these, they were just his shop tools he was selling off because he could no longer work with them. So long as you've got some provenance, these planes will be worth quite a bit more than $300 10 years down the road.
Of course, there's no way to know unless you're there with Krenov, but according to the reports from people who know him, he's building planes to sell and not selling his older tools. I agree with the other people who pointed out that you'd only buy his plane because it was made by him. If that means nothing to you, you'd be better off making your own. They're fairly easy to make, and work well, but you have to be careful in the process.

Mike

[Ben Rafael]

Does anybody know who you contact to buy one of his planes from him?

[James Carmichael]

As simple as these planes seem, they're not as easy to make as just cross-cutting and gluing up some stock. The nuances that need to be paid attention to are detailed in Flinck's Making and Mastering Wooden Planes.




I bought Finck's book and frankly found it a waste of money and time. There's plenty of tutorials floating around for building wooden planes that are much simpler.

[Mike Henderson]

Does anybody know who you contact to buy one of his planes from him?

Here's (http://jameskrenov.com/contact_jk.htm) some contact info. Send an e-mail or call.

I've not contacted him so I don't know if this is the contact info for ordering a plane.

Mike

[Ben Rafael]

Here's (http://jameskrenov.com/contact_jk.htm) some contact info. Send an e-mail or call.

I've not contacted him so I don't know if this is the contact info for ordering a plane.

Mike

Thanks for the info!

[Joel Goodman]

On the website it says

"At 87 JK has been overwhelmed with requests for his hand-planes. Please no requests until further notice."

[Ben Rafael]

On the website it says

"At 87 JK has been overwhelmed with requests for his hand-planes. Please no requests until further notice."

I wont bother him then. I didn't realize he is that old.

[George Beck]

I would jump at the opportunity to own a James Krenov Plane. I make planes in the Krenov style and have ever since I read "A Cabinetmakers Notebook" in the mid seventies. The influence of Krenov on our craft is enormious. He has inspired generations to pursue what he calls being an "Impractical Cabinetmaker" and what I call Romantic woodworking. I was thinking about Mr. Krenov while I was in Berea. One could make an argument, that without Krenov and Sam Maloof, there would not be any Hock Tools or Lie Neilsen or dramatically improved quality of hand tools we enjoy today. JK kindled the flame that continues to burn. A piece from his hands, in my opinion, is like a letter pinned by Abraham Lincoln. It is intrinsically priceless.

George

[David Keller NC]

"One could make an argument, that without Krenov and Sam Maloof, there would not be any Hock Tools or Lie Neilsen or dramatically improved quality of hand tools we enjoy today."

Hmm - In the case of Krenov, I'd agree, but not so much in the case of Sam. According to what I could glean from his book and various magazine interviews over the years, his work process is to rough out the pieces of his furniture with a bandsaw, and finish work is largely powered carvers and sanders. That makes sense - I'm a carver (hand-tool only), and I think it'd take me several hundred hours to make one of his rockers entirely with hand tools.